Season of Peace » Scripture

listening for peace

Russ — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:01:30 +0000

As I was reading through the Psalms, I came across an encouraging verse. The author writes: “I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his people, his faithful ones” (Psalm 85:8a).

This is an amazing truth. If we listen carefully to what God is saying to us, we would hear words of peace. God, right this very moment, is speaking peace over you. All you have to do is listen.

But how do we listen? Obviously, we don’t “listen” with our natural ears–we listen with our spiritual ears. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

It’s hard sometimes to tune in our spiritual ears so that we can hear God. Our minds are so distracted by the things of this world. The onslaught of thoughts and decisions keep our minds focused on the things of this world, not on God.

I think that’s why God commands us to “be still and know that he is God” (Psalm 46:10). When’s the last time you were just still; so still, that no intrusive thought could make its way into your mind? It’s hard to be still in this hectic, fast-paced world. But, it is so important.

“Well Russell,” you might respond, “I can’t control these thoughts in my mind.” Yes, I know that feeling all too well. The harder you try to push away those thoughts, the stronger they come crashing in.

Romans 8:6 says this: “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” If your mind is focused on the things of this world, then it will lead to fear and anxiety. But, if your mind is controlled by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, then it will lead to life and peace.

Amazingly, when I surrender my mind and my thoughts to God, I am filled with peace. It’s as if I can “hear” God speaking peace over me. With my spirit, I listen carefully to what my Father is saying. His words of peace soothe my anxious soul.

Prayer: Father, you say in Romans 8:6 that a mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace. Lord, I surrender my mind to your Holy Spirit right now. Speak words of life and peace to my spiritual ears. I will listen carefully.

the façade of fear

Russ — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:15:28 +0000

News of Jericho and Ai had spread throughout the land. The surrounding kings and people had also heard of the Lord’s miracles. They knew this was to be more than a physical battle.

The Hivites in Gibeon were among the local people who knew about these Hebrews. They were greatly afraid of Joshua for they knew that the children of Israel had come to take the land and destroy the inhabitants.

The Hivites knew they couldn’t defeat Joshua and his God, so they formulated another plan. They donned some worn-out sacks for clothes. They loaded their oldest donkeys with moldy bread and old wineskins, and went to meet with Joshua.

“We have come from a distant country. Please make a treaty with us,” pleaded the Hivites in disguise.

They had the appearance of foreigners from a distant land. Still, the men of Israel questioned them, “Perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?”

The delegation from Gibeon continued the masquerade. “This bread of ours was warm on the day we left. But see how dry and moldy it is now. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey” (Joshua 9, paraphrased).

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD” (Joshua 9:14).

They were duped. They fell for the moldy-bread-and-old-wineskin trick. They signed a treaty, thus disobeying God’s command to destroy the Hivites.

Fear is like that. The wolf comes to you in sheep’s clothing, bearing bogus gifts, creating a false impression. It has a way of making things seem one way when they are really another. It’s a powerful bluff.

The men of Israel really only made one mistake. Did you catch it? They “did not inquire of the Lord.”

God is ready for you to inquire of him. He wants to guide and lead you and expose the facade of fear.

Prayer: Father, enable me to recognize fear when it first approaches. Show me how to respond when I face fearful situations. Give me strength to stand, courage to continue, and grant me victory over fear.

yesterday’s victory

Russ — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:05:02 +0000

The children of Israel had just defeated Jericho miraculously. Confidence was high. Morale was peaking. This new generation of warriors just experienced their first victory through God’s wall-crumbling power.

The next battle in their path was the small city of Ai. After their reconnaissance, the spies advised Joshua to send out only a few men. It was an easy victory… or so they thought.

However, when they attacked the city, the Israelites were chased into retreat and defeated. The soldiers came back to Joshua beaten and bloodied. They couldn’t overtake Ai. God was not with them.

Israel lost courage. Confusion and doubts began to rise up in their minds. Confidence hit an all time low.

What Joshua didn’t realize was that someone in the camp had disobeyed God. Against God’s command, Achan kept some of the spoil from the Jericho victory for himself and buried it under his tent. That disobedience kept the mighty men of Israel from defeating the small city of Ai.

After dealing with the sin, the Lord gave Joshua a new plan to defeat the small, but powerful city. With God’s help, the Israelites destroyed Ai.

When I read this story, it reminds me of my own journey into the Promised Land of peace. One day, I experienced a miraculous victory over panic attacks. I trusted the Lord and rested through the attack. My confidence ran high. I was walking proud.

Like Joshua, though, I headed out presumptuously into the next day. Panic again pounced on my mind. Dismay and doubts came crashing in. Where’s God? I thought. Why isn’t this working like it did yesterday?

Instead of trusting God and getting his guidance for my next battle, I went out in the confidence of my strength and my power. Like Achan, I had kept the spoils of the last victory to myself.

God should be our guide through each battle we face regarding panic and fear. If we remove all sin from our lives, seek his guidance and obey his instructions, we will be victorious. We will take the Promised Land of peace.

“Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm 60:11-12).

Prayer: Father, thank you for every victory I have experienced in the past because I know they came only through you. Reveal to me the times when I “went out on my own strength” and failed. Teach me how to seek your guidance and direction each morning as I face the battlefield for that day.

wall of worry

Russ — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:44:19 +0000

When the children of Israel were ready to enter the Promised Land, Joshua led them across the Jordan River to a city outside of Jericho.

Jericho–with its mammoth wall–stood before them. This would be their first battle. It looked like a lop-sided fight as a bunch of inexperienced Israelites headed into battle against a strong fortress of fighters.

As Joshua sought God on how to fight this battle, an angel with his sword drawn appeared before him. He gave Joshua specific instructions on how to fight. He explained that the people should walk around the city once a day for seven days. On the seventh day, they should walk around seven times. Afterwards, they should blow their trumpets and shout.

In faith, the Israelites walked quietly around the city just as Joshua commanded them to do. They couldn’t say a word while marching. Then, on the seventh day after the seventh trip around, the people shouted and sounded the trumpets.

“When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20).

Many times, I feel like the Israelites. No experience. No strength. No way I can fight against that fortress of fear. It’s just too tall, too big.

The next time that tall wall of fear stands before you, call out to God. Ask him to show you how to bring those walls down.

Maybe it will be a shout of praise.
Maybe it will be a song in your heart.
Maybe it will be a confidence.

Whatever God tells you to do, do it. When you do, the walls will come tumbling down.

Prayer: Father, I am so weak and inexperienced. I cannot tear down this wall of fear on my own. Tell me what to do as I stand against my enemies. Give me the faith to wait on you and trust your promises.

the hardness of your heart

Russ — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:22:28 +0000

“For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Acts 28:27).

Our heart can be as tender as a rose bud or as hard as a cannonball. You are the one who determines how hard or soft your heart will be. When the Holy Spirit begins to “speak” to your conscience, how you respond determines the hardness of your heart.

Do you attempt to justify your actions against a person who has wronged you or wronged someone you love? “Well, you don’t know what she did.” Do you push the voice of God aside? “Well, she deserved it. She shouldn’t have been nosing around in other people’s business.”

When you constantly ignore that whisper of conviction, you will come to a point where you can hear it no more. Your heart will become calloused in that area, and your future may be filled with bitterness and hatred.

Too many people harden their heart to the voice of God. Gentle guidance from the Spirit of God is stuffed away or pushed aside for the sake of our will. We have our agendas, our plans, our ambitions at stake. We dare not listen to God because he might tell us to do something we don’t want to do. We question God’s love for us.

Whether your heart is soft or surrounded by a brick wall, God will break through. The more tender your heart, the more easily God can get through to you. If your heart is hard, God may have to use some extreme measures to penetrate, but he will get through. Let him break down those barriers that have kept him out of your heart.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Prayer: Father, speak to me through your Holy Spirit. Reveal any hardness of my heart and soften any calluses that may have formed. Finally, give me the strength to act upon my conscience, upon your leading.