How to have peace (4)

To have peace we must focus on God's presence. What we choose to focus on either fuels our faith or our fears. The Bible says, 'You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you' (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). That verse could be reduced to one sentence: 'Get your focus in order look at me.'

The psalmist reminds us, 'Be still, and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10 NIV). These verses were written during the time of Hezekiah. Enemy armed forces had surrounded Jerusalem and the Israelites were tense, so they prayed! And five minutes before noon, God struck the Assyrians with a plague and 185,000 of them perished. Jerusalem was saved, and everyone was joyful. This psalm helps us remember that God is our refuge. No matter how overwhelming the odds seem, he's always with us to help. This psalm tells us of two things about receiving God's help in times of trouble. The first thing is to 'be still'. Many of our troubles come from our inability to sit still. The second thing is to 'know that I am God'.

In the middle of a hurricane or tornado there is a quiet centre called an eye. Likewise, in the storms of life, when everything is blowing apart around us, we can have a quiet God-centre.



So what now? Be still and know. When you live this way, 'the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds' (Philippians 4:7 NIV).





— SCRIPTURE —

'Be still, and know that I am God.' Psalm 46:10 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

2 Ki 21-23, Mark 14:1-11, Ps 73:1-16, Pro 13:17-19