Daily Devotions

At night when everything is quite, uneasy thoughts can bombard you. You want to sleep and get the rest that you need, but your responsibilities and problems fill your mind. You try to focus on other things, counting sheep or simply listening to the tick-tocks of the clock, but you can’t stop the anxieties from tormenting you and keeping you awake at night.In those moments, you would give anything for some peace.
Have you experienced sleepless nights alone with your troubled thoughts? Have you struggled through those stressful moments, wondering why your mind cannot let go and rest? In John 14:27, Jesus said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
But why is peace so hard to hold on to? Peace is God’s gift to you, but you cannot have it apart from a close, intimate relationship with Him. Here is the life principle that I want you to think about today: “Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.”
Psalm 4:8 reads, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety.”
David wrote those words and some believe that Psalm 4 was written either during the rebellion of Sheba or while Saul was persecuting David. Others believe that Psalm 4, like Psalm 3, was written by David during Absalmon’s rebellion against him. No matter who sought to hurt him, David trusted in God for his peace.
The word “peace” in Hebrew, “shalom,” means “the completion, fulfillment, unity, and harmony that came as a result of God’s presence.”
Considering that David had so many enemies, it’s difficult to imagine him getting a good night’s sleep. However, David knew that he could rely upon God for his safety and peace. This was the result of his faithful walk with the Lord. David was committed to obeying God and keeping his focus continually on Him. Because of that, David had peace, even in the worse of circumstances.
How about you put? Do you long for deep, abiding peace? Does your soul need rest from the worries and stresses that surround you? Your anxiety is a telltale sign that your focus isn’t where it should be. Instead of rejoicing in the strength, wisdom, and love of God, you’ve allowed your attention to be consumed by the details of your circumstances. You are so busy trying to figure out how to fix your situation that you’ve forgotten that the only effective solution is to submit yourself to God. As Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Therefore, you must learn to think differently, or as Romans 12:2 tells us, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The most important thing that you can do is to begin every day connecting with God by reading His Word and spending time in prayer. Your time with God will give you the direction, strength, and focus that you need, and will fill you with the assurance that your heart yearns for.
The word “peace” in Greek is, “eirene,” and it means “to bind together.” It is the harmony, security, and joy that comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have that? How will you
live out the principle I shared with you in this devotional? What about the trials you are facing and how can you develop your “oneness” with Christ? I would encourage you to spend some quality time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Here are some lessons to remember:
Only God is equipped to handle our problems (Psalm 62:5-7).
Accepting God’s timetable and instruction helps to dispel rising anxiety (Habakkuk 2:1-3).
The safest place for you when trials come is in the everlasting arms of Jesus (Deuteronomy 33:27).
So remember, “Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.”
I trust you have a wonderful day!