Category: Jesus Gives Me Peace

Let’s read aloud together the following passages and prayer:

Philippians 4:5b-9 (NIV)
⁵ …The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
³ You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the LORD forever,
    for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.
 
2 Thess 3:16 (NIV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Prayer: Yes Lord! Give us your peace at all times and in every way. Lord of peace, be with our churches, leading us by your Spirit into your word, into prayer, into thoughts fixed on you and trusting in you, into putting what is good into practice. Thank you for your presence and your ways that keep us in perfect peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship as we sing “Anchor” by Hillsong (click here).

-KW

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

“Peter finishes…with the remarkable invitation to throw all our cares on God himself. The verb is a strong one: pick up everything that is bothering you, everything that is weighing you down, and fling them on God’s back. He will carry them. He will be delighted to do so. He loves you, after all.” (N.T. Wright, Early Christian Letter for Everyone)

“So the Bible gives us a very simple way to [respond when we feel anxious]…He just says, ‘cast’ or ‘place it on me, the one who can reconcile everything that is going on in your mind and heart right now. I’m going to put it together, I’m going to shape your life, and through this, you are going to get through.’ Because he cares for you. That’s our Jesus. And that’s the peace he gives you today.” (P. Tim’s message)

What do you feel anxious about today?
What are you wrapped up in trying to figure out or make work?
However big or small, Jesus is inviting you to throw it all on him right now, because he loves you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that you care for me. I have seen it in so many ways, and as I hear it again today, I lay down trying to figure things out, trying to make things work. I cast all my anxieties on you in this moment and receive your peace! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Singing Over Us” by Worship Central (click here).

-KW

 

 

John 16:33 (NIV)
³³ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

“But the last word isn’t one of warning. It’s one of good cheer. Somehow, even in the worst that is to come, the disciples can have a peace that will carry them through. This peace…is a matter of standing on the ground that Jesus is going to win – indeed, that he claims to have won already.” (N.T. Wright, John for Everyone)

Jesus loves you, he desires peace for you, so he does not sugarcoat the realities of this world. Jesus speaks clearly that you will have trouble, and in trouble you can still have his peace. Yes, you will face persecution. You will have days when nothing seems to go right or when pressures feel overwhelming. You will face difficult circumstances and grief. But Jesus is equally clear that he has defeated this world and his victory over it is already complete. So let’s face today with courage, standing on the ground that Jesus has already been victorious over the troubles of today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I receive your word of encouragement into my heart that you have already overcome every difficulty this world can produce. Holy Spirit, remind me of these words of Jesus in the troubles I face today, and fill me with joy and courage. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In encouragement from Jesus’ word to us, let’s worship him as we sing “Overcome” by Elevation Worship (click here).

-KW

 

 

John 14:27 (NIV)
²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

“So in the last hour of his life, Jesus is helping you not be anxious…on his mind is: ‘You look troubled. Your faces look troubled. I love you. I don’t like it when you look that way. I don’t want to leave you that way.’ It’s that simple. It’s that precious. It’s that personal.” (John Piper, Perfect Peace for Anxious Souls sermon)

Where does peace come from? The world tries to buy peace, work for peace, pretend peacefulness, fight for peace, negotiate peace, but it never gives peace because it has no peace to give. But Jesus freely gives you his peace because he wants your heart and life to be whole and well. And his peace will never fade or be taken back.

Is your heart troubled or afraid? Allow Jesus to get personal with you – his peace given to you – soaking into every piece of your heart to make you whole and well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for seeing when I am troubled and afraid. Thank you for giving me your peace, a peace the world cannot give and cannot take away. Help me to stop looking for peace in this world. Help me to trust you, receive from you, and rest in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s thank Jesus for his peace as we sing “It Is Well” by Matt Redman (click here).

-KW

 

 

Isaiah 9:6-7a (NRSVUE)
⁶ For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us…
   and he is named…Prince of Peace.
⁷ Great will be his authority and there will be endless peace.

Ephesians 2:13-14a (NIV)
¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace…

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He himself is our peace. Peace is not the absence of difficulty, but the presence of Jesus. This means that there will never be a moment when his peace is inaccessible to us. On the contrary, peace is always readily available because Jesus has been given to us as God’s gift. He came near to us, and then brought us near to him. So today, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, may our only longing be for his presence, his dwelling place.

Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV)
¹ How lovely is your dwelling place,
    LORD Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your presence and nearness that bring me peace. My only longing today is to be in your dwelling place. My heart and my flesh cry out for you, Jesus! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s continue to come near to Jesus as we worship with “My Peace” by Elijah Oyelade (click here).

-KW