Peace in the Storm
I'm currently in Florida visiting my daughter and her family and we are heading home Monday morning. We've been social distancing, yet spending most of our time outdoors. Took the jet ski out on the bay today and spent most of my time this week either bike riding, taking walks or praying by the water.
I hate to admit this, but I'm not at all looking forward to going home. We have a house here in Florida that we are not yet living in and a small apartment in St. Louis where our jobs are. As I'm sitting here by the water, I'm feeling some dread about experiencing a lock down in a small and noisy apartment. I'm spending these final moments refocusing on what's truly important...
If you have shelter, you're blessed! If you have food and the ever treasured toilet paper, you're blessed! If your family is well and has not contracted the virus, you're blessed! If you're like me and most people right now whose job is temporarily closed down, but you can get unemployment, you're blessed!
Let's dig a little deeper...if you lose everything you have and everyone you know turns their backs on you, but you have JESUS, YOU ARE BLESSED!!! A personal relationship with Him is the world's greatest blessing and throw in the forgiveness of your sins, the promise of healing for your body and eternal life!!! It doesn't get any better than that! Live or die WE ARE BLESSED!!!
You see, when you KNOW your Savior and He abides in your heart and you abide in Him, the world can't touch you! Oh, circumstances will arise and attacks will come, but as long as your focus stays on Jesus, your peace will remain intact! If your security isn't based on finances, things or people, but only Him, you can remain calm through any storm and have faith to come through triumphantly!
Think about it! If the world has no power to give you lasting joy, peace or fulfillment... how could it possibly take it away! Focus on Jesus and all that He's done for you, then share your heart of Thanksgiving with Him! There's no greater joy than connecting with Him in worship! He always shows up right in the midst of it and calms the storm within your mind and heart!
For me, Monday's scenery will be different than today's, but I'll still be with Jesus and that's where I find peace! It's only as I stay in close proximity to Him that I'm truly living!!!
Psalm 63:2-4 (MSG) So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Philippians 4:7 (NLT) Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
