Worry, fear, or peace–god’s peace

Noise is all around us. Sometimes we can control what we hear, like changing the channel from the ongoing updates of the covid-19 pandemic to a Hallmark movie, or an old re-run of the Andy Griffith show, or replays of previous golf tournaments (which is what you may hear at my house).


Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

But then there are those times when we can’t–like when we’re standing (6 ft. apart) from the person in the grocery line as they talk about the recent number of reported Coronavirus cases, or when we are listening to our favorite radio station and the song we are listening to gets cut off for a news alert from the governor of our state who has just issued a “Work or Home” mandate and we need to go home (yep, that happened to me yesterday.)

What about the noise in our head? The questions that are circling like hawks over a country meadow, the worry that scampers across our minds and our hearts, or the roar of fear that wants to make us stop in our tracks as we try to go through our day?

photo by Beth Fortune

But we as believers can control the negative noise in my minds and hearts because we have the Holy Spirit who resides in us. And one of the things the Holy Spirit can do is give us PEACE. But to receive MORE Peace, we need to have MORE of the Holy Spirit.

How do we actually have MORE of the Holy Spirit? We seek him!

I recently read a wonderful message written by John Piper who gives 4 ways to do this:

  1. Mediate on what God has said in the Spirit-inspired Scriptures.
  2. Believe what you hear and see in the Word.
  3. Hold fast in obedience to what you have heard and believed.
  4. Desire the Spirit.

“As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirst for God,
for the living God.” (Psa. 42:1-2).

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirst for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psa. 63:1).

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Yes, if we earnestly seek God and His Spirit, He will be faithful to give it to us. And the more we remove ourselves off the throne of our lives and allow the Spirit to fill us, then we will have more of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives

And what is one of the fruits of the Spirit? That’s right, PEACE.

Peace, something we all need at this time. Peace controlling our thoughts. Peace shining over the darkness of worry and fear as light cast away the dark shadows. ” . . . the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding . . .” (Phil 4:7). And what does this Peace of God do? It ” . . . will guard (our) hearts and (our) minds . . .” (Phil 4:7).

photo courtesy of www.pixabay.com

As we go through these days of new routines, new concerns, new priorities (who would have ever thought we would be planning trips to the stores early just to get toliet paper!!!!) may we stop and spend time with the ONE who knows all, knows our future, and is in control. We need to seek Him and let Him fill us with His Spirit–for that is where we will find our true PEACE.

Photo by Kien Do on Unsplash

The link to John Piper’s message “How to Seek the Holy Spirit” is located below.

Scripture from the English Standard Version of the BIble (ESV)

Beth Fortune

Beth has a passion for God's Word. Through her writing and speaking she allows the heartbeat of the Father to flow through her words. As an award-winning writer she’s a contributing writer with Christian Devotions and has had stories published in two "Chicken Soup For the Soul Book" Series in addition to other anthologies. Some of her articles have been published in Focus on Family’s "Thriving Family" magazine and Dr. Charles Stanley’s "In Touch" magazine. With a degree in Ornamental Horticulture she loves gardening and enjoys giving gardening talks to churches, schools, and community groups but her real enjoyment comes from sharing God's truths and encouraging others. She and her husband live in Mauldin, SC where they are in a season of caregiving for her father-in-law in the home. A diffiult season, but one in which God continues to show His grace. You can visit her at www.bethfortune.net.

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