We've discussed making Jesus happy, bringing Him joy through our actions. Today, I want to focus a little bit more on the tail half of the verse I shared yesterday.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Paul first tells us not to be anxious, but to use prayer and petition to God with thanksgiving for all that you already have. Then comes the big one, and the peace of God, it's not peace like the quiet in my house when my family is on vacation. It's not the peace that means not a time of war for our country, it's God's peace.
I have experienced God's peace numerous times, but I can recall it 2 times in my life where it didn't make sense.
FIrst, I was about 21 years old, I had been working in construction for about a year and a half and I was finally making good money. I was about to pay off my truck, Tara and I had been dating for a few years and we were both finishing up our AA degrees at St. Johns. Everything was making sense, I was still living at home, she was living at home and then we decided to get married. We got married and about a year and a half later we had Alexa. It was then that I got a little anxious about our bills and thinking about having another person to provide for. It was also then that God gave me peace in a decision that had been on my heart. God gave me peace to quit my construction job and go to work at the church for half of what I was making at the time. I did it and never looked back. We lived on student loans and credit cards for groceries and such for about 4 years, but we never doubted for a second we were doing what we should be doing, because we had His peace!
There was also a time in my life where I had been working for about 8 years in an environment that was growing more and more emotionally draining. I was emotionally and mentally beaten up for about 2 years and just completely drained. I got a raise and we were finally making enough money to pay off some of our prior debt and get rid of my truck that was running on about half the required cyllinders. Things were looking up in all areas except for getting beat up almost weekly by attacks on the leadership and within. I was praying what I should do and I knew I needed to get out but the anxiety of not being able to pay our bills kept me there, in complete unhappiness. Then, a few things transpired and sitting in the living room, my eyes closed about 5 minutes after having read my Bible and prayed God lifted the burden off of me and Tara and I decided to move on. It was His peace that got me through that time, I had not had it in the past. I was offered about 4 jobs inside of a week after giving the notice that I was going to leave. Some way too good to be true, but none of them gave me God's peace. I went to work again for less than half of what i had been making before, less than I had started with in the ministry some 9 years prior. But I am telling you all this to say, that God's peace is all it takes. Bills, stress, anxiety, friendships, and relationships they all fade away the very moment you get God's peace about your decisions in life.
So turn it over to God, allow Him to lift your burdens and make your decisions for you. When it's His decision, you will be right every time!
Have a great day!
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