Peace in All Circumstances.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

Peace in All Circumstances

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

One of the most powerful marks of a believer is transcendent peace. This world offers us no reason to be peaceful. It offers us no reason to be without stress, burdens, cares, and total frustration. But we serve a God who offers us peace in the midst of any circumstance. We serve a God in whom all true peace finds its source. May you discover the heart of your heavenly Father to bring you peace this week.

Scripture:“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Devotional:           

Verses telling of the peace available to us in all circumstances are some of the most encouraging and powerful truths of Scripture. God longs for us to be children marked by the peace of our Father. He longs for us to have peace in the good and bad times because he remains faithful and good, always. He longs for us to be so founded in him that this world can’t shake us.

You and I have every reason to live with the stresses and cares of the world save one: God dwells within us. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” We serve the Lord of peace. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us is wholly peaceful. And Galatians 5:22 tells us that he will bear the fruit of peace in our lives if we simply live in continual communion with him.

Circumstances begin to rob us of our peace the minute we choose to live as if God isn’t within us. Trials and tribulations will become all-consuming if we allow them to. You see, we are not to live with our physical eyes as our sole source of truth. God has granted us spiritual eyes and the ability to have faith in his faithfulness and goodness regardless of our circumstances. He’s given us the ability to choose to live with union with him as our foundation. We are not alone. We are never alone. The God who authored Scripture, knows all of eternity, raised Christ from the dead, and empowered the disciples dwells within us, always.

You will only live with peace in this life to the level that you live out of the union you have with God. In every situation, God is with you, ready and willing to lead you, empower you, sustain you, and fill you with peace in response to your trust. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Peace is our portion. And this peace is not given as the world gives, based on the fickle nature of man and the ever-changing opinion of the world. Heavenly peace finds its source solely in the unchanging nature of our good and loving heavenly Father.

You and I are commanded by Jesus, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). We must take captive our emotions and ground them in the unshakable nature of God. We must allow a direct connection from our hearts to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, letting him speak to us, fill us, and direct our every moment.

The peace of God transcends anything we will experience on this earth. If we place our lives in the capable hands of our heavenly Father, we can trust that his perfect, pleasing plans will be done in our lives. Take time today to ground your peace in the unshakable nature of your heavenly Father. Take time to turn your eyes away from the world as your source of peace and set them instead on union with God. May the Holy Spirit reveal his nearness to you in mighty and powerful ways today as you open your heart and receive his loving presence.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the peace available to you in all circumstances.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

2. In what ways do you look to the world for your peace? Who or what holds the reigns on your emotions and peace?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his nearness to you. Ask him to help you discover the union you already have with him. Take your eyes off the things of the world and establish your peace in God alone.

“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Learning to receive our peace from God alone is a process. When we’ve lived with the world as our emotional source it takes time to ground ourselves in God. But this is a process worth doing. God has unshakable peace in store for you every day regardless of the circumstances you face. He has love, joy, and steadfastness available to you in every trial and tribulation. Look to God as your source today and discover the abundant life available to you in him alone.

Extended Reading: John 14

The Way of Enduring Faith..DAHLIA (FROM IRAQ)

 The Way of Enduring Faith

DAHLIA FROM IRAQ 

“Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12b-13 (NKJV)

Editor’s Note: In August 2014, Christian families on the Nineveh Plain in Iraq learned that a terrorist group was coming and, in fear for their lives, fled their homes in the middle of the night. For three years, they lived displaced. After their cities were liberated, only a small remnant (about 40%) returned. Those who did return came back to bombed-out buildings and vandalized and damaged homes, many beyond repair. Today, the situation in Iraq remains tense for Christians like Dahlia — the struggle isn’t over.

I still remember waking up my children in the middle of the night and fleeing our home. We left our house that my husband, Ghader, and I had spent years building, and we ran into the unknown with our three young children, with not much more than the clothes on our backs.

I’ve learned from Scripture that those who follow Jesus will be persecuted. Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!” (John 16:33b-c, NIV). But that doesn’t mean what happened to us didn’t affect me. I was crying the whole way when we fled. Still, it never affected my faith. The persecution we’ve suffered for following Jesus has made me cling to God even more.

In the refugee camp where we lived for three years, people asked me why I was always smiling. I told them that we might have lost all our earthly possessions, but we still had Jesus, and no one could take that away from us.

In late 2017, we made the decision to return to our home in the Nineveh Plain. This is our country and heritage. We trace our lineage back to the days of Jesus’ disciples — Peter even sent his greetings to the church in this region where we live.

But when we walked into our city, I barely recognized it. The destruction, the burning — the place was almost like a desert. Our house was looted, the rooms torn down. I felt like a stranger inside my own home, as if I didn’t belong there.

Today, we continue to rebuild our lives and communities. City infrastructures are lacking, the economy is struggling, and extremists are still a threat. Our bags are always packed in case we must flee again. I am very strict with my children; I urge them to be careful. My daughter studies in nearby Mosul, where kidnappings and explosions often happen. It’s scary.

You may ask how I can live with such uncertainty and risk losing so much again. My answer is simple: Going to church and meeting with God gives me hope. I pray a lot. When my prayers are deep and from the heart, I hear the voice of God inside of me, and the Holy Spirit speaks to me. Whenever I feel sad, oppressed or alone, I cry out to God, especially when I miss my family. I am the only one of my extended family who’s still here — the others didn’t return.

Christians here are building the church in the midst of our city’s restoration. I also lead a women’s Bible study. When I first returned, I felt I needed something to strengthen my faith and restore my self-confidence. I saw that some of the women around me needed it too. We thought, What better place to gather than the church, and what better place to find hope than in the Bible?

Recently, around 150 women attended our gathering. I feel the Holy Spirit is at work in us during the meetings. Each time we meet, we talk about women in the Bible who were persecuted and people who bravely faced trouble. Through this, we feel we exist. We feel Jesus’ presence. And we feel we belong here again.

Persecution and suffering have taught me that in every situation, in every crisis, there is only one thing I can do: rely on the Lord and focus on Him. I always ask, How do You want to use me, Lord? I remember the words of the Apostle Paul and repeat them in my head: “Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12b-13).

Please pray with us. With the prayers of the worldwide Church, we can continue our ministry and spread the life-giving Word of the Lord … right here in the midst of persecution.

Father, thank You for Your promise and blessing of refining fire, and thank You that I can rely on You to walk with me through it. I am overwhelmed by Your love for me — Your strength, deep compassion and abundant grace. Help me to ask, How do You want to use this, Lord? When I’m walking through suffering, please surround me with Your presence and voice. Please strengthen Dahlia and her family and bring Your peace as they follow and serve You. And be ever present with my sisters and brothers throughout the world as they risk so much to testify to Your goodness and power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Spiritually Shortsighted..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Spiritually Shortsighted

Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 16:19-31

In Luke 16, Jesus told a story about a rich man who lived for himself and ignored God. After death, he experienced the consequences of his choices—eternal separation from the Lord.

Jesus described him as one who lived in luxury every day (v. 19), providing for himself the best that money could buy but giving little to the poor at his gate. It is important to realize that this man wasn’t judged harshly by God because of his wealth. The heavenly Father is not opposed to our success. Nor was the man separated from the Lord because of his lack of charity toward others. He did not deliberately harm others but, rather, overlooked those in need and focused on himself.

The rich man’s mistake was that he prepared everything for the body but nothing for the soul. Our culture practices a similar style of living. Acquiring material riches and satisfying self is the primary pursuit of many in our world. Having what one wants seems to be the goal whether it’s a struggle to make ends meet or the bank account is overflowing.

Scripture says we were created to be in a relationship with the Father through faith in His Son. The rich man ignored God and paid the ultimate price. Our eternal destiny depends on our decision about Christ.

Despite what our culture thinks, life is not about us. It’s about having a relationship with the Lord. Whoever accepts Christ’s gift of salvation will live eternally with Him in heaven. Those who reject God will suffer. If you know any spiritually shortsighted people, pray that they will trust in Jesus.

When Should We Praise God? ..: Anne Peterson

 When Should We Praise God? (Psalm 66:17)

 By: Anne Peterson

Today’s Bible Verse: For I cried out to Him for help praising him as I spoke. - Psalm 66:17

My friend and I sat quietly as the conference speaker shared her story. She told the story of how God had spared her son when one day he was swinging around a wooden bat and he hit the fluorescent light on the ceiling.

She continued speaking, “There was glass all around his young body in a perfect circle. When the fog lifted, I saw him and though there was glass surrounding that circle, inside he stood perfectly fine, untouched. God is good!”

I looked over at Jeanie and saw a tear slide down her face. I knew her question even before she whispered it to me.

“Would she have said God is good if her son had been hurt?”

Jeanie and Al had recently buried their infant daughter, Erin. Erin had lived through 5 major surgeries, but tragically died in her crib. All of Al and Jeanie’s friends shared in their grief. I still remember when I visited Erin in the hospital. She was only 4 1/2 pounds and had to remain there. I watched as Jeanie stroked her daughter’s precious little leg and she softly sang the words, “Jesus loves me, this I know…”

I was certain that as she sang, God hushed heaven and told his angels to watch and see what love looked like.

Too often, we wait and praise God after he answers our prayers with the yes we had hoped for. We wait to praise him until after a loved one recovers, or we get that job we badly needed.

When Jesus went to visit his friends Mary and Martha following Lazarus’ death, Jesus asked them to take him to where Lazarus was laid. They reminded him that he had been dead for a few days and that he would stink. That did not deter Jesus. And we know that Jesus called on God at that moment. And the order of what he prayed always struck me:

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” - (John 11:42-45).

Jesus thanked God for hearing him before Lazarus took one wobbly step. Before!

Recently when reading Psalms 66, I came across verse 17 where David said he cried out to God for help, praising him as he spoke. Similarly, Paul sang in prison as he waited for God to answer his prayers. Both these men believed God was more than able to do what they asked. Do we believe that?

Sometimes I think we get things backward. We mistakenly think God is good when he answers our prayers. In her book, The God of All Comfort,  Hannah Hurnard tells us that God can be nothing less than good. God’s goodness is part of his character. It’s who God is.

May we continue to lean on God with our whole weight, praising God as we call out to him, just like God’s servant, David.

God is Good

Lord, I pray you help us learn
and to discern what’s true.
That you are worthy of all praise,
no matter what you do.

And God, if there are ever times
when you’re misunderstood,
help us just remember this—
that you are always good.

© Anne Peterson

A Prayer for Joy in the Morning..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer for Joy in the Morning

By Kristine Brown

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NLT

When a storm of life rages all around us, it’s hard to believe any relief waits beyond its terrifying fury. Gray clouds and devastating winds block our view of the coming sunrise. That’s when we must have faith in the certainty that storms will eventually cease. That light will shine once again.

Sometimes the storms we face are the kind that literally tear apart our homes and property, leaving destruction in their wake. But more often than that, we experience the storms of life that shake us to the core. The kind of storms that bring fear and cause us to doubt things will ever get better. These storms too— like physical storms— threaten to destroy things. Things like families, our health, or our well-being. Thankfully we have an unshakeable promise to cling to when those storms come.

The psalmist David knew how it felt to be surrounded by scary circumstances. He understood the need to cling to God when all hope seemed clouded by dark gray discouragement. Many of us have been there. Where middle of the night prayers feel like they aren’t being heard. Where loneliness and hopelessness thrive. But David relied on God’s truth in desperate times, and his psalm is one we can claim today as our own. Midnight often seems like our darkest hour, but praise God for the promise of joy that comes with the morning.

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NLT

Are the storms of life closing in on you today? Have you been tossed by winds and rain that never seem to end? Take heart, dear child of God. Joy still comes in the morning. That is a promise from our Heavenly Father that never expires. The sun will rise again, and with it, unspeakable joy to fill our hearts. Let’s pray in expectation of the joy that will come. 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
When I’m in the midst of a storm, I feel shaken. Fear and doubt try to take hold of my thoughts. In those times, it’s hard to have hope. Thank you for the truth of your Word that is powerful enough to cast out fear and doubt. The night may seem dark and scary, but you promise me that joy will come in the morning.

Darkness has a way of deceiving my mind and heart, but I know Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness. So when I’m in those hard places— whether in the late night hours or surrounded by clouds— I can rest, knowing you are there with me. Comforting, protecting, and bringing supernatural peace. May the words of Psalm 30:5 be my heart’s cry as I trust in you. The devastation will not last forever. “...Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Thank you, God.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Does God Really Want to Meet with Me?..Megan Evans

 Does God Really Want to Meet with Me?

By Megan Evans

"How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God." - Psalm 84:1-2 (NLT)

Messy moments and seasons of life when we have strayed can leave us wondering if God even wants to be around us anymore. Perhaps your heart has asked the question, “does God really want to talk to someone like me right now?” Though the shame of our sin may tell us no, God’s faithful love screams a victorious yes! So then, what does a Holy God do with sinful people like you and me? Thankfully, as He has always done, our Heavenly Father calls us to His side. What a tender welcome into His unfailing love! Like the generations who came before us, He scoops us up, washes us clean, and teaches us how to live under His refuge and blessing.

God went to great lengths to prepare His people to be able to meet with Him. All throughout the Bible we see a Holy God pursuing unholy hearts in need of saving. Even when God’s people wandered and strayed, He never stopped loving them and still seeks our hearts to this day. God wants to spend time with us and promises forgiveness and redeeming love when we come to Him. This relationship is the only way our hearts can ever be truly satisfied. The presence of the Lord is indeed a lovely dwelling place and our spirit yearns for it because His presence is where God created us to live out our days. 

One such account of God’s extensive preparation to dwell and meet with His people regularly can be found in the Old Testament book of Numbers. This certainly isn’t the most action packed book of the Bible, but nestled amidst the bookkeeping and records are tender moments between God and man.  

If anyone could have pushed the limits of the Father’s love it would have been the Israelites, yet the Bible chronicles His unfailing love and desire for relationship with man. God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, gave them law and instruction, and prepared to dwell in their midst by way of the Tabernacle. When it came time to dedicate the altar to God, each tribe committed to serve the Lord by presenting their offering. This demonstrated not only obedience, but hearts that were finally ready for relationship.  

God spoke to Moses there at the tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting as it is also called. Scripture tells us, “Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there” (Numbers 7:89 NLT).  

We were made for so much more than just the ordinary sin of this broken world.  We were meant to enjoy God’s perfect love, joy, hope, and peace and to dwell in His extraordinary presence. The Lord pursued and redeemed this ragtag group of Israelites and He wants to spend time with us too. Yes, God really wants to meet with you and me regardless of where our hearts have wandered, so it’s time to come back home. Like Jesus tells of the prodigal son who returned home to his welcoming father, “…He was lost, but now he is found” (Luke 15:32).  

If your heart is longing for God’s tender presence then meet with Him right now. Spend time with God in prayer and rest there lingering in His love and forgiveness. If you’ve surrendered the throne of your life to Jesus Christ, then His dwelling place is no further than your heart. You are welcome in His courts today, so enter with praise shouting joyfully to the living God. 

He is ready to meet with us anyplace, anytime, anywhere. So don’t wait! Talk to God in prayer and listen to His Living Word through the pages of your Bible. Jesus is the answer to anything our body and mind are longing for today. Our spirit is yearning for time with God, and we can rest assured we are welcome in His lovely dwelling place.    

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
What has been keeping you from meeting with God lately? Consider today any unconfessed sin, past hurt, laziness, busyness, distraction, or earthly idols that may have your worship and attention instead. Meet with God in prayer today and enjoy the restoration of His forgiveness and the sweetness of fellowship in His presence.

Further Reading:
Read a few more verses about God’s desire to meet with us:

• Hebrews 10:22
• Psalm 27:8
• Luke 15:1-2