What brings you peace? For some it’s looking at the ocean, for others it may be the mountains. Being still is a special place, that some may not be accustomed to.
What’s the very first thing Jesus said to His disciples when He showed up before them after His resurrection? “Peace be with you!” (John 20: 19) After they rejoiced and were astounded that He was in their midst, they looked at his hands and his side where His wounds were. He then says, “As the father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20: 21)
Thomas, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus walked in the room–the room with a locked door, for fear of the Jews coming after them.
- Jesus walks into our fear and calms us.
Thomas said to his friends, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20: 25)
Jesus comes into the same locked room, a week later, and once again says, “Peace be with you!” (John 20: 27) He invites doubting Thomas to touch His wounds saying, “Stop doubting and believe!” (John 20: 27)
Do you think the Lord was showing us how important peace is in our life? When He re-established Himself, He set the precedence for peace. Here are some facts about peace:
- Peace infiltrates all areas of our life.
- Supernatural peace comes from Holy Spirit.
- Peace settles doubt and unbelief.
Thomas’s confession, after he sees the scars, says, “My Lord and My God!” That is a confession of one who believes!
What’s the importance of these stories? “They are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20: 31)
(Shared from John 20: 1-18, Modified)
He Takes His Rightful Place
Where is that? In our hearts! “O Lord, the God who saves me day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ears to my cry.” (Psalm 88: 1-2)
- He still turns His ear and His heart to our cries, even to the ones that no one knows about, but Him.
If we doubt like Thomas or may feel that darkness is our closest friend, we can, “Cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” (Psalm 88: 13)
(Shared from Psalm 88, Modified)
The Lord Fights Our Battles
Hezekiah was faithful even when the King of Assyria came and invaded Jerusalem. He blocked off all the springs and water supply that flowed throughout the land. He then addressed the people saying, “There is a greater power with us than with him (Assyrian king). With him is only the arm of the flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32: 7-8a)
- Great leaders understand the Lord will fight for us.
End result: “The people gained confidence from what, Hezekiah, the king of Judah said.” (2 Chronicles 32: 8b)
The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, sends a letter to Hezekiah telling him how he’s going to wipe him out; so King Hezekiah and Isaiah do what’s always best, they cry out to the Lord in prayer.
- Don’t let just a crisis draw you to prayer.
- Learn to go there often, just because.
The Lord answered their prayers, “And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.” (2 Chronicles 32: 20-21)
- Let peace rule and reign in our hearts.
- Let the place of prayer be the place of peace for you. (Shared from 2 Chronicles 32, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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