“My peace I give you” (Jn.14:27). “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isa. 26:3).
“The Lord is near, don’t be anxious about anything, In every situation, 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” (Phil 4:5-7).
Lord Jesus, nowhere in the Scriptures have you promised us a disappointment-empty, storm-less, hassle-free, pain-void life. But you have promised to give us yourself and your peace. Right in the middle of any anxiety-producing, fear-fueling, anger-igniting situation or season, you are near. Thank you.
As with your grace, we don’t achieve your peace, we receive it—it’s a gift. You give it to us, and you will keep us in it. Jesus, please ramp up the intensity of your “keeping power,” because we often struggle to keep ourselves in peace. In fact we’re quite capable of sabotaging our peace by fixating on our fears, lingering in the “if only’s,” and fertilizing our resentment and bitter roots (Heb.12:15).
Hold us fast, Jesus—even if your grip hast to hurt a little bit. We’d rather have your “handprint” on us than suffer the consequences of avoiding you, or trying to squirm free from your grip of grace.
When fixing our thoughts on you is particularly difficult, grant us the grace of humility to contact a few friends to pray for us—not put us on a prayer list, but pray with us and for us in that very moment. The enemy’s design is to isolate us, but your delight is to come even closer through praying friends. Thank you, and So Very Amen.