Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when peace is missing in action

Chasing Peace
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”—Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

It’s official. The polls are in. People are stressed out. Mind you, it is my own man-on-the-street poll, but it is valid, nonetheless. All one has to do is watch, listen and read the cues.

People are in full swing with the new school year. Children are signed up for every activity, parents are rushing to and fro with children in tow, eating, grabbing and snatching dinner, catching conversations, ending up exhausted at home later than expected and trying to do homework when everyone is tired.

Those same parents may both be working, juggling complicated clients, schedules, and parents of their own. Friends are there, sort of. Church is there, but only if it fits in and joy is elusive. Peace? Missing in Action.

It’s no one’s fault. It’s everyone’s fault. It is life and it is at a breakneck speed.

In quietness and trust is your strength. These words are like a blanket for our souls, hearts, and minds. And they are spoken from the Sovereign Lord Himself. He does not mince words, nor waste them. He speaks clearly, on time and for our good (Romans 8:28).

What does quiet look and sound like? A day in the woods with only wind blowing, birds chirping and rivers flowing? Could be. Or the roar of an ocean? Or the cooing of a newborn baby?

Quiet could be the settled place in your heart in which surrender has just happened. Many times we struggle against God and the very thing He wants and has for us. But we resist, fight, ignore or walk away. Peace is chased, but never found. God wants us to chase Him, and the result of the chase is meeting and receiving Jesus Christ who is our Prince of Peace.

Can peace be had solely by chasing, or does it wash over us in a gentle embrace? There is something to be said about stillness and God has much to say about this.

“Be still and know that I am God.”—Psalm 46:10

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”—Exodus 14:14

“And after you have done everything, stand.”—Ephesians 6:13

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”—Psalm 37:7

These are just a sampling found in Scripture. Chasing the word “still” in Scripture is a good practice and gets our minds settled on how important God sees stillness, quiet, trust and patience.

Oh, that word patience. Not many embrace it. Not many talk in a positive light as it seems to be the crushing enemy of a vibrant walk with Jesus. But God does not deem it so. We have one enemy, and his name is not patience. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit and is the evidence of a walk lived filled with the Spirit.

Missing patience and peace? These are not something we conjure up but are given to the believer as a demonstration of the Spirit working in our lives—and fruit for all to see. Peace comes in the complete trust and abandon to God. Patience comes with finally letting go and letting God. It is being still before Him in assurance of this truth: God is for us.

Instead of chasing, let us rest. Instead of fretting, let us trust. Instead of busyness, let us put God first and all these things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).

What things will be added to us? As our Heavenly Father, God will provide everything we need in His perfect time. Matthew wrote down Christ’s words for us. The words are part of His Sermon on the Mount. These words set the world on fire then and they still have that same affect today.

Let us rest in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Let us hide ourselves in Him and rest between His shoulders (Deuteronomy 33:12).

Let’s Pray: Father God, You alone are holy, good, and my Peace. Please forgive me for chasing the things of this world instead of stopping and being still, resting in You. I long for more of You and I see how by not stopping, I am actually pushing You away. I do repent and ask You to give me more of Jesus, my Prince of Peace. I am here, between Your shoulders and I am secure in Your love. And Peace. Hope. Rest. Salvation. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “First Things First” by Consumed By Fire. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ can meet your every need!

What Do You Need for Christmas?
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

–Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

I’m not a gambler, but I think it’s a safe bet that everyone feels like a different person than they were at this time last year. The year 2020 has seen most of our worlds shaken in one way or another. Every new experience, every new circumstance, every loss, every hurt, every joy changes us and stretches us into someone we weren’t before. This year has collectively stretched us in ways we didn’t see coming when we put up our Christmas decorations just one short year ago.

But as the sun rises every morning, even on a cloudy day when we can’t see it, the celebration of that amazing Christmas story has come, just like it always does. We will read the familiar story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2 and the prophecies foretold in Isaiah. We will sing the songs and light the candles and say the prayers, even if we have to do it at home or online because the world is different this time. Even so, the story remains unchanged, because God is unchanged.

Jesus Christ’s characteristics and purpose, as laid out in Isaiah 9, are exactly the same today as they were all those years ago in Bethlehem. So my question to all of us is this: Which of Christ’s characteristics and names that we know Him by do you need most this Christmas?

“Wonderful Counselor”: This phrase talks about Christ’s wisdom and judgement. Do you need divine advice? Do you have questions that can’t be answered outside of God and His wisdom? Pray to the Wonderful Counselor. Ask Him to give you whatever you need. He knows everything about you and your situation. Rest in the fact that this year’s chaos never once took Him by surprise, nor is your life too messy for Him to want to be part of.

“Mighty God”: This name shows Jesus’ strength. Maybe you are feeling weak this season. That’s okay because Jesus is more than willing to let you lean on Him. You don’t need to be brave because He already is. Take courage, friend. Jesus has already won whatever battle you are facing. He is with you now as you fight it, and will be at the finish line when it is over.

“Everlasting Father”: Jesus is God. He created the world from nothing and He will remain unchanged forever. He is our Good Father, who wants to guide us and love us. Maybe you need a reminder today that God is good even when the world looks dark. Ask Him to show you His goodness in the moments when you need it most.

“Prince of Peace”: Jesus is the Ultimate Healer of broken things. “Peace” is not just the opposite of war, but it also implies being whole or complete. Maybe you are feeling broken today by circumstances beyond your control. Maybe your relationships feel disconnected or the state of the world has you feeling anxious. Give those hurts to Jesus. Let Him hold them for you because that baggage was never meant for you to carry alone.

I’ll admit that this year I need to remember Jesus is here for me in all these ways and more. Let’s pray that we never lose the joy, wonder, and gratitude for the miracle of Christmas. I hope that each year we are more awed by the story of God becoming one of us in order to bring us to Himself. Praise Jesus!

Let's Pray: Gracious and precious Lord, we praise You for how You love us and how you showed that love so beautifully in a humble stable so many years ago. We want to know You in a deeper way. Please show us Who You are in whatever manner we need today. We love You and thank You for the miracle of Christmas. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Power and Legacy of A Good Name

What Is His Name?
A devotional by Quantrilla Ard

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.” ~Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

I remember having grand ideas of what my children’s names would be when I became a parent. I would spend hours searching through websites and books, trying to put together the right combination of first and middle names although I wasn’t sure of what their last names would be (this began long before I was married). The sound of the name was important as I waded through names both traditional and non-traditional, and it had to have just the right ring to it. What I didn’t always take into account was the meaning of the names, and I am glad that I had a few more years yet to ultimately make that decision.

A saying that I hear quite often in my writing and professional circles is “Words mean things,” and names aren’t excluded in this overarching message of the worth and value of words. There is the belief that what you name a child will shape and/or define who they become – that they will live up to what you call them. Although it may or may not have some credibility, this belief was very influential in the naming of our children. So every time someone asks us what our children's names are, I feel a sense of pride knowing that their names were carefully and lovingly considered and chosen.

In this Advent season, I often think of how Mary truly felt. She had to have grappled with the weight of such a responsibility – being the mother of the One for whom all the world had been waiting. There was one burden she didn’t have to carry, naming him. Although it was typical for the naming of the children to be the duty of the mother, this time the baby that was to be born was named by His Father, not by Mary or Joseph.

Matthew 1:20-21 (BSB) says: “But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

This name meant something, something special. This name wasn’t just thought up on a whim or conjured from the imaginations of well-meaning family and friends. This name was different. The salvation of the world depended on it. Acts 4:12 (KJV) tells us, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Can you imagine if Joseph and Mary had gotten that one thing wrong? I can’t. Mary and Joseph’s obedience in this matter was of the utmost importance, it literally was the difference between life and death.

While the naming of our children is not typically done in the fashion of Mary and Joseph, I still believe that God wants to be a part of how and what we name our children. I have met many mothers who like Hannah named their children based on God’s response to a specific prayer or circumstance. There are also family names that are passed down through generations, representing years of tradition. What I know to be true is that every time I say the name “Jesus” something shifts in my spirit. There is power in the name of Jesus and rightly so.

The next time you hear the question, “What’s his/her name?” take a moment and think about the name above all names, Jesus, and what a profound impact His name truly has in your life.

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Author Bio:

Quantrilla (Quanny) Ard is a faith-based personal and spiritual development writer who lives in the D.C. Metro area with her husband and three littles. 

In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, she is an entrepreneur, doctoral student, and curator of all things lovely.

As a woman on her own quest of shining a light on the shadowy, hidden places in her life, she writes as the PhDMamma about things she knows to be true in hopes to encourage others to do the same.

Her spiritual goals and her love for Christ propels her quest to share the journey with other women: to walk alongside them and encourage them with words, deeds, and wisdom. Quanny believes in the power that is within collective strength, community, and fellowship.

You will find her wherever people are sharing stories of triumph.

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Connect with Quanny:
Website - https://www.thephdmamma.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thephdmamma
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/qyard08
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/quannyboo/