Devotionals for the Heart: God can give you a peace that stays with you

A Promise of Peace
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)

Just a few months ago, I was in a mental space where I felt overwhelmed by the cares of life and I was on the verge of losing hope.

I was inundated by the day-to-day chores of simple living. I was caring for my husband and home while balancing ministry, my teaching career, and my entrepreneurial pursuits. I was burnt out, tapped out, and just plain exhausted. I needed a break badly. I needed a reset. I needed to reassess, re-prioritize, and delegate more. I needed to surrender some things to God in prayer. I needed to increase my self-care and resume personal counseling. I needed to reach out for help from God and from those in my faith community.

It’s important to realize when you feel overwhelmed. It’s important to note that your worry has reached an unhealthy level. It’s important to acknowledge that you need help and to reach out for it. In the text cited above, Paul clearly says, “Reach out to God for help via prayer.”

When you lack rest, reach out to God for it.

Paul wrote to the church of Philippi and encouraged them to remember the source of peace. He reminds readers of the essential importance of resting in God by faith. As believers, we have a source of peace that unbelievers don’t utilize. We can rest in our Savior’s arms, knowing that He has a plan for us that is greater than we could ever imagine or hope.

Paul warns believers not to worry about anything. Instead, he says that we can use prayer as a constant source of refuge and a sort of “dumping ground”. We can dump all of our cares (worries) on the Lord in prayer. In 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV), the apostle Peter advises believers to cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” He’s telling us to cast our cares on Jesus Christ.

Prayer is a divine encounter with the Creator of the Universe. It is an exchange between creature and Creator. Among other things, we exchange our worries for peace. We exchange hopelessness for hope. We exchange overwhelm for rest and a plan to reset. In the above text, Paul shares an outline for prayer: supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests before God. He says, “ask for what you want and give thanks–be grateful.” Gratefulness has a way of surrounding you with peace. Then the peace of God, which many times is unfathomable, will keep your heart and mind through Christ. God promises peace through the avenue of prayer.

Call to Action:

#1: Cast your worries on God and leave them there. Have confidence that God is great enough to handle your affairs and that He will do right by you. He has your best interest at heart.

#2: Daily practice the presence of God through studying His Word (The Holy Bible) and praying to Him. Casting your cares on Christ daily minimizes worry and builds faith.

#3: Check in with yourself. How are you? Take inventory of your life. Ask yourself, do I need help from God and/or my faith community?

#4: Be honest about your mental health and self-care. It is God’s will that you’re in good health and you prosper as your soul prospers. Balance spiritual and natural things.

#5: Get counseling, if needed. Find an accountability partner or a prayer partner to walk alongside you. No man is an island. We need each other. Everyone needs someone.

#6: Remember, our peace comes from God. He is our peace. Our faith doesn’t guarantee that we will not have trouble. However, it does guarantee our peace in the midst of life’s storms when we rest in Him.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me the peace that passes all understanding. I have peace when my world is falling apart. I experience peace when destruction is on every side. I experience peace in the face of a negative doctor’s report or health challenges. I experience peace because I know that you are in control of every situation and I can trust you with my life, my times, and my future. Help me to rest in You, knowing that you are working everything for my benefit. Something good is coming out of this. Thank you Father for the blessed assurance that your plan for me is perfect. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Take It to the Lord in Prayer” by Aeolians of Oakwood University. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College. 

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

~*~
Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Small Actions = Big Differences: A Guest Post by Austi Garrett

Summer 2014 Guest Post by His Yes Girl, Austi Garrett

These days there are so many campaigns going on that are meant for us, to promote and help one another: bullying, hunger, self-image, suicide, acceptance, abuse, disease, and the list goes on and on. It is simple for us to join these campaigns on social media sites, we just change our profile pictures, ‘like’ pages, share ad-slogans, etc. But what are we really doing to help and make a difference? Praying? Begging God to help?

I heard such a beautiful and inspirational song a few weeks ago called “Do Something” by Matthew West. (Listen to it HERE!) The lyrics go:

“So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t you do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something”

Most of us can’t go out and speak at functions, travel across the world to feed the hungry, donate a bunch of money to causes, or treat the sick. But what we can do is reach out to the people around us and be the type of person that people need & depend upon (even in small ways). The type of person who makes a difference (big or small) in the lives of every single person around us.

We can never know the difference a simple smile or a kind word can make in someone’s day. I have heard a few stories where people were in desperate situations contemplating suicide and because a stranger smiled and asked how they were they didn’t go through with it.

I cannot tell you the amount of times that I have been to a church or a ‘religions/Christian’ function where I was made to feel like a pariah. The members of the church or function had already developed their little cliques and groups. Honestly, many of the people there seemed like the most unfriendly and unwelcoming people I had ever came across.

We, as Christians, claim that we want to show everyone the grace of God, lend a helping hand, love everyone equally, and welcome with open arms. But how often do we actually act upon those things? When was the last time that we went out of our way to speak to a complete stranger just to see how they were doing? Stepped out of our comfort zone to help someone else?

Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? Luke 10:30-36

30 Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. 31 Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 32 Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 33 A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’36 What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?”

This parable is a beautiful example of a kind hearted and compassionate person helping a fellow man. However, the fact that the man needed help was very obvious, and sometimes the ones that need the most help are not entirely apparent. That is why it is so important that we constantly show love, kindness, and compassion to everyone around us.

Just Remember, the smallest of actions that take little to no effort can make the biggest of differences in the lives of others! That is living a Christ-like life!!!! So get out and Do Something!!!

Blessings,

Fulfilling His Purpose | Philippians 2:13 | His Yes Girl, Austi

The Great Commission

Dear blog readers,

Did you know that you have a mission in life?

It's known in Scripture as "The Great Commission" and it's from Jesus Christ!

Originally given to His disciples of Bible days, it's a message that still holds true today for all of God's disciples (those who profess faith in Him and are baptized, seek Him and want to do His will).

You can read all about it in the Bible book of Matthew, Chapter 28, verses 16 to 20.

Here's what it says (read in King James Version): "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

~*~

An excerpt from the "true identity: The Bible for Women...becoming who you are in Christ" (New International Version)...

"At Issue: Purpose in life": Jesus' "Great Commission" has four simple points:

1) Go and make disciples.

2) Baptize them to show they belong to God's family. 

3) Teach them to obey God's commands.

4) Know that Christ is with you as you do this. 

This was Jesus' final charge to the followers-- including us. Is this your mission in life? This is God's purpose for you with your children. It's your purpose in your workplace. It's your purpose in your neighborhood, with your friends, in your world. Ask God to show you what part you can have in fulfilling his call.

~*~

Multimedia Message:

Steven Curtis Chapman- For The Sake of the Call

~*~ 

Uplift from Alexis:

A New Year is on the horizon. New opportunities to grow in your spiritual journey with Jesus Christ happen every day. May we learn to truly "carpe diem" ("Seize the day") when it comes to finding, growing and sharing our faith in God. 

The Bible says, "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness." -- Lamentations 3:22-23 (New International Version, www.biblegateway.com).

May God bless you and keep you in 2011 and always!

Sincerely,

Alexis