#359 From Stress to Peace Part 1
I came to the two conventions and week in between with specific prayers, ready to watch for and listen to the Lord’s leading. One prayer was, Lord, show me how to deal with the stress in my life.
I will share the answers I received in the next few meditations. These thoughts were gleaned from some of the discourses I heard.
Peace does not just come to us, we need to pursue it.
“Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.”1 Peter 3:11 NASB These verses give us an indication of what sabotages peace in our lives: sin. If we avoid gossip and unwholesome communication, and we turn away from sin, we can love life, which is an aspect of peace. We pursue peace by seeking Him and His ways.
Replacing God’s wisdom, timing and authority undermines peace and creates conflict.
Observe the information we have about Lucifer. “But you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:13-14 Notice that the first act of defiance against God, the first act of sin in the universe, began with a single thought. That thought led to reasoning which was not surrendered to the Most High God, and that led to action. The result was spiritual downfall and Lucifer, Son of the Morning became the adversary, and the resulting horrendous conflict and pain as others were influenced by this one beings’ decision. “Pride and peace are not compatible.”
Similarly, we create stress when we seek to control
King Saul took control, ran ahead of the LORD, and performed sacrifice which he was not authorized to do. He waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal at the expected time, and the people were becoming impatient. So Saul took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering and the peace offerings. He had just finished offering the burnt offering when Samuel appeared on the scene. 1 Samuel 13:8-10 Saul wanted the favor of the LORD in the coming battle with the Philistines. So he seeks God’s favor by being disobedient to the LORD’s Holy procedures. And Samuel arrives just after Saul finished offering the first sacrifice. This was the outward downfall of Saul. 1 Samuel 13:13-14
To reject the principles and authority of God in our lives and let other things rule our hearts results in LOSS.
Farther back in time, notice the decision to have a King over Israel in the first place and the results that Samuel prophesies. Again, the people of Israel feared not having the proper leadership, and wished to have leadership “like all the nations.” 1 Samuel 8:1-5 The LORD’s response was “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” Verse 7 Then Samuel was told to solemnly warn the people of the custom and procedure of a king in power. Verses 10-17 outlines the misuse of power and the exploitation of the people that would result. The phrase “He will take” used six times in these verses. The people refused to listen to Samuel, and reasserted their desire for a king, “that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:19
These lessons are powerful.
*The seeds of sin and stress begin with a thought. Isaiah 14:13
Lord, we pray for every thought to be surrendered to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
*When we are tempted to act contrary to the Lord’s way, out of fear of what will happen if we do not act immediately, we need to remember that help is on the way! 1 Samuel 13:8-10 The LORD treasures obedience. Trying to control an outcome is a problem in itself, and the attempt to control an outcome through ungodly means will lead to the stress of conflict and consequences.
LORD, teach us to trust You more than our perception of what should happen. Proverbs 3:5-6
*There is a lot at stake—spiritual loss—when we desire to ‘fit in’ and to be like everyone else, and when we choose to trust a visible form of protection instead of trusting the LORD to fight our battles. 1 Samuel 8:19
Dear LORD, we surrender to You our desires and fears, trusting Your will and ability above every circumstantial threat. Chronicles 20:15
May we let go of our attempts to control. Trust in Him brings glory to His name, swallows up stress and leads to peace.
“Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165
I came to the two conventions and week in between with specific prayers, ready to watch for and listen to the Lord’s leading. One prayer was, Lord, show me how to deal with the stress in my life.
I will share the answers I received in the next few meditations. These thoughts were gleaned from some of the discourses I heard.
Peace does not just come to us, we need to pursue it.
“Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.”1 Peter 3:11 NASB These verses give us an indication of what sabotages peace in our lives: sin. If we avoid gossip and unwholesome communication, and we turn away from sin, we can love life, which is an aspect of peace. We pursue peace by seeking Him and His ways.
Replacing God’s wisdom, timing and authority undermines peace and creates conflict.
Observe the information we have about Lucifer. “But you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:13-14 Notice that the first act of defiance against God, the first act of sin in the universe, began with a single thought. That thought led to reasoning which was not surrendered to the Most High God, and that led to action. The result was spiritual downfall and Lucifer, Son of the Morning became the adversary, and the resulting horrendous conflict and pain as others were influenced by this one beings’ decision. “Pride and peace are not compatible.”
Similarly, we create stress when we seek to control
King Saul took control, ran ahead of the LORD, and performed sacrifice which he was not authorized to do. He waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal at the expected time, and the people were becoming impatient. So Saul took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering and the peace offerings. He had just finished offering the burnt offering when Samuel appeared on the scene. 1 Samuel 13:8-10 Saul wanted the favor of the LORD in the coming battle with the Philistines. So he seeks God’s favor by being disobedient to the LORD’s Holy procedures. And Samuel arrives just after Saul finished offering the first sacrifice. This was the outward downfall of Saul. 1 Samuel 13:13-14
To reject the principles and authority of God in our lives and let other things rule our hearts results in LOSS.
Farther back in time, notice the decision to have a King over Israel in the first place and the results that Samuel prophesies. Again, the people of Israel feared not having the proper leadership, and wished to have leadership “like all the nations.” 1 Samuel 8:1-5 The LORD’s response was “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” Verse 7 Then Samuel was told to solemnly warn the people of the custom and procedure of a king in power. Verses 10-17 outlines the misuse of power and the exploitation of the people that would result. The phrase “He will take” used six times in these verses. The people refused to listen to Samuel, and reasserted their desire for a king, “that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:19
These lessons are powerful.
*The seeds of sin and stress begin with a thought. Isaiah 14:13
Lord, we pray for every thought to be surrendered to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
*When we are tempted to act contrary to the Lord’s way, out of fear of what will happen if we do not act immediately, we need to remember that help is on the way! 1 Samuel 13:8-10 The LORD treasures obedience. Trying to control an outcome is a problem in itself, and the attempt to control an outcome through ungodly means will lead to the stress of conflict and consequences.
LORD, teach us to trust You more than our perception of what should happen. Proverbs 3:5-6
*There is a lot at stake—spiritual loss—when we desire to ‘fit in’ and to be like everyone else, and when we choose to trust a visible form of protection instead of trusting the LORD to fight our battles. 1 Samuel 8:19
Dear LORD, we surrender to You our desires and fears, trusting Your will and ability above every circumstantial threat. Chronicles 20:15
May we let go of our attempts to control. Trust in Him brings glory to His name, swallows up stress and leads to peace.
“Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165
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