Hi, my name is Brooklyn. My husband, Trevor and I have been together for almost seven years. We have grown a lot throughout the many challenges we’ve faced. Loving each other through each of our personal storms has made us a stronger couple rooted in our faith and love for God. We recently decided to create a dynamic platform that strives to help people build stronger, Christ-centered relationships with others and with God. Each of our blogs, podcasts, and books share a glimpse into our relationship with each other as well as our relationship with God.
If you wish to learn more, follow, and/or support us in our efforts with ServantsChoice, click the link below.
This devotional is for those of you who want to learn more about peace - specifically a peace that can only come from God.
A little backstory. I recently lost my mom to cancer three months ago, and the amount of peace God gave me in the days immediately following her death is completely indescribable and well beyond my own understanding.
I want to share with you how YOU can also have access to the peace that God was willing and able to give me in the most traumatic, painful, and vulnerable time I've experienced in my life so far.
First off, it is important to mention that there are two types of peace. There is peace WITH God and peace OF God.
The only way you can obtain peace with God is through salvation through Jesus Christ. There is no other way. God is Holy; therefore, we cannot access God unless we go through Jesus. (Possibly a topic for another day if interested).
With Jesus we then have access to this beautiful relationship with God. The result of this relationship are the gifts that God willingly gives us. We not only get the assurance of spending an eternity with God through salvation, but we also get gifts that help us live the life that we need to live here on earth for God.
These gifts come in the form of the Fruits of the Spirit. When we are reborn into the body of Christ and become a part of His church, we can then be recognized by others through these new characteristics.
For those of you who don't know what the fruits of the Spirit are, they include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Today, we are discussing peace.
Grab your bibles, if you will, and open with me to John 14:27. It reads, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
So this verse emphasizes the fact that peace that comes from the world does not compare to the quality of the peace that God is capable of providing you.
Let's look at Philippians 4:6-7. This verse reads, "Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We mentioned briefly that the only way to obtain access to peace with God is through Jesus, and with Philippians 4:6-7 we now know that the way to gain access to peace OF God is through prayer and thanksgiving. God gives us free access to the fruits of the Spirit when in a relationship with Him, and that relationship requires you to spend time with God in prayer and thankfulness. God will hear you, and He will allow this peace to wash over you in times where you wouldn't be able to go on by yourself and your own ability.
Other Christians, and even non-Christians, will recognize Jesus in you when they see you going through trials and hardships with this peace, love, and grace. If they don't have access to it already, they will be confused and eager to know exactly HOW you are able to withstand such heartache and pain without breaking down and becoming unrecognizable. They will CRAVE this peace in their own lives.
My hope and prayer is that once you have this peace - you go well out of your way to share this with others as I have done. When you love others and choose to serve God in all that you do, it will be fun for you to share your experiences and what Jesus is doing in your life.
Shine your light and give others the opportunity to see Jesus in your heart, words, and actions.
In Christian Love,
Brooklyn
Comentarios