Yesterday morning, the Lord specifically lead me to pray for Vanessa's peace. And that got me thinking about the connection between peace, patience, and prayer.
Since we belong to God, we can have His peace always with us. It can be unconditional! That's what Jesus is referring to when He describes His gift--it's not given with conditions, as the world would give. Even then, however, we have a choice. We are given the option to let ourselves be troubled, and we are given the option to give way to fear.
"Now may the God who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus..." Romans 15:5 AMP
Peace begins with a prayer, and so does patience. If we have peace, it will probably lead us to do many things more slowly than we have done them in the past. Peace will lead us to humility and trust. Peace will lead us to patience. If we have patience, then we will be content to let God's will--His plan, His purposes, His surprises--just flow into our future.
If we have been given His peace leading onto patience, we won't be presumptuous. We won't rush into things too fast. We won't become anxious when the next surprise comes. Instead, we will be pushed at the Spirit's pace into the future with peace like a river (Isaiah 48:18). We will take time to be still and wait on the Lord (Psalms 37:7). We will listen to others with humility, love, and godly discernment. And we will bear such good fruit!
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.…" James 1:19-1:20
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Since we belong to God, we can have His peace always with us. It can be unconditional! That's what Jesus is referring to when He describes His gift--it's not given with conditions, as the world would give. Even then, however, we have a choice. We are given the option to let ourselves be troubled, and we are given the option to give way to fear.
"Now may the God who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus..." Romans 15:5 AMP
Peace begins with a prayer, and so does patience. If we have peace, it will probably lead us to do many things more slowly than we have done them in the past. Peace will lead us to humility and trust. Peace will lead us to patience. If we have patience, then we will be content to let God's will--His plan, His purposes, His surprises--just flow into our future.
If we have been given His peace leading onto patience, we won't be presumptuous. We won't rush into things too fast. We won't become anxious when the next surprise comes. Instead, we will be pushed at the Spirit's pace into the future with peace like a river (Isaiah 48:18). We will take time to be still and wait on the Lord (Psalms 37:7). We will listen to others with humility, love, and godly discernment. And we will bear such good fruit!
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.…" James 1:19-1:20
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