No matter the ferocious storms that batter us in this life, we can have an inner strength at our core. This comes to us through the Spirit of Truth, which is a faith given to those whom the Father has called through Jesus Christ.
Do you measure peace through success of material gain? Striving for possessions will not bring freedom from worry and will only bring disappointment in the end. Only Jesus can give you true peace which gives you a sound mind and lasting inner peace. Trust me on this one.
At a time in my life, I felt like I was on a road to self destruction, seeking peace of mind -- my way. Many people rush here and there, their life full of noise, confusion and distractions. There is never enough time to draw nearer to the Lord. This inner peace I'm referring to must be sought, requiring time for solitude, by seeking the Lord for guidance. Asking the Lord God to share His Spirit with you is necessary to grow in knowledge, understanding what He requires of you. His Holy Spirit gives you spiritual discernment, or what we refer to as wisdom, 1 John 4:6. His Spirit of Truth will heal your heart, giving you the inner strength to face the difficulties that life will surely bring your way, Psalms 46:1.
By surrendering your heart to Jesus, you allow His Spirit to convict you, allowing His Spirit of Truth to soften your heart that rebels against Him. Brethren, in this life, Christian or not, you will suffer persecution in one form or another, it's called life, see II Timothy 3:12.
Repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, He will lift you up. Being humble, you can lean on Him for comfort and guidance in difficult times.
There was a time in my life that I was angry at God. My little sister died of lupus at 12 years old. I also lost my wonderful son at 21. My health has been poor most of my life, with much joint pain and fatigue. Then I lost a close brother to diabetes, where he lost both legs and had so many other health issues. But I'm sure there are many who could say, "been there, done that." But along this pathway called life, I cried out to the Lord to help me understand His desire for my life. Also, for me to understand what this life of so much sorrow was all about.
This was the beginning of seeking God, reading His Word. I related to the Apostle Paul and the trials that bombarded his life. Although going through so much, he never took his focus from the important key to life, to live eternally with His Lord God, once again being with your loved ones with a new spirit.
I grew to understand that the Holy Spirit gives one a sound mind, II Timothy 1:7. Also, to understand James 4:14, our physical lives are for a short time, it's not about the many years we live on this Earth, but about the quality of life we live. The peace from God surpasses all human understanding, Philippians 4:7. Our Lord desires all humanity to know Him as Lord and Savior.
This true peace saved me from self-destruction, saving my eternal life and made my relationship with my wife so much better. Read I Peter 1:5-7 where we read though we are grieved with troubles, our genuine faith in our Lord is "more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, might be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
May our Lord give you this inner peace. Seek, ask and knock, and the Lord will open the door of understanding. It may be hard to grasp these sayings, but His Spirit gives you strength to go through what may come. No, it's not easy, but this way of life, following Jesus, can be achieved, for only our Lord can give you true peace.
Craig Joyner has worked and served in the Hot Springs area for more than 20 years. He has a passion for studying the Word of God and sharing with others his findings. His objective is for believers to draw closer to the Lord, cleaving to the truth of the Word and not be deceived during these end-times.
Religion on 03/25/2017