OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2019–PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

MEMORISE:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

READ: Isaiah 48:17-19

17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

MESSAGE

One of the reasons why Jesus was born is to give us peace like a river (Luke 2:14). It is a great thing to the peace of God inside. If you have God’s peace, you will experience peace in the totality of your man, because this peace applies the balm of serenity to our minds and hearts. Without mincing words, it is not a good thing to lack inner peace. The devil uses turbulent storms to generate crisis in people’s lives, leading to worry and anxiety. This is one method he uses to steal God’s peace away from us, but God will not allow his evil ventures to succeed in your life in Jesus’ Name. many people whose peace the devil has stolen seek peace through the use of tranquilizers and depressants, while some others turn to illicit drugs or alcohol. Some even dabble in mystic pseudo-religious movements to find solutions to their lack of peace. All of these sources do not possess peace, and so they cannot give peace to anyone. God is the only source of peace, and He has appointed His Son as the prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Speaking through the Holy Spirit, He describes His remedy against any raging storm of the devil that wants to steal our inner peace, saying in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing 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.”

From this verse, we understand that prayer holds the key to walking in God’s peace. Through prayer, we are able to beat back the devil’s evil arrows of anxiety and worry. Spending time alone with God to thank Him and present our petitions is the most effective tranquilizer. There is no solution to inner disquiet as effective as prayer, and it always, works.

The peace of God transcends all understanding. In other words, it is above and beyond what we understand. The next time you sense a great inner shaking or even just a slight inner disquiet, try prayer. Shut yourself away to be alone with God, and pray God’s word back to Him. Thank Him for who He is and for all His grace and goodness; then tell Him about your anxieties and concerns, and He will intervene to change things for you. When you finish praying, you will discover that the peace of God has filled your inner man. A quiet inner serenity and calm will reign I you, even if the storm is still raging around you. I know this to be true from experience and from what God’s word says. God’s word is practical and its promises work in every circumstance of life. Have you ever considered that your lack of inner peace might be God’s way of calling you to prayer? God may be calling you to have fellowship with Hm, and in the process He will restore His peace that transcends all understanding to your life.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let your angel be on guard over all my family members in this festive period, and let Your peace that passes all human understanding rule our hearts in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 29-31
Zechariah 13:7-14:9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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