Monthly Archives: March 2024

YOUR WORD IS TRUTH – 22

Bible Study, ,

John 17:14-17 NIV‬
[14] “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. [15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Jesus’ prayer centred, first, on Himself, not to save Him from His ordeal, but to achieve His purpose.

‭John 17:1 NLT‬
[1]” After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.”

Everything Jesus was and did on earth was designed to shine the light on Himself so that He, in turn, could reveal the true nature of the Father. He was the perfect reflection of the Father in human form.

‭Hebrews 1:3 NLT‬
[3]”The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God… “

He expressed His submission to the Father in four little words – “the hour has come.”

Jesus’ second focus was the group of men, excluding Judas Iscariot, who were to continue His mission in earth. He was concerned for their personal protection, not from the “evil one” as most translations interpret, but from the evil within them that posed a far greater danger to them than the devil.

‭John 17:12 NLT‬
[12] “During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold…
[14] I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. [15] I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil (one)…
[17] Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Why would Jesus be concerned about the enemy’s efforts to harm His disciples? Would He Himself not defeat and disarm him through His death?

‭‭Colossians 2:14-15 NLT‬
[14] “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [15] In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

What are the devil’s weapons against God’s people? Lies! Deception! Accusation! Condemnation! All are designed to breed mistrust and fear, to break our unity with God and destroy our fellowship with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit.

How did Jesus win the victory?

“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

Jesus paid our debt, forgave our sin, cleared our record of all charges against us, and broke sin’s power over us by giving us a new nature.

Now the devil has nothing to substantiate his accusations. Whatever he uses to accuse us is a lie. He can’t even keep his grip on us through our old evil desires because we have a new nature; we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus.

‭Romans 8:28-29 NLT‬
[28] “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstbrevealing His heart attitude to the coming ordeal,
orn among many brothers and sisters.”

God’s people have a powerful weapon to protect them from the devil’s schemes to deceive… the truth!

‭Ephesians 6:14-17 NLT‬
[14]”Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The truth about righteousness, peace,
faith, and salvation are all to be found in the Word of God. It is the truth which cuts through all the devil’s lies, exposes his wiles, and frees us from his efforts to drive a wedge between us and God.

Jesus’ prayer, then, is that the Father would activate His Word in the hearts of His disciples. Protected by the truth from the devil’s lies and the lure of their old nature, they woud be set apart from sin to God, clean vessels to do His will.

So, Jesus did not give much credit to the devil’s attempts to attack His disciples. He was more concerned about His disciples’ ability to defend themselves against Satan’s tricks because there was a traitor within them. They had an old nature that would side with the enemy unless it was brought under control.

The only way to overcome the devil was to discern his lies and neutralise them with the truth.

In a rather blunt way, James put it like this,

‭James 4:7-8 NLT‬
[7] “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

As disciples of Jesus we, too, are eligible to be beneficiaries of His prayer. However, we all have the potential to be tricked into condemnation or trapped into sin if we are not committed to walking in the truth of God’s Word.

We have powerful protection if we are armed with truth. We can live daily in security and peace if we take up the shield of faith and buckle on the belt of truth. These are our safeguard against a defeated foe. STAND, therefore!

THE HOUR HAS COME – 21

Bible Study, ,

John 17:1 NLT‬
[1] “After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.”

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have the honour of eavesdropping on the most sublime prayer ever recorded, the Son of God in communion with the Father.

Jesus didn’t ask for much in His prayer to the Father, but what He asked for has eternal significance for us. Much of His prayer was His heart communing with the Father but, in that communing, He has concerns which He shared with the Father.

“The hour has come.”

Jesus was about to ratify the New Covenant with His own blood, which He clearly presented to His disciples at the final Passover He would ever celebrate with them on earth.

Mark 14:24-25 NLT‬
[24] And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. [25] I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

After dodging every effort of His opponents to kill Him, it was now time to submit. The dreaded hour had come. Jesus was a real man. He was not immune to what He was about to suffer.

‭Isaiah 53:3 NLT‬
[3] “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

How did Jesus anticipate His suffering?

‭‭Mark 14:34-36 NLT‬
[34] He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” [35] He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. [36] “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

How did Jesus view this horrible event? Was it to be His greatest humiliation or His greatest triumph depending on His perspective?

When some Greeks came to meet Him, He responded with these words, revealing His heart attitude to the coming ordeal,

‭John 12:23-24 NLT‬
[23]… “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is plantedl in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives,”

and this prayer,

[27] “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! [28] Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

Another profound moment with the Father… Jesus affirming His commitment to the Father’s will, and the Father’s response, reassuring Him that He was right on track!

Hebrews 12:2b NLT‬
[2]… “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

This was to be no walk in the park. This was crunch time. He faced the awful horror of being the scapegoat for the sin of all humanity. To gain the prize, He must run the race but not with reluctance and resistence. He must embrace the Father’s will with the only attitude that would win the victory and the outcome for which He came to this hour.

As an eyewitness of His death, Peter exulted, “He did it!”

‭1 Peter 2:23-24 NIV‬
[23] “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Since Jesus embraced His hour with obedience and trust, any “hour” we might have to face can have the same victory if we follow the same path. As true sons who submit to the Father’s will with unwavering trust in the Father’s good purpose, we endure with hope, knowing that the seed that dies will live to produce many seeds.

WHEN HE COMES – 20

Bible Study, ,

John 16:13-15 NLT‬
[13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. [14] He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. [15] All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

What powerfully loaded words!

The disciples had spent years in the company of a man who had said and done things way beyond their ordinary human experience. Slowly but surely, they began to realise that they were walking with none other than the Son of God. In a sublime moment, Peter expressed this conviction on behalf of the others (barring Judas Iscariot, since he betrayed Jesus to His enemies. Would he have done so if he believed Peter’s confession?).

‭Matthew 16:16 NLT‬
[16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

However, did they really understand the implications of Peter’s words?

More years passed, more experience gained, but how much insight was cemented into their understanding of their experience? At this point, in the Upper Room, was Jesus just adding information to all the information they had already received? So much new knowledge running headlong into years of ingrained brainwashing by religious bigots who ruled their religious understanding.

What did Jesus’ disciples think when they heard Him say these things? How familiar were they with any truth He had taught them about the Holy Spirit?

Of one thing Jesus was confident. When the Holy Spirit finally came, He would transform information into knowledge and experience. So, He encouraged these men to expect the Holy Spirit’s arrival with keen anticipation.

Word upon word, Jesus built a picture in the disciples’ minds of the difference the Holy Spirit would make to them when He, Jesus, was no longer with them.

They should not mourn His going. As a man, He could not be to them what the Spirit would be when He, Jesus, returned to the Father. He was with them now. The Holy Spirit would be in them then.

‭John 16:5-7 NLT‬
[5] “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. [6] Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. [7] But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

How much did they grasp? Jesus said, “Don’t worry. I know it’s a lot to take in, but the Holy Spirit will bring everything I’ve taught back to mind when He comes.”

Jesus was fully aware that the spirit in the disciples at that moment was not the Spirit of truth. Quarrelling, dissention, competition, spiritual misunderstanding, doubt, fear, unbelief, even greed and betrayal, dominated them. These were not the work of the Holy Spirit in them. Despite momentary flashes of understanding, they were still very much “in the flesh”.

“So,” Jesus urged them, “the Holy Spirit is coming. Wait for Him. He will complete the work I’m doing now. He will light up everything I’ve taught you and been to you with insight and understanding. He’ll even remind you of what you have forgotten.”

‭John 16:12-15 NLT‬
[12] “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. [14] He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. [15] All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ “

How would they know that what they were hearing in their innermost being was the voice of the Holy Spirit? After all, as God’s messengers, they would be the target for Satan’s deception! Get them to believe the wrong message and thousands, even millions of people would be deceived.

How could they test the voices they heard? Only one focus…. Jesus!

So many persuasive voices today, especially from inside the church, clamouring for our attention. How can we test their source? How can we identify the spirit who is speaking in us?

Let’s get this straight, once and for all.
The Holy Spirit’s focus is on Jesus. That’s what Jesus told His disciples. “He, the Holy Spirit, will speak from me and through me, about me.” Yes, the Holy Spirit does do amazing things but He is not about spiritual “goose bumps”. He is about Jesus. Everything He says and does should point us to Jesus. If our experience is about us, our feelings etc, if Jesus is not magnified and glorified, beware!

What about those who claim authoritative prophetic insights into current events in the name of Jesus? How do we know that the Holy Spirit is speaking through them?

In his visions on Patmos, John tried to worship an angel but the angel cautioned him,

‭Revelation 19:10 NLT‬
[10] “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

Any so-called extra-Biblical prophecy that does not focus on Jesus is fake. God has spoken through His Son. He has nothing more to say. Jesus told His disciples everything that God wants us to know and recorded for us in His Word.

‭Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. [2] And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.”

During His time on earth, Jesus was the focus of the Father’s full attention. The Father spoke of Him, to Him, and through Him, to reveal who He was and why He came.

When Jesus left, the Holy Spirit came to continue the message of the Father. Its all about Jesus, from cover to cover. When we inject anything else, we are doing the devil’s work – deception.

Jesus had to get that message across to His disciples lest they lose focus and go off on some deceptive detour. How important it is that we, too, Jesus’ messengers, internalise Jesus’ instruction lest we also take people down the wrong trail as many have already done and are still doing.

When He comes… the Holy Spirit finally came on the day of Pentecost. He came in power and glory, and filled the disciples with His presence, never to leave again.

What did He do?

Through Peter, He gave a powerful witness to Jesus and drew three thousand people into a faith-union with their Messiah. Jesus’ body, the church, was born. Jesus’ mission was complete and His ministry to build His church was kick-started and continues today. Through the Spirit, Jesus is gathering people into His body one by one until the full number have come in, and He is transforming them into His likeness.

The Holy Spirit has come, and comes to every believer to make Jesus real. That’s His ministry until Jesus comes again.

‭Colossians 1:18-20 NLT‬
[18] “Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. SO, HE IS FIRST IN EVERYTHING . [19] For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, [20] and through Him, God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

How can we stay on the path that will take us to the Father?

‭Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] WE DO THIS BY KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

THE ABIDING BRANCH – 19

Bible Study, ,

John 15:7-8 NLT‬
[7]”But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! [8] When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

I’ve heard much preached about abiding in the vine, how we remain in the vine, what abiding in the vine means, etc., but, in my experience, no one says much about prayer and the abiding branch.

Jesus coupled abiding and answered prayer and the outcome, gloryifying the Father, together as one event.

Fruit! No one plants a vine just to enjoy the beauty of its shape or colour. Grapevines have only one purpose… grapes. What people do with grapes can only happen if grapes grow on the vine.

In the same way, people’s lives are intended to bear fruit. Everyone inevitably bears fruit, good or bad. Good fruit benefits those around us; bad fruit spoils and poisons others. Fruit also identifies the nature of the plant.

‭Matthew 7:15-18 NLT‬
[15] “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. [16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. [18] A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.”

‭Hebrews 12:15 NLT‬
[15]”Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

What is it that causes a bitter root to grow?

‭‭Deuteronomy 29:18 NIV‬
[18] “Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.”

When we allow self to control, feeding grudges, with resentment and bitterness, we become our own idol. Self-pity is the poisonous root of bad fruit.

Idolatry! Letting anyone or anything else take the Lord Jesus’ place in our souls to nourish our lives….is a bitter root that will produce bitter fruit.

If good fruit is what Jesus wants of us, how do we bear good fruit? If we go on living in the flesh, making no effort to produce good fruit, we WILL bear bad fruit…

‭Galatians 5:19-21 NLT‬
[19]” When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Wow! What a basketful of poisonous fruit!

There is an antidote to this poison that flows from self-dominated lives – union with Jesus.

Problem is that that vine’s branches, drawing nourishment from the world, are destined for the fire. The same thing happens to the branches that are disconnected from the true Vine.

‭John 15:6 NLT‬
[6] “Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

So, the first lesson in bearing good fruit is to maintain an intimate connection with Jesus.

‭1 John 1:5-7 NLT‬
[5]”This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. [6] So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. [7] But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

When we remain joined to Jesus by humble and honest living, we keep drawing our nourishment and life from Him and His blood keeps cleansing us from ALL sin. The fruit that results, through the work of the Spirit in us, is in harmony with the nature of Jesus.

‭Galatians 5:22-23 NLT‬
[22]”But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

So, where does prayer fit into the process of fruit bearing?

The only way to stop the poison that flows from selfish lives is to cut off the flow and reconnect to the source of divine life. God’s plan is for us to participate in the divine nature, i.e., to be transformed into the image is Jesus. We do this by plugging into God’s promises.

‭2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV‬
[3] “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

How do we do that?

‭2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV‬
[20] “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

And “amen” to God’s promises is the essence of New Covenant prayer! Everything God wants to do in us has already been accomplished because the operative word in the New Covenant is “Done!”

It’s all so simple! We make such heavy weather of prayer because we think that the energy we put into prayer influences God’s answers. No, Jesus put all the energy into prayer at the cross, releasing to us all that God has promised in the New Covenant. All we must do is say the amen… agree with God!

‭Romans 8:32 NIV‬
[32] “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Does God need our prayers to help Him to run the universe? No, because He has put the universe in Jesus’s capable hands.

‭Philippians 2:9-11 NIV‬
[9]” Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “

‭Hebrews 1:3 NIV‬
[3] “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

‭Psalms 2:4-12 NIV‬
[4]”The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. [5] He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [6] “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” [7] I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. [8] Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. [9] You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” [10] Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. [11] Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. [12] Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Rather, every time we say “Amen!” to God’s promise, Jesus says, “Done!”. Our union with Him grows stronger, the fruit of His character grows in us..
and the Father is glorified.

‭John 15:7-8 NIV‬
[7] “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

It’s that simple!

NO FEAR? REALLY? – 18

Bible Study, ,

John 14:27 NLT‬
[27] “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

‭John 14:27 NIV‬
[27] “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.”

Peace of heart and mind? Is this possible in today’s world?

Well, think of the world in which Jesus uttered those words, to a group of men who had tasted what their world had to offer….To sum up, they faced two intolerable oppressors. Roman occupation squashed their personal freedom in their own land. Religious leaders harassed and bullied them into legalistic spiritual bondage. Imprisoned by these oppressors, every day was a minefield of possible consequences.

Jesus knew what it was like to have enemies so intent on killing Him that they used every trick in the book in their efforts to ensnare Him. He had to be sharp to stay one step ahead until the right time came for Him to be “caught”.

How did He do it? Peace! What was this peace He enjoyed that allowed Him to live every day without fear despite the dangers He faced? He stepped out every day in the consciousness of the Father’s presence and will. That’s peace!

Fear is in the driving seat of those who believe it all depends on them. Trouble is that the next moment, let alone the future, is unknown. “What if” controls the thoughts and beliefs of those who have no connection with Jesus….and those beliefs are mostly driven by the environment of “bad”. What if the next moment is bad – accident, illness, crime, and… and…? And we can do nothing to stop it!

Jesus’ peace was so powerful that it held Him steady in the darkest moments of His life. So, He could say, “My peace is yours as well, if you do what I do.” He refused to function by the threat of circumstances. Instead, He clung to the presence and will of the Father no matter where it took Him because He knew and trusted the Father to do the right thing, always.

‭John 16:33 NLT‬
[33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Unlike much false preaching today, Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. On the contrary, He often warned of inescapable trials and troubles, especially for those who follow Him. However, He promised peace in the midst of storms if His peace rules in our hearts.

Peace doesn’t come to us by accident. Peace is the outcome of a choice. Paul counselled, “Trade your anxieties for God’s peace.”

‭Philippians 4:6-7 NLT‬
[6] “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Do you get it?

There is a little word injected into Paul’s counsel that is the hub of God’s peace….” thanksgiving”! Anxiety and fear can never co-exist with a grateful heart.

‭Colossians 3:15 NLT‬
[15] “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

‭1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT‬
[18] “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Again, do you get it?

The peace Jesus bought us through His death, the legacy He left us that will guide us through the maze of life’s struggles, can only come to us by choice. When we consciously and purposefully choose to be thankful despite the issues we face, because He is in charge, peace replaces fear.

Peace, then, is not the absence of trouble. Peace is the conscious awareness of Jesus’ presence despite the trouble. We choose to believe in Him, in His love and goodness to override the trouble and bring good out of it because He promised.

That’s it!