Author: Minister Bev

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Peace

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:9

Peace is a state of harmony where we have no fear of harm that could come from any person, place, or thing. It represents the absence of worry, foreboding, or anxious apprehension while imagining what could happen. Peace is the confident expectation that God, who alone rules and reigns, is in control and that He watches over our souls, even in the presence of danger. Peace is complete confidence in the omnipotent God as our protector, deliverer, and restorer.

With this confidence, we can lie down and sleep peacefully. We know that our enemies will not triumph over us because we have trust in God, which He so richly deserves. Nothing, no person, government, or power is greater than He is. God is sovereign and possesses all authority over heaven and earth.

I dwell in safety with peace because God is my refuge and fortress. He is a very present help in trouble.

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Now

On the threshold of a new year, the question looms: what now? We look ahead, hoping for a better outcome; we hope to escape our losses and to be smarter, wiser, and better in the new year. We pray for God’s guiding hand to make everything in our periphery more conducive to our outcome in this new year. But our challenge is to live in “Now.” In 2 Corinthians 6:2, we learn that “now” is the appointed time; now is when we receive salvation, healing, grace, and hope. “Now” is where we start to correct old mistakes and take on new challenges. “Now” is when we express gratitude to God, those around us, and during our time alone, gratitude for all that is good in our lives.

Even people experiencing homelessness can be grateful for a tent, a blanket, or a handout. The sick can be grateful for a hospital bed, and the prisoner in jail can be grateful for being alive and well. There is always something to be grateful for “now.”  As we sit at a graveside with broken hearts, we can be grateful for a life that touched us with its presence either for a long or brief time. A person who looks at their once strong and prosperous lives that are now in pieces and broken can be grateful for the opportunity to rebuild “now” without the element that broke it in the first place.

“Now,” we can be grateful for a shattered dream and the valuable lessons it brings. We can be grateful because as we redesign that dream, there is a tremendous opportunity to eliminate the faulty misconceptions, weak decisions, and past errors that caused the dream to shatter. We can do that “now.” This is not the end, but a new beginning, a chance to rebuild stronger and wiser than before.

If the last year was not what you dreamed it could be, “Now,” let’s take our past year’s experiences and re-examine the possibilities that can be extracted from the ashes. The new year will be better because we are more powerful thinkers, more grateful recipients, and better decision-makers than before.

“Now” is all we have to work with, the day of salvation and liberation. The day to rebuild with wisdom. “Now” is our opportunity to see more than we could before, the best time to rethink our lives, and the opportunity to embrace the future. “Now” is the best day of your life because of the lessons we’ve learned.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ERV: “I heard you at the right time, and I gave you help on the day of salvation.” I tell you that the “right time” is now. The “day of salvation” is now.

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Broken Pieces

If you find yourself in a place where your dreams didn’t develop as you envisioned,  or your plans failed before they could take shape, you’re not alone. Many others share this experience with you. In these moments of uncertainty and perhaps even regret, it’s comforting to remember who God is and his unique ability to transform the shattered pieces of our lives into a completed dream.

Our mistakes are more than failures, they are lessons. Our broken hearts are not just wounds, they are sources of strength. Our disappointments are not just setbacks, they are opportunities for growth. Our illnesses are not just afflictions, they are fountains of wisdom. They all contribute to the pieces that can be used to fortify the dream you thought was lost forever.

In Acts 27:44, we see how God used the broken pieces of a ship to save everyone aboard the ship with Paul. Just as He did with the ship, God can use the broken pieces of your life to formulate a new and even more beautiful dream. On the Apostle Paul’s ship those who could swim did swim to safety. But those who could not swim took the pieces of the broken ship and used what they had left to find their way to safety. If you believe in God, He can use the broken pieces of your life to breathe life into your seemingly dead dreams.

Just as God asked Moses in Exodus 4:2, “What do you have in your hand?” He is asking you today, what do you have left of your broken dream? Start gathering the pieces and trust in God, who is capable of doing ‘exceedingly, abundantly, above all you can ask or think according to the power that works in you.’ Your dream can be restored, and your future can be brighter than you ever imagined.

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Above All, Love Each Other

The Bible tells us that there is one thing greater than faith and hope, and that is love. 1 Cor. 13:13 Our ability to love each other is a necessary part of our walk with Christ. We should be kindly affectioned to one another as Christ is to us. The effect of Christ’s love is that by the application of His blood sin is forgiven. Our goal should be to recognize the need of fellow believers to be forgiven and pray that God’s all sufficient grace reaches them. We should not put ourselves in harm’s way in our quest to love and forgive but develop the ability to let go of the malice in our hearts toward them when we have been offended.

Rather than spread the unsavory facts from their pasts, we are to cover them, not speak of them, not hold them hostage to them. This act of covering is like a protective shield, ensuring that their past does not define them. You may even distance yourself from their presence but make sincere requests to God for grace for them and their wellbeing, knowing that your prayers connect you and them to a supportive and loving community of believers.

A deeper walk with God requires us to release the self-gratification of a grudge and the entertainment of malice and anger. To cover someone is to be the person who does not spread the rumor but the one who changes the subject when it comes up. The deeper walk requires us to leave behind the desire to see them suffer and pray for their blessing. And God, who is merciful will bless your surrender to His word.

1Peter 4:6 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

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Forgive to be Forgiven

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14

We depend on God’s integrity and live in the fact that our God forgives us. He is ever faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9 It is a promise that holds eternal life, for we are fully aware that everyone sins and falls short of God’s requirements. The sin element in our flesh and the cares of this world ensnare us. But we can rest assured that through the blood of Jesus, we are and can be forgiven. But what else must we reckon ourselves with? There is a condition we must not forget. In order to be forgiven, we must forgive. That is not always easy.

Anger, resentment, and even hate are often defense mechanisms that we unconsciously use to protect ourselves from further hurt. Sometimes, it is rooted deep within our subconscious minds, operating as naturally as any other defense mechanism we have developed over the years. We know well, look before you cross the street, which protects us from getting hurt, or lock the door, and it will keep you safe. Lurking in our subconsciousness, aligning itself perfectly with the other defense mechanisms are warnings like, “Don’t trust him he looks like the last person that hurt you, don’t stop being angry with them lest you allow them close enough to hurt you again, or don’t give too much to them, they may be using you again.” We all have them, but God says, let a man/woman examine himself. That is the problem; examining ourselves is how we fix it. When those feelings surface, address them. Practice opening to God in prayer your feelings, those hidden, and those you know well. We can trust that He will help us to heal and release any hostages we hold. It is the will of God for you.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14

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Lift Up Holy Hands

So then, in every place where you meet together, I want the men to pray. The men who lift up their hands and pray must be those who live good lives. They must not be people who are angry or who quarrel with others. 1 Timothy 2:8

What does it truly mean to lift up holy hands without anger or quarrel? It’s not about presenting perfect hands, but about raising our hands in complete surrender to God. We are called to lift hands that declare, “This is who I am and all that I am, the good, the bad, and the ugly I bring boldly to the throne of grace. All my potential, misgivings, and mistakes I lift to God in full surrender.” 

It is the blood of Jesus that empowers us to transform. We are not the best fixer of ourselves. As we surrender in total obedience, the God of our salvation will issue sufficient grace to enable us to change, correct, and do His bidding.

Holy hands are hands lifted in surrender to God, holding nothing back. The blood of Jesus will cover all our sins, and God will see our hands as Holy and righteous through Jesus’ blood. We, in turn, as we lean and depend on the integrity of God, will find ourselves less angry and argumentative, less worried, and more at peace with God. This peace, this calm, is the gift of surrendering to God. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that can only be found in complete surrender to the Almighty.

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“Submit to God and be at peace with Him, in this way prosperity will come to you.”

Submitting to God is a profound recognition that we are no longer the masters of our own lives. It is a surrender to His sovereignty, acknowledging Him as our ruler and king. While we still have the freedom to make decisions, they are guided by His will, His word, and His way.

Submitting to God is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical lifestyle. It means allowing His word to be the compass that guides our decisions, especially those that shape our interactions with His children. It involves aligning our behavior in all situations with His teachings, and letting our relationship with Him influence our responses.

Submitting to God’s rule is not just about obedience, it’s about aligning your interests with His. It means never acting or thinking in a way that goes against Him. To maintain this alignment, keep a constant dialogue with Him through prayer. Focus your thoughts on heavenly matters. This will bring you a sense of peace, keeping you calm, balanced, and composed.

Resolve yourself to be ruled by God, and your well-being and maintenance will come from Him. Your emotions will be stable and your temperament peaceful, a result of the security and peace that come from trusting in God’s integrity. Being at peace means acceptance and willingness to commit your concerns to God by trusting His integrity.

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Today

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a world where everyone is kind and compassionate to one another? Can you imagine a world where we all just forgave each other easily, like Christ forgave us? How wonderful would the world be if everyone practiced kindness, compassion, and forgiveness? It would be paradise! Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in.

We are “in the world and not of the world,” God has a greater expectation of us than those who do not know Christ. Let’s begin by spending our days with friendly, generous, and considerate acts toward others. Our thoughts should be understanding and charitable, always giving the benefit of the doubt to anyone with whom we come into contact  .

Our journey with Christ persuades us to feel empathy and sadness for the suffering and unfortunate circumstances of others. Following Christ compels us to find a way to reduce the suffering of others. Are we our brother’s keeper? Of course, we are! God uses our arms and hands to reach out to others.

We are to forgive and let go of anger and bitterness towards anyone. Start today to release grudges, cancel any emotional debt you hold against anyone, and watch how much better YOU feel! Make a clean break with any feelings that prevent you from freely loving others as Christ loves you. The call to compassion compels you to do so.

Finally, “Be kindly affectioned one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

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Because You Belong to Jesus

Philippians 4:7: “And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.”

All of the world is searching and praying for peace. In this context, it is not peace from war and politics but peace from day-to-day troubling thoughts that haunt us from time to time. We yearn for peace of mind that will allow us to live untethered and unbothered by the affairs of life. We crave the impossible, a life where everything goes our way and we live happily ever after. Such a life is not scriptual, but because we belong to Jesus we can have peace.

It is possible to have peace in tribulation. It comes to us in the form of our total abandonment and dependence on God. Philippians 4:6-8 admonishes us to pray about every situation, every emergency, every obstruction that crosses our path, and anything about which we are concerned.

Pray to God whose integrity we trust for direction, support, and guidance. When, through prayer, we trust God totally, then peace, an assured confidence, and an unwavering sense of His ability to be in control will enter your heart and mind. Even when life seems disordered, rest assured that it is under His watchful eye.

God is in control of every situation. This unwavering confidence in God guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When we believe that God will resolve all situations for our good in every fiber of our being, we have peace.

Trust in the Lord today and lean not to your own understanding. Then the peace of God will protect your heart and mind.

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“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

Does that mean that nothing wrong will happen to us while we sleep? Trusting God is a multi-layered, complex decision. If we say we trust God and that He will protect us, does that mean that nothing we think is terrible will happen? If we say that no evil will befall our dwelling, can it be possible that we will never experience a break-in, or our homes burn down? Our trust in God is the anchor to our heart’s peace. Trust in God says, “Lord, all of your decisions are right.” 

Troublesome thoughts seem to approach in the still hours of the night. Perplexing situations seep into our consciousness in the wee hours of the morning and assail us. The peace of God in those instances has more to do with our trust in an all-powerful God who watches over us day and night. He brings the best outcome to those situations, even when we do not understand His methods. We must trust that the outcome will be the best for all concerned, even though our reasoning disagrees. Complete trust that “All things do work together for good” is difficult when we find ourselves at the interment of a loved one or have lost everything, we worked so hard to achieve. Was God talking about possessions, or was he assuring us that even when the dwelling we live in (this body) is destroyed, He is able to sustain the spirit and soul that lives in our bodies? He alone is waiting on the other side of this life with eternal life for us.

In peace, we lay down and sleep even when things feel chaotic, and we have no answer to our dilemmas. He is in control when all seems lost. He is in control when our bodies are somehow destroyed. Chaos? Not really, “You alone make me dwell in safety.” We are safe under His watchful eyes.