A PRICELESS GIFT-by Heidi McLaughlin
Posted: April 1, 2024
With the world swirling in chaos all around us we need something real and meaningful to hold onto. Something that really works. Before someone dies they have no reason to hold back words of love and wisdom. After all the heard earned wisdom they’ve gleaned in this life, now is the time to say what really works and matters. Before Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins He gave us a priceless gift: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you: (John 14:27).
“My peace I give you.”
After Jesus’ resurrection and when He met his disciples behind locked doors, He frightened and startled them, thinking He was a ghost. The first words to them out of Jesus’ mouth were: “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:26). There it is again, the gift of peace. That gives me goose bumps,
Why is peace such a powerful gift?
When my life is falling apart, and it has several times, I can’t find consolation in things of this world. When I am in the midst of confusion, pain and chaos the balance in my bank account doesn’t save me, the fact that I live in a nice house doesn’t calm my spirit. The assurance that I am taken care of by my family and friends is wonderful but it doesn’t stop the pounding in my heart. The only thing that helps me to breathe is having PEACE.
Beautiful, sweet peace.
The peace of God is a safeguard for all our hearts, a defense against the worries and cares of the world. It’s not something we can fake it until we make it, or is it something that can be taken away by life’s difficulties. It is more than a state of inner tranquility. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, a state of wholeness and completeness. It is trusting God on all fronts, all conflict, pain and tension. When we have a personal relationship with Christ we have peace within us. That is a guarantee. But the worries and cares of the world push it down into our spirit and fear and anxiety takes over.
So how do we get it back?
Peace doesn’t’ just happen we have to go after it. The Bible always has the answers. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” (Romans 15:13). There it is, we need to run to God and be assured of His glad welcome and pour out our heart to Him. Then we ask our advocate, the Holy Spirit, to appropriate the gift of peace. To bring it out of it’s hiding place and fill us up right to our bone and marrow. It may mean walking around and repeating over and over again, “God give me your peace.” You keep doing this until it comes. I assure you my friend it will come, because I’ve done it for years. It’s God’s greatest gift to us.
One response to “A PRICELESS GIFT-by Heidi McLaughlin”
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Beautiful Heidi and so true. I need an extra dose of peace right now as I contemplate my older son’s situation. He is no longer receiving care for his cancer and he went on hospice care last Saturday. Please pray that Doug and his wife Sherrill will come to know the ultimate peace that comes only from knowing Jesus.