Thursday, January 7, 2010

Make me an instrument of Thy Peace

I watched a movie recently that was about a "beauty pageant"....and when the girls were asked what they wanted most in the world....they each gave the standard answer "world peace".  Our youth pastor spoke about world peace in his message this past Sunday night.  As he as speaking, I thought back to a post that I did a couple of months ago that I simply entitled "Peace".  The day that I did that post....something tragic happened in our family....and I was able to talk to a family member and read that post to her over the phone and bring some comfort to her.
Isn't God amazing? 
I've said before....that He never ceases to amaze me.....and I certainly hope that He never does because then....I think I would be taking him for granted....and I never want to do that!!!

As I was thinking about "peace"....the term "make me an instrument of Thy peace" kept coming to mind

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen
St. Francis of Assisi - 13th century

Have you experienced God's peace....that feeling of contentment that only He can give?
I had something that was bothering me....something that I felt I already had my answer to....but continued to let it be a concern.  I had talked to God about it....but hadn't really turned it over to Him to handle....because it kept bothering me....and this scripture came to my mind as I prayed:

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

As that thought came to mind....I knew exactly where the confusion was coming from....because if God is not the one confusing us....or causing disorder in our hearts....then, it has to be the devil....so I immediately recited:

"Get thee behind me Satan"

I prayed and gave this burden to Him....and just about as soon as my prayer was over....He directed me in what He wanted me to do.  Now...I know....that it's in His hands....and I'm so glad that His ways are not my ways...that His ways are sooooo much better than any solution that I could ever come up with!!!

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

And....since my prayer....my heart is peaceful once again!!!

Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
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.

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

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Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24