Our present day world is bombarded with voices, opinions and judgments. If we are not careful, we can get easily swayed and persuaded by what we hear. As confusion comes, fear starts to arise and grip our hearts.

But the Lord our God is rich in mercy and abounding in love. He always have a redemptive solution to confusion. Clarity only comes when the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guards our hearts and minds in Christ. Jesus promised, “I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33 AMPC).

Just as fear comes by hearing and hearing “bad” news, faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of Christ, the “Good News”.

God designed us not to be tossed to and fro, being carried about with whatever people say. He designed us to be His sheep in His sheepfold Who knows the voice of our Good Shepherd and follows Him. He designed us to feed on His Word, meditate it day and night so that we may observe to do all that is written in it. Then, we shall make our way prosperous, we shall deal wisely and have good success. He designed us to be led, guided and shielded, where we can lie down in green pastures resting in His presence. He designed us to live in close communion with Him.

We are to learn, just as David said, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

I always love being reminded by this verse, “My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:20-23)

Our daily challenge is how to silence the other voices that steal our joy, our peace and our mindsets that are being trained and honed according to the Word of God. There is a fight to guard and gain territory of our minds so that we will not rent it out to things that are not beneficial to us. Indeed, our labor is to enter His rest.

Lately, two typhoons passed by our area. The first one was predicted to be a super typhoon. Apart from getting all geared up, I believe we all joined our faiths together, rebuking the upcoming disastrous tropical storm. Lo and behold, there was a change of direction and we were not directly hit by it. Praise the Lord.

A few days later, the second one was spotted. It was said to be of lesser strength. Still, we fervently prayed and prepared. But this time, I was kind of taken aback because the wind was blowing so hard and strong. In the middle of the night, as I was praying in the midst of the storm, I heard His still small voice within me that said, “Don’t fight or rebuke the storm. Keep your peace. Look at where you are. You are in the middle of your house where you cannot even feel the wind blowing. “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And He thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’” (Deuteronomy 33:27). You are the temple, the house of My Spirit Who is Righteousness, Peace and Joy dwelling inside of you. Tune in to Me Who lives inside of you for greater is I Am in you than he that is in the world. I Am the wall of fire around you and the glory within you. ” I was silenced in awe and my only response to His voice was songs of praise and worship.

What else is there to do when He promised to keep us in perfect peace whose mind stays on Him and His Word? When He says, “Be still and know that I Am God”, don’t you think it is more than enough to keep us still when we regard His Word, breathed by the Holy Spirit, as the final authority in our lives? In Timothy 2:9, it says, “His Word is not bound.” When we hear Him speak and we say, “Be it done to me according to Your Word”, surely He will do it. When our will is aligned to His will, miracles happen, not just miracles that we see before our very eyes, but more so the miracle of peace that happens within us. His Word needs to be received in our hearts and mixed with our faith for us to explore and experience what He has spoken.

Shortly after spending time in the secret place of His presence, I walked in to my room and soundly slept. I was no longer bothered by the sound of the wind and rain, for His voice became louder and clearer inside of me compared to what was happening outside of me. Everything else grew dim in the light of His presence.

When I woke up the next morning, there was calmness around although the rain was still pouring. Then, I remembered how Jesus slept in the boat on a pillow in the middle of the storm. Jesus was so in tune to the Father’s voice that kept Him still. He was so aligned that He only spoke what He heard His Father speaking and did what He saw His Father doing.

This is the Lord’s invitation to us. “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me.  I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with Mine. Learn My ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” (Matthew 11:28-30 TPT)

Indeed, the Lord our God is calling us to live in peace in the midst of the world’s chaos and this can only be attained in His peaceful presence. For us to walk in this joyous union of being IN HIM and HIM IN US, we open our hearts and humbly receive the Gift of God, Jesus Christ, Whom the Father sent because of His great love, for us to have an abundant earthly and glorious everlasting life. His Gift is unearned, undeserved and unmerited. He gave, we receive. It is all BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You, for always exceedingly loving us and taking care of us. Thank You, Jesus, that You came to save, redeem and rescue us, even if it cost You Your life that we may have the God-kind of life that is in abundance, to the full till it overflows.

“Jesus, I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Come and live Your life in and through me. I am Yours and You are mine.”

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for opening our eyes to see and ears to hear. We live because You speak. We do not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from Your mouth.

Father, thank You, that You never desired for any one of us to perish but to have eternal life with You, in grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Photo Credits: Erik Quianzon