*****NEW FEATURE*****
We hope to start offering some audio devotionals. The page for these is currently not public, but you can check out the first free audio devotional here.
There is a song in our hymn book entitled, “Peace, Perfect Peace”. The lyrics were written by Edward H. Beckesteth in 1875. I love the song, because it makes me feel peaceful just singing it. It is filled with hope, and it gives a calming effect in the midst of an unsettled world.
I have been thinking a lot about peace lately. There are many things going on in my life right now that have interrupted the peace I normally feel. A family member just had surgery. I lost a friend just recently to cancer, and I have 2 friends that have been given a very short time to live. We live only a short distance from the scene of the murders of the military personnel. I am having to look for peace!
Where do we find peace? One of the places we find peace is in the words of a song. In my case, it is this one:
- “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
- Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
- Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
- Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes? The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose.
- Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.
- Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
- Peace, perfect peace, death shad’wing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its pow’rs.
- It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus calls us to Heav’n’s perfect peace.”
This song brings thoughts of peace, rest, calm, and safety. I think this is why we are told, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 KJV). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). Songs have a way of bringing us closer to God.
A second source of comfort and peace is reading the scripture. Isaiah 26 is a comforting scripture, and this song portrays some of the same sentiments of this chapter. Many of the passages from the book of Psalms bring us comfort. Psalm 23 is a particularly comforting to the troubled soul.
In reading the book of Job, I find that my life is not nearing so disturbing as that of a man whom the devil targeted because of his faith in God. I sometimes feel targeted, but I have never been tried in the same way Job was.
I find comfort in the reading of the book of John. I find sadness because of the way my Lord was treated, but I am encouraged by His ability to withstand temptation, insults, gossip, torture, and ultimate death because He did it for me. John shows the incredible forgiveness of the Lord, and that is a lesson we all need to learn.
The third source of comfort can by found in prayer. Sometimes prayer is the only thing that will soothe us. I find comfort here because I know that I have someone to help me pray. When I can’t find the words, the Spirit intercedes for me. “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness: For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words: and He who searches hearts knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for those who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:26-27.
Becky Fowler Blackmon has written a beautiful book called The Begging Place. This book offers Bible examples of prayer, suggestions for prayer time, and a real-life look at how prayer can make a difference in your life.
One of the chapters is called, “The Best Way To Pray”. In this chapter, Becky talks about getting on your knees to pray. That may be a new concept to some, but it is a fond memory from my childhood. As one of the men led the congregation in prayer, all the men on the front row would kneel by the pew. That image is so clear in my mind, and that picture gives me a great deal of comfort.
Psalm 95:6-7 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand”. Kneeling is humbling. It is an act of submission. It elevates the Father and shows our need for Him.
As I face the anxiousness of sickness, the loss of beloved friends, the tragedy of death, my only real resource for strength comes from the Father above. I find it in song, in scripture, and in prayer. I hope you will find strength for the issues of your life in the same places.
Sandra Oliver