Category: finding peace

I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit … – Romans 9:1 NIV

We often use hyperbole to make an emphatic point about something that is important to us. Hyperbole is an overstatement meant to get other people’s attention. The words of hyperbole can even be jarring to help others understand the emotions behind the words spoken. Paul is about to make an incredibly shocking statement about being willing to be cut off from Christ if it would mean that his own people, the Jews, would know Jesus as their Messiah and Lord (Romans 9:1-5). But, Paul has done his own spiritual inventory: What he says is NOT hyperbole or exaggeration. He means it with all of his heart, and the Holy Spirit confirms it. As The Message puts it, “I’m not exaggerating — Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses.” Since the Holy Spirit lives within us and works with our consciences to convict us of sin, to help us discern God’s truth when it is proclaimed, and to confirm God’s truth within us, Paul can speak with assurance that what he says is the truth. We might stretch the truth to each other, but we cannot lie to the Spirit who lives within us.

Heavenly Father, I want to speak the truth in love. I know that I need the convicting, comforting, and confirming Holy Spirit to be at work in my heart so that my words are true and redemptive. I ask for this grace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. – Romans 14:17-18 NLT

Who can argue with goodness, peace, and joy? These three virtues are not obtained just by human effort. Yes, a passion to possess these godly qualities is necessary, but the source of these qualities is the Holy Spirit alive in us. Goodness, peace, and joy have their source in God’s nature and are made real in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we invite the Holy Spirit to reign over our inner being, our character is transformed to be more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). So let’s yearn for the Holy Spirit to transform us to be ever more like Christ and trust that the Spirit’s influence will be displayed in our lives through goodness, peace, and joy.

Father, don’t let me be distracted by, or addicted to, food or drink. I want to be sustained and fed spiritually and emotionally by the presence of your Holy Spirit within me. I specifically pray that your goodness, peace, and joy will become more and more apparent in my life as I seek to honor Christ and yield myself to the influence of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  – Romans 15:13 NIV

We live in the overflow of God’s grace. David said it well in Psalm 23, “my cup overflows.” Because of the Spirit’s presence, our hope overflows! In addition to goodness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17 NLT), the presence of the Holy Spirit brings deep, abiding, and personal hope! But let’s not get overly focused on just the promise to us of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Instead, let’s also notice that this passage contains a blessing that we can share with other believers — releasing God’s blessing of the Spirit into their lives. This blessing of the Spirit can bring them joy, peace, and hope! What a great gift to share with others who love Jesus.

Father, I thank you for your presence in my life. Your presence has brought me hope, joy, and peace and encourages me to live a good life. Please use me to bless others so that they can experience these blessings from your Spirit. Open my eyes to those who need this blessing of the Spirit. Give me the gracious words to share this blessing with others at just the right moment when they need to hear them. Finally, dear Father, thank you for the power to bless others. In Jesus’ name, I thank you. Amen.

The wisdom we speak of
is the mystery of God —
his plan that was previously hidden,
even though he made it
for our ultimate glory
before the world began.
But the rulers of this world
have not understood it;
if they had, they would not have
crucified our glorious Lord …
But people who aren’t spiritual
can’t receive these truths
from God’s Spirit.
It all sounds foolish to them
and they can’t understand it,
for only those who are spiritual
can understand what the Spirit means.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 nlt

The Holy Spirit lives in the follower of Christ. Without the Spirit living in us, we don’t belong to Christ and cannot live for God. Without the Spirit, we will not be transformed to become like Christ. What’s more, real prayer happens only because of the Spirit’s work in our hearts. Now, this verse goes one step beyond what we’ve seen to this point: we cannot truly understand the message of God — the Scriptures of God, the Word of God — without the Holy Spirit within us. Not only did the Holy Spirit inspire God’s message (2 Tim. 3:16-17), but the Spirit helps us understand this message and apply it to our lives. We cannot follow Christ without the Spirit of Christ alive in us!

Most Holy God,
I cannot help but fall to my knees
in humble thanks that the two things
most necessary for me to be
saved and to live for you
were provided to me by your grace.
I thank you for the gift of your Son,
who died for my sins
and was raised from death
to ensure my salvation.
I thank you for your Holy Spirit,
who makes my life as a
follower of Jesus possible.
Please accept my heart’s
deepest appreciation for providing
what I could never achieve or deserve,
because of your love for me.
In Jesus’ name I offer you my thanks.
Amen.

I have come into the world as a light,
so that no one who believes in me
should stay in darkness.
John 12:46 (NIV)

One of the great stories in the Gospel of John is Nicodemus. He came to Jesus at night and Jesus told him that those who love the truth come to the light. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus even though he was ridiculed for it. Then, at the worst possible time politically and religiously, he showed himself as Jesus’ disciple: he took the broken and dead body of Jesus and helped Joseph of Arimathea place him in a tomb. Nicodemus didn’t stay in the darkness. Neither should we. Jesus is the light of the world; if our light cannot be found in him, how deep is our darkness!

Father in Heaven,
I want to walk in the light with you.
The darkness of Calvary did not
extinguish the light in Jesus;
it made it burn more brightly for me.
At the cross, I see your love for me.
At the cross, I realize that
Jesus took my sins away.
At the cross, I see Jesus’ love
for both you and me perfected.
Thank you, Father for your
gracious salvation.
Thank you, Jesus
for your incredible sacrifice.
In the name Jesus,
your perfect Lamb I pray.
Amen.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

When this was written, temples were the places where the gods were thought to live. More than places of worship, these were places of presence. So when Paul reminds us that we are temples of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit, he is saying something quite profound. God lives in us! We are the places of God’s dwelling. We are holy temples, not because we cleansed ourselves or made ourselves into some incredible dwelling place but because God bought us and sanctified us with the price of Jesus’ life. We are his purchased prime real estate so that his glorious presence can be seen in the world in which we live. As the place where God lives by his Spirit, we are challenged to honor and glorify God with our bodies, his temples. No matter how you may look at your physical appearance, remember this: You are holy, precious, and glorious because the King of Glory has made his home in you through the Holy Spirit!

Father God, today’s passage reminds me of your incredible nearness to me, even within me. Forgive me when I have not realized your presence in me through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I have devalued myself and my body as a temple of your holy presence. Please be glorified in who I am, what I say, how I live, and what I think. To you be glory, in Jesus’ name and through your Spirit’s presence. Amen.

Dear Father God, Blessed Son and Holy Spirit,
Help us to focus on you every day, remembering that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our most treasured gift for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. You never leave us. Thank you for your daily Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, we are safe in your care. We choose to draw closer to you today and each day to come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say, “This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.
“Ezekiel 11:5 NLT

We can scheme, plan, and plot quietly. We can tell our inner thoughts to no one else. The Spirit of God, however, knows our inner thoughts, schemes, plans, and plots. The Spirit not only inspired God’s message in Scripture, but he also convicts, informs, and transforms our mind and spirit, helping us overcome the pull of our fleshly nature. The Spirit challenges and confronts the thoughts we wouldn’t dare say out loud. When God’s words are spoken, heard, and read, they are directed to the struggle of each heart seeking to be conformed to the will of God. The message of God comes from the Holy Spirit. That message has power because the Holy Spirit convicts as well as informs. Let’s ask the Spirit to speak to our hearts, minister to our needs, inspire our godly longings, support us through our weaknesses, confront our duplicity, and help us know God’s truth!

Father in Heaven, please make your will clear to me through the work of your Holy Spirit in my heart. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:68 (NIV)

When Jesus asked his disciples if they would leave him like everyone else had, Peter’s response is powerful and great. He knew where truth originated! He had heard the voice on the Mountain saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; listen to him!” He had seen Jesus’ words change reality and destroy barriers to God’s love and truth. Indeed, he knew that there was no one else who had the words of eternal life! So who are you listening to?

Almighty God, thank you for making Jesus so accessible to me. Jesus helps me see the full extent of your love. Jesus helps me more completely understand your message about wanting to redeem me and make me your own. I want to always come to Jesus for truth, grace, refreshment, and hope. There is no other one that I want to be my Lord except my crucified Savior, Jesus. Today, Father, gently confront me in those areas where I have yet to fully yield to your Son’s lordship in my life. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.