Tag: guard your hearts

46.d. “Wilderness” – 10.j. “Why are you cast down, O my soul”

 

Num 6:26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 Psalms 42:5    Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

 Psalms 89:15    Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,

 Acts 2:28     You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

 Psalms 29:11    May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

 Isaiah 26:3    You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

 Isaiah 26:12    O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

 Luke 2:14   “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

 Romans 15:13   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 Romans 15:33    May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 Philippians 4:7     And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

And the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,…. Show his face and favour, look cheerfully on his people, declare himself well pleased with them in Christ, and appear as smiling upon them through him, indulging them with visits of love, restoring to them the joys of his salvation, and upholding them with his free Spirit; and so causing them to walk pleasantly and comfortably in the ways of God, expecting eternal life and happiness, as God’s free gift through Christ: and give thee peace; all outward needful prosperity, internal peace of mind, through the blood and righteousness of Christ, the peacemaker, and peace giver, and eternal peace in the world to come. (Gill)

Implying more personal and individual attention from the Lord. His face shines upon all that love him, as the sun shines wherever no clouds intervene; but his face is lifted up to that soul for which he has a more special regard. To lift up the eyes or the face upon any one is to look upon that one with peculiar and tender interest. This peace, being the perfect fruit in experience of the grace which comes from God. (Unknown)

There is a lot in this world and in our lives that can and, at times, rob us of peace. News and media outlets are full of peace-zapping articles. The worse they can make it seem seems to be their purpose. I truly wonder what a person’s life would be like if they shut off their TV and no longer filled their minds with the fear, anger, lies, and half-truths being proclaimed. There is little to no benefit from watching or knowing it. You are being fed what they want you to think, feel, and blame. There is no peace in this.

Other times there is life itself that has a way of creeping in and zapping our faith. Accidents, finances, physical health, relationships, marriage, and even past memories all can find roots to establish a means of robbing us of peace. No one is immune to it, it comes to all of us at various times throughout our lives. Some of these are attacks by Satan but certainly more of them happen in life because of sin in the world. However, we are not of this world. This is not our home. Our home is in heaven with our heavenly father where there will be no more sickness, death, pain, or suffering. 

What is a person to do when they find peace is absent? I find no other cure than to dig into God’s promises. 

“I am with you”

“I will never leave you”

“I am your refuge”

“I am your strength”

“I will guide you”

“My peace I give to you”

“I will send a Helper (the Holy Spirit)”

“I can do more than you as or can imagine”

“I will give you peace that passes all understanding”

“I know your coming and going”

“I have plans for you”

“Believe and trust in Me”

When you find yourself in a mental state where peace is nowhere to be found, go to a quiet place and focus your mind on Jesus Christ and His promises. He will fill your heart and mind with peace and give you rest.

33.b. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you”

 

Job 34:29  When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?

 2 Samuel 7:1   Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

 Isaiah 26:3  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

 Isaiah 32:17   And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

 John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

 Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 Philippians 4:7   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 2 Kings 18:12    because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.

 Psalms 13:1    How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

 Psalms 27:9   Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

 Psalms 30:7    By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

 Psalms 143:7   Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

When God purposes to give rest, comfort, ease, or prosperity in any way to man, it is that soul that finds a quietness within their soul and there is nothing or no one that can take it away, though other men or Satan himself hard as they may try. God is in control of all things and He can bring peace or adversity upon a person or nation at His own pleasure. 

We may chase after worldly and fleshly things that we think will give us peace and quietness to our soul but in the end, they leave us unsatisfied and wanting. People write about how they have found peace and prosperity in a host of diverse ways and people who are searching for this peace and prosperity flock to them like bees to honey. They are ever searching and never finding that which only God can give and that which can only be found in humble service to Him. Oh, people may have temporary peace and prosperity in their life, but lasting contentment it is not.  

A believer should continually give thought to blessings from God and should know when it is that God has turned His face from them. The problem is that too many give no thought to either. They plod along in life as if there is no God and things happen by chance or fate. When a person does not acknowledge God or His control over all creation, how are they to find peace and quietness for their soul? 

God has all things under his control, and he can bring prosperity or adversity upon an individual or a nation at his own pleasure. Who then can make trouble? – literally, “Who can condemn, or hold guilty”. The sense is, that no one can overwhelm him with the consciousness of guilt, to whom God intends to give the peace resulting from his favor and friendship. Or, no one can bring calamities upon a man “as if” he were guilty, or so as to “show” that he is guilty, when God intends to treat him as if he were not. This is as true and sure as the sun rising and setting. When God designs to give peace to a man’s soul, and to impart to him the evidence that his sins are forgiven, there is no one who can excite in his mind the conviction of guilt, or take away the comfort that God gives. When he designs to “treat” a man as if he were his friend, and to impart to him such evidences of his favor as shall convince the world that he is his friend, there is no one who can prevent it. (Barnes)

If we are to find this peace and quietness of our souls, it is only in and through God. When a soul purposefully surrenders to humbly serving, following, trusting, obeying, and relying on Jesus Christ the peace of God that passes all understanding is theirs.

28.p. “Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

 

Philippians 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

 Matthew 6:25-33    “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

 1 Peter 5:7     casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

It is not easy to stay away from falling into the trap of anxiousness. It sneaks up on us and floods our hearts and minds with all sorts of fear, worry, and paralysis.  It is common to all of us but some seem to rise above it and are able to have peace and hope through it.  Where do this peace and hope come from? It comes from and through Jesus Christ.  In God’s Word, we find the reason for hope, trust, and refuge, but it is so much more than reading about it. It must be believed, trusted, and relied upon. It must be what feeds our hearts, minds, and souls.  Some may think they can live a worldly life and chase after worldly things and keep Jesus Christ and the Word of God in their back pocket for when things in life go bad.  This person will never enter a time of trial or trouble with any foundation and when their life is sideswiped they fall pray to a host of heart defeating depressing days. It is far better to be intentionally walking in trust, reliance, and hope in Jesus Christ when trials and troubles come.  

9.e. “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

Joel 1:19  To you, O Lord, I call. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flame has burned all the trees of the field. Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Psalms 50:15    and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 91:15   When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Micah 7:7    But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Habakkuk 3:17-18     Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,  yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Luke 18:1     And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart

Luke 18:7   And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

Philippians 4:6-7     do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The people of Judah are going through trouble, granted it is a consequence of their unrepentant hearts, but they are truly going through something terrible.  We go through trials and troubles.  Some of these are a result of the consequences of our doing and others because of the consequences of others.  These all are known by God.  There is no surprise to God and all of these trials and troubles should bring us humbly before God, calling on His name, expect deliverance, and glorify Him.  What really happens and how do we react in times of trials and troubles?  Do we run to Jesus Christ first or to something / somewhere else? Are you able to say in the midst of trials and troubles “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation?”  When things are going well are we rejoicing and glorifying Jesus?  Or are we just living in the moment of the ease of life, not giving much thought or care to live humble serving, following, trusting, and obeying Jesus Christ?  Do we need trials and troubles to bring us back to Jesus Christ?  Do we need trials and troubles to reset our focus on what is truly important in life this side of eternity?  Think about it.  Do we seek and desire Jesus Christ’s influence and leading in our life more when things are going well or when things are upended?  We do well to set Jesus Christ first in all things and at all times.