THE CHRISTIAN WALK: GIVEN UNTO US (PART 5)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given - And He will be called Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Lately, things have been in turmoil for me on many fronts. Conflict at work. Graduate studies occupying my every waking minute when I’m not working or attending to this ministry. A recent death in the family. It’s been a tough four weeks or so and I confess that almost daily I yearn for peace and normalcy again, a time when I can be free of all the burdens that are weighing down on me.

Of course, I’m not alone in this, not by a long shot. In fact, my problems are miniscule compared to what others are facing every day in our world, so much so that I almost don’t want to even mention them.

I’m sure that any number of Christians under assault and persecution in Iraq or Syria or in other parts of our world where persecution brings threats of death every day would love to change places with me in a heartbeat. Many have been displaced and forced to flee for their safety against those who would wish to murder them.

Ditto for people in Liberia and Sierra Leone, ground zero for the dreaded Ebola virus. Where do you go when a deadly, contagious disease is breaking out all around you? It has to be terrifying and unsettling.

And any number of people dealing with terminal illnesses, given very little time left to live would love to have my minor problems. At least they would still be able to live.

My point is that life is just tough and can bring us varying degrees of difficulty in any variety of ways, difficulty that places us under pressures and stresses that leave us crying out for relief and some sense of comfort. God knew this would happen when He brought us into the world and this is why He provided help, a gift given unto us in the way of a Son named Jesus who would also come to be called the Prince of peace. Look again at Isaiah, Chapter 9, verse 6, the focal point of this series called “Given Unto Us”:

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given - And He will be called Prince of Peace.

Indeed, many of us are looking for peace. We want to escape the worries and fears and anxieties of the world and find a place of solace where our hearts, minds, and souls can find calm and rest. In our search for this, we can certainly try and go to any number of worldly sources but what we will discover in the end is that no one can bring us peace like the Lord Jesus and God the Father who sent Him unto us. The apostle Paul affirmed this truth when He wrote these two verses, two verses that have never failed to bring me peace when I have found myself in a place of turmoil, two verses we should write on our hearts as we live this thing called life. Look at this word of God from Philippians, Chapter 4:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. vv. 6-7

The command is clear and note that it is an order. It doesn’t say, “Please don’t be anxious about anything”. No it simply says, “Do not” and when the Lord demands it, we are to do it. We are to not be anxious about anything. So if you get worried like I have of late, remember, as I am being reminded today, that the Lord commanded us to not be worried about anything. If you begin to find yourself under a lot of stress, remember that the Lord said to not be stressed about anything. If you find yourself getting nervous or anxious about a life circumstance or coming event you have to deal with, remember the Lord demanded you to not be nervous or anxious about anything. We can’t sidestep and escape this passage and what it is telling us to do. We are to only obey this command of the Lord without reservation or hesitation. For it is the first step in finding peace through the Prince of peace.

Yes, before we can get rid of all the things that seek to steal away the tranquility of our souls, we have to commit ourselves fully to turning from those things. The axiom that’s been around for a long time is that before a person can get help when they have a problem, that person first has to admit they have a problem. So in these opening words of guidance from the word of God, we are being ordered to admit we have a problem and seek to turn away from it, whether it is turning from stress, worry, anxiety, fear, or any combination of these negative emotions that can bind us up and haul us away from joy and serenity.

But what then? What do we do after we admit we have a problem and commit to turn from that problem? For none of us have the inner strength to deal with the matters of life we often come up against. Thanks be to God that He offered us another command:

In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Note again, we aren’t being told to “Please present your requests to God by prayer and petition”. No, we’re told to present them, period.

And why wouldn’t we? Isn’t He the Lord God Almighty, the One the Bible assures can do anything (Luke 1:37 NKJV)? Who else would we ever want to trust more?

Think about it. How many amazing miracles has the Lord performed? Has He not taken what seemed impossible and made it possible? Anyone who has spent time reading about Him can testify to the truth of what He has done and thus in turn has to believe in what He still can and will do. This is why we need to take any and all burdens that weigh upon us and give them to Him in faith through prayer and petition, knowing He will always work out things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Songwriter Joseph M. Scriven saw this scripture come alive in his own life and penned these blessed words you might recognize from the popular hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Yes, take it to the Lord in prayer. Bring Him all your worries and anxieties and fears and stresses, not because you feel like doing it but because He told you to do it. When you do, you will experience one of the greatest gifts that God has ever given, the gift of peace. His word guarantees it:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When we give up all that weighs us down, laying our burdens down at the feet of the only One who can help us deal with them, then we find ourselves liberated and free, our load lightened in a way we never dreamed possible because we are experiencing the peace of God which is beyond understanding. It’s beyond understanding because no one can give you that kind of peace just as no one can bring you the kind of love you get from the Lord. And it’s that perfect peace and love we find in the Lord. All we need to do is turn to Him in obedience to these two verses in Philippians, Chapter 4, and receive the peace God wants us to have, a peace that is not to be temporary but rather enduring and everlasting through Jesus, the Prince of peace given unto us by God, the King of peace, to guard our hearts and minds from ever allowing worry or stress or fear or anxiety to plague us again.

What an awesome word for all of us today from the amazing word of God! I pray it will bring you to the place of comfort found by another famous songwriter, Horatio G. Spafford, who wrote the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. I’ll close with his words and a prayer that today and every day, it may be well with your souls. I know the Lord has spoken to my heart in a powerful way today.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.