By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Peace in Every Circumstance

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

I realized that when I wrote the title of this blog, “Fresh Start,” my thoughts flowed right into the subject of peace. After thinking about the connection between peace and starting fresh, I came to the conclusion that they go hand in hand.

Peace is the nature of Jesus. The first thing He did after resurrecting was offer peace to the disciples. Earlier when he instructed the disciples to go out two by two, the instruction was to offer everyone peace.

Peace is at the center of who God is. No matter what is going on around us.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 English Standard Version

Notice the word “all.” Not “sometimes,” not “occasionally” but “all times” and “with you all.” These are very definite statements. But how do we do this?

^“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 English Standard Version

As we are called to trust Him, He trusts us. He doesn’t doubt us. He loves us. As your mind is stayed on Him, His “mind is stayed on you,” He is not just thinking about us, we actually have the opportunity to have the mind of Christ.

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 English Standard Version

In the song “O Praise the Name”* the chorus is:

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:23-24 English Standard Version

So, when you get up in the morning, start fresh, praise God, ask Him for a transformation of your mind, the mind of Christ. Receive the peace that is attached with receiving the transformed mind of Christ.

*Songwriters: Dean Ussher / Marty Sampson / Benjamin Hastings
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado