On the topic of ~ peace

          My Bible study this morning was on the topic of peace.  That is something we all want, isn’t it? To have peace in the middle of the storms in life…

This is what the Lord says
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,

your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 48:17 & 18

        A couple of things stood out to me as I dug into the study… first is that peace can only come when I surrender to the authority of God. Oh that is so hard to do – to relinquish what I think are my rights to submit to God’s commands. And please don’t think I have that one mastered!! Some days it is a constant struggle for me to let go. But regardless of any feelings I have, I can choose to surrender to the sovereign authority of Christ.

        And here’s the thing - when I do surrender I am then able to hear God’s voice. Since He is the one who created me and knows the plans He has for me, then it only makes sense that I should listen to what He wants to teach me and where He wants to direct me! (Well… of course!)

        The icing on the cake, though is that we get this incredible bonus when we surrender, submit, and obey… peace! It is, like Beth Moore wrote in her book Breaking Free, “to have a security and tranquility while meeting many bumps and unexpected turns on life’s journey.”

        If you know me or have read some of my blogs you know that music is a huge part of who I am and how I worship my Savior. I love a wide variety of music from the very old to the barely off the presses new!!But for today, nothing can quite say it like one of my old favorites… and after I was done with my quiet time, I went out to the living room, sat at my piano and played this one with a big ole’ smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude just overflowing with peace: 

 Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.