Anxiety, Discovering Peace, Peace, Words of Endurance

*Divine Disconnection – God is the source of Peace, so when I don’t have a relationship with Him – when I don’t spend time with Him through prayer, worship, meditation or experience Him through Scripture – I’ve unplugged myself from the source of peace.



You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
ISAIAH 26:3 (NLT)



*Wrong Reliance – When I trust in my own ability, in my own strength to overcome or deal with my problems more that I trust God with my situation – I won’t experience peace or God’s blessing.



This is what the LORD says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the LORD.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.”
JEREMIAH 17:5-6 (NLT)



*Worry-Warting – When Peter bailed out of the boat to be with Jesus (Matthew 14:24-32), he walked on water just fine until he focused on the waves around him. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the surrounding storm, he sank like a rock. When my focus is on my surrounding circumstances, worry takes over and my peace will sink out of sight too.



Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts
and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7



*Consuming Conflicts – Human relationships are important to God. Jesus told us to treat to others the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12) and to resolve our conflicts with others before we pray or offer service to God (Matthew t:23-24). When we have unresolved conflict in our relationships – our relationship with God suffers – which disconnects us from our source of peace.



Work at living in peace with everyone …
HEBREWS 12:14 (NLT)



*Refusal to Release – God promises His peace to those who present their requests to Him. When I don’t hand my problems over to God, He can’t hand His peace offer to me.



I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them;
intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority
so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives
marked by godliness and dignity.
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 (NLT)



*Borderline Behavior – Righteousness or right behavior produces peace. The two are inseparable. When I mess up – hurt someone – or do something I know is wrong – my peace evaporates like water in the desert.



Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
ISAIAH 48:18 (NLT)



*Detrimental Direction – God’s peace is supposed to “rule” in my heart. When His peace disappears – it is like a warning light telling me something is wrong. I may be heading in a wrong direction or considering a detrimental course of action.



And let the peace that comes from Christ
rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.
COLOSSIANS 3:15 (NLT)



On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky

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