This was triggered by my heart being exercised to write about “the peace of God, available to each of us as believers.” We are promised His peace, it is available to us, but it is our choice to accept it.

So, first let me share this short devotional with you, and much of my thoughts on this are influenced by the Lord speaking to me through Charles Stanley’s devotional, and his In Touch Ministry.

John 14:1-15 is so beautiful. It starts out, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” Then as you read it through to the 15^th verse, it will bless your heart too.

To summarize: Living above our circumstances: Our emphasis, consciously or unconsciously, is on minimizing difficulties, and maximizing personal benefit.

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(taken from an In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley)

My comments: Grace is so “on my heart” because every day, I realize “again” what Romans 3:23 says: for all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. And, if I did not have Christ, then, I also know the penalty for my sin as stated in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(And note, it is sin—–singular, not plural——so one sin condemns us in relation to God’s standard of holiness and righteousness. Thus, “the Biblical law” condemned us, because no man could live up to that standard. So, God, as our Sovereign, made provision for us in Jesus Christ——-if we will but avail us of His loving mercy and grace.)

I am saved by Jesus Christ, but still, I sin every day! My flesh is a garbage pail of pride and lust, of rebellion against God. As Paul says in Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

So, I too have a “war within me” of my flesh battling against my spirit. And there is not a day goes by that I do not sin! I try to live more Christ-like, but still I sin. So, getting a grip on God’s grace was so important to me, to give me inner peace, and to realize it is what Christ has done by which I am saved, and not “my works”——and His grace overcomes all sin, if I but accept Him as Savior and Lord.

The changes we experience in life are influenced by many things, such as heredity, our environment, decisions we make, and various types of training we receive. But by far the most powerful influence in a believer’s life is the transforming grace of God, which is His kindness toward us, irregardless of our worthiness, and in spite of everything we deserve.

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Ephesians 2:4,5,8,9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)……

For by grace you have been saved through faith; that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast.

Do you set rules and regulations for your life, but then judge yourself very harshly when you do not live up to your own expectations? Do you feel close to the Lord when you are doing something religious, and distant when you are not?

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(mostly taken from an “In Touch” devotional, with comments of others, and my own too.)

Every day we are bombarded by vain, erroneous, ungodly voices filling the world around us. We must choose which voice to listen to.

God uses a number of methods to communicate with us: He speaks through His Word and the Holy Spirit, as well as through people and circumstances. But, and this is so vital to really grasp, and remember, “God never speaks to us contrary to scripture!” Never!

II Tim 3:16 says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

See, if you do not “know where you are” you cannot “correct your course.” The Bible is that “absolute truth” we can rely upon for our life’s course.

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