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Peace

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“And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:24-25 in the King James Version)

Like the disciples of Jesus on board a capsizing ship, we must recognize that God is the authority in our life. When you feel like you’re going to drown, call out to the Master, the captain of your soul! He can silence your fear and quiet your emotions. Take courage. Your life is in His hands.

Prayer: Mighty God, By simply saying, “Peace, be still!” all of my anxiety and raging thoughts give way to the calm reassurance of Your voice. You are my Master!

Devotion to Julie Long

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Baking a cake requires a recipe. Gathering the utensils and ingredients, carefully measuring and mixing, and then baking it for the correct length of time are all critical for its success. Too many eggs, omitting the sugar, or not measuring the flour correctly can cause it to flop.

A peaceful, pleasant life requires following a “recipe” too. Randomly picking and choosing which ingredients to add or omit on our own can be disastrous.

The Word of God has the recipe for a balanced, flourishing, “delicious” life. Allowing God to add and measure what goes into our lives brings peace, joy, and love. He leaves nothing to chance, but carefully mixes all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Prayer: Dear Lord, We trust You with our lives. May we always be pliable as you work in us. Every day give us the exact ingredients that we need.

Devotion by Bonnie Peacock

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Haunted eyes, a heavy heart, and feet that dread the next step. Life has a way of dragging us down.

We do not have to live very long before we discover that we do not have all the answers. Life is bigger than we are, and we need help!

Prayer is the key!

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the ends of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:1-3).

Prayer: When I talk to You, Lord, You lift my load and chase the storm clouds away. You bring peace to my troubled mind and calm my fears. You lift me above my circumstances so that I can walk in peace and joy again.

Devotion by Bonnie Peacock

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“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Someone said that impatience is “waiting in a hurry.” I am prone to do a lot of waiting in a hurry. My stress level rises as each delay and obstacle presents itself. Fretful and tense, I struggle through the day.

What a waste! Although it may not be possible to relax amid our stress and chaos, we can rest in God. He has everything under control. What peace can be found when we relinquish our impatience into His Hands.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that nothing is ever out of control when You are in control. We wait upon You today. You are our strength. You are our peace.

Devotion by Bonnie Peacock

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The Bible tells many stories of Jesus and His disciples. One day Jesus instructed, “Let us pass over to the other side” (Mark 4:35). A great storm developed before they reached the far shore. Jesus, tired from His teaching, slept in the back of the ship.

Frantic, the disciples woke Him. “Don’t you even care that we’re about to die?” Jesus arose and said, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39).

They had forgotten that it was Jesus’ idea to make the journey. The fact that it was His idea implied they would have a safe crossing.

Storms blow into our lives too. Amid the turmoil and confusion we forget that the Word of God told us, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember You control our storms. Today we ask You to speak peace to our hearts and minds.

Devotion by Bonnie Peacock

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    “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul” Psalm 94:19 (New International Version of the Holy Bible). We can live joyful every day because our happiness is not based on circumstances, but rather it is predicated on God Himself. Joy dwells with God which means wherever God is there is joy! If we make room for Him in our lives, we can experience a deep and abiding joy regardless of external conditions. The joy of the Lord knew the poverty of a lowly manger birth and the agony of the cross. Joy triumphed over the grave – it is irrefutable and undefeatable! This joy does not deny the distress or minimize the pain in our life, but finds God in the midst of it.
    Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for joy that transcends my present circumstance. I pause today to rejoice in the God of my salvation. Though I may face sorrow, or urgent needs, or anxiety, or illness, I face it with my soul secure in You. Amen.
    Devotion by: Julie Long
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    “He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed,” (Psalm 107:29, Holy Bible, New American Standard). I like to stand on a desolate Pacific Ocean beach and watch the waves from incoming tide crash against rocks, pounding surf roaring in my ears, waves washing over my feet. The exhilaration is short lived because I can only take so much of that tumultuousness before I’m ready to swish my feet in a quiet stream. I feel the same way about storms in my life. I appeal to God to hush the squall soon after it begins. In tempest or peace, He responds to my needs.
    Prayer: Thank You Lord for storms that let me appreciate quiet times. Amen.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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    “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.” (Joshua 6:10 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.) As our pastor was preaching from this passage this week-end the phrase I often told my children when they were talking too much came to mind; zip your lip. We are a people of chatter. If you don’t believe it see how many cell phones that are being used at the mall, in the grocery stores, the post office and even the doctor’s offices. It has gotten so bad that now signs are posted in the doctor’s offices to turn off your cell phone. The post office apparently has had similar problems and posted a sign to discontinue your conversation on cell phones before going to the counter. The Lord gave instructions to Joshua with a similar request. They were instructed to march around the walls of Jericho once a day for six day and on the seventh day to march seven times around. They were not to speak at all as they marched. I’m sure that was probably harder than marching. When we talk the enemy knows what we’re thinking if he happens to be listening. Our mood is picked up by what we say. Today, let’s try talking less and marching on around the walls that are hindrances in our lives.
    Dear Lord, help me learn that You don’t need my input to see walls broken down. Help me zip my lip and let You perform miracles in my life. You are an all sufficient God who is able to destroy the barriers that I am facing even today. Amen!
    Devotion by Kaye Singleton
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