"GOT PEACE?"

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

What is the most peaceful place you've ever been?

Many times we think of some place in the mountains, the islands or the coast line of our beautiful country. Is it any wonder that people buy second homes way up in the mountains overlooking beautiful lakes? Then there are those who prefer the home built right on the beach front! We often think of going to those places to either enjoy the serenity and quiet or the roar of the surf as the waves crash into the beach over and over. Well, I have been blessed to have enjoyed allot of both the mountains and the beach and never even had to buy the first piece of real estate. My friends would ask me how it's possible to do that and my only answer to them was, "God totally provided my hearts desire!" and they wanted to know, "How did He do that?" as if it was a great secret that I had found and possessed.

The secret is not at all a secret that I possess, but is actually available to us all! The places I stayed in the mountains and on the beach were made available to me and my children because of something called "peace". You see, I had found a peace inside of me and that's when I understood the freedom that I had to care about others and reach out to do something to help them! When my desires changed towards people and their needs, that's when God began to provide all the other things that I found peaceful about this earth. How did I find that inner peace?
That's what was talked about in today's RU Sunday School class! But the lesson was about something that will take away our peace every single day, if we let it! The thing that steals our inner peace is "fear" and that comes from our adversary, satan himself. When you become afraid, you lose your strength. Your hands and feet get cold; you begin to perspire and you become weak physically, mentally and spiritually.

What gives us the power to not be afraid? Answer these three questions honestly!

Did Jesus overcome satan?

Did Jesus overcome the world?

Did Jesus overcome death?

We all know that He did and that is why only Jesus can offer total inner peace. Satan wants to cripple you with fear! Satan wants to take you away from Christ! He knows that you are healthy and strong in the presence of Jesus Christ, so he tries to pull you away from Christ. If he does this, he can begin to create fear in your life and your soul. How would satan try to pull you away today?

Satan has a mismanagement plan for your life today! Satan loves to see us distracted from our walk with Christ. Every minute not spent in communion with Christ or not accomplishing His purpose for our lives, is time available for satan to distract us and cause us to begin to worry. We learned in the RU class that worry is a soft form of fear. Worry is something we do when we become unsure of ourselves and our future. Worry makes us feel like we have lost control of something in our life and it is that need for control that can become an addiction if we don't turn to Christ for our strength.

Remember who overcame satan, the world and death? Yes, it is Jesus! It is with this assurance that we can face anything without fear! I know the grammar professors may not like the way this sounds, but the next time you see a "NO FEAR" sign or sticker, let it remind you, that with Jesus Christ you've "GOT PEACE!"

God's management plan puts the Spirit in control and our souls ought to give up control to the Spirit of God. That's where real inner "Peace" is found! That's My big SECRET!

Philippians 4:6-8 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.