Thank you for your presence here today as I share some scripture about God's peace that he has for you.
His peace is already within you,
It's already attainable,
So let's just call to remembrance the things that Jesus has taught us.
I have said these things to you,
That in me you may have peace,
In the world you will have tribulation,
But take heart,
I have overcome the world.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone,
O Lord,
Make me dwell in safety.
In his days may the righteous flourish and peace abound till the moon be no more.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace and the result of righteousness,
Quietness and trust forever.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
Who proclaim peace,
Who bring good tidings,
Who proclaim salvation,
Who say to Zion,
Your God reigns.
But he,
Jesus,
Was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities,
The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace and the result of righteousness,
Quietness and trust forever.
And by his wounds we are healed.
Long life is in her right hand,
In her left hand are riches and honor,
Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her,
Those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Those who plan peace have joy.
Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you,
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.
Therefore since we have been justified by faith,
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Finally brothers,
Rejoice,
Aim for restoration,
Comfort one another,
Agree with one another and live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.
I hope that this scripture has been encouraging to you in some way and I would love to just end today with a short prayer.
Lord God,
Thank you so much for being with us today.
I pray that you would increase the peace that you already have for us.
The peace that already dwells deep within our body,
Our mind,
Our spirit.
But I do pray Lord that you would increase it.
We know Lord that we have access to you,
That like a vine we are intertwined with you and that you are full of peace.
So if we are connected to you in that way,
How much more peace can we have?
So God I pray that as we just imagine being wrapped up in you and being connected with you and interconnected with you,
That your peace just grow into us.
That it would become more alive in us and that you would protect us from fears and anxiety and instead that peace would take over,
Take over our thoughts and take over our actions.
If we've been wrestling with emotions and ups and downs of this life,
It's okay,
That's life.
But Lord we know that you are so faithful and so kind to give us your peace that surpasses our understanding.
A peace that goes beyond what this world could ever give us,
Beyond what a song can give us.
So Lord just redirect our minds to eternity.
Protect us from fear that can feel extremely real and extremely valid.
But as we direct our minds to heaven and the heavenly things that you have planned for us,
We know that your ways are higher than our ways and your thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
So God we thank you for directing our minds to the heavens knowing that you are thinking good things for us,
You have amazing things planned for us.
Now feel free to take this time to reflect on the peace that you feel in your body,
In your mind.
The music will continue to play.
You can use this time to pray to God or just meditate on all the goodness that he has given to you.
Just thank him and be grateful and embrace the peace that you feel.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
