Last night, as the cold winds picked up, the temperatures dropping, and the snow began to fall I sat in my car at lunch. I had the heat on, I was warm and protected, almost like a cocoon of a snuggly warm blanket wrapped around me. Once again I was reminded of God's love and how it keeps up safe through the storms of life. We can have the peace that passes understanding no matter what storms are hammering away at us. Too often I have given that peace away and let the troubles overwhelm me instead of hanging on to the safety of my Father's hand. I am facing some heart hurting hardships right now, and I know God saw my need for this reminder.
John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Psalm 23:2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Romans 8:31-38 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, won't He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one--for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one--for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted or hungry, or destitute, or in danger or threatened with death? As the Scriptures says, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep" No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What amazing promises! What encouragement! Just the Romans verses alone are enough to camp out with for a lifetime! Much like I was protected from the elements as I sat in my car last night, God keeps us securely in His hands as we weather the storms of life.
Lord, thank You. You are our safe place, our high tower, the rock on which we stand. You are our refuge, our retreat and our sanctuary. I am so grateful to have this assurance, to know no matter what I face you will be there, and bring me through. The things of this life are so temporary, even the troubles. Help me and all of us to focus on You when all else seems to fall apart. You carry us through. Thank You for the reminder. And Lord, I want to pray for those who are homeless and face the harsh winters, please help them find a warm place and most importantly, lead them to Yourself.
Find a promise (or two or three..) from the Bible that you can hold on to. Look them up for yourself and cling to it.
Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your Name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.
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