Peace like a River

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare 

Peace like a River

Sunday, 4 August

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 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.

MORE LESSON: 2 Thessalonian 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

One virtue that is missing in our world today is peace. The simple reason why this is so is because the world has failed to acknowledge Jesus, the Prince of peace. Until His kingdom come where He reigns over all, the earth will not experience peace. Jesus once said, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household: Matthew 10:34-36.

This statement of Jesus was not negating the fact that He is the Prince of peace. He said these words to His disciples to make them know that on account of Him, the world will be set in confusion. Because the world will refuse to acknowledge His lordship, other “lords” who will impoverish them and take away their peace will rule the people. The confusion, corruption and insecurity all over the world today is as a result of other lords whom the world is hand-inglove with and they have succeeded in enthroning themselves over the world. Surely, this confusion will grow worse until Jesus comes to take the centre stage when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our God and His Christ.

This same confusion in the larger society is happening in homes that refuse to allow Jesus reign as Lord. The reason for all the troubles in your life and family is simply because you have not given Jesus the authority to oversee your home. Peace like a river will flood your home if only you will invite Jesus in today. If you will agree to rule your home in accordance to Biblical instructions, your home will experience rest because Jesus will take full control. The battle will no longer be yours, but the Lord’s.

You can only “be careful for nothing” and hand over everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving if Jesus is the Lord of your home. Those who fail to do so will fear and faint. But those who acknowledge Him as Lord will acclaim, The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for His peace in your life, family and ministry.

* Pray against everything that hinders and steals the peace of God from you.

* Declare the peace of God upon your life and all that concerns you using Philippians 4:7 and 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: To every force of darkness set against my destiny, assignment and family, in the second half of 2024, let there be light now, in the powerful name of Jesus.