The scene played over and over in my mind. Like summer re-runs on tv, it kept looping through my thoughts. I re-lived every word. Could I have said or done anything differently? I had no peace about the situation. I tried to act like an adult by not moaning and groaning about it to everyone (not much, anyway). But my soul was greatly disturbed.
I was fighting mad, shadowboxing to try and resolve the situation that gnawed at me like termites on wood. Peace would not come.
During this time of angst, I was out of my normal morning routine of reading God’s Word and praying. Yes, I was reading my Bible each day, but unfortunately, I did not set aside time for a conversation with God. I wasn’t praying like I should have been.
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB
God was faithful to place this scripture in my path that week. Like a big old boulder, He plunked it down right in front of me. There was no going around it. The thoughts in my mind were anything but quiet and peaceful. Paul tells us that we pray so that we can lead a tranquil life. I had neglected the one thing that could restore calm.
Could Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane bring Him peace? He was brutally crucified. That doesn’t seem like a quiet and tranquil life to me.
The original Greek word for quiet is hēsúchio, meaning undisturbed from without. Tranquil is from the Greek word ḗremos, meaning not easily upset or excited. Jesus could go to the cross because He was in constant contact with His Father through prayer. His external circumstances did not disturb Him.
The battles and concerns I replayed over and over in my mind were things I should have taken to the Lord in prayer. There was nothing I could do in the circumstances. It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet. So I did.
[tweetthis]It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet.[/tweetthis]
Turning my concerns over to Jesus didn’t change my circumstances. Everything was the same; what was bothering me was still there. The difference was that praying about it gave me the peace of God. Through the power of prayer, I refused to let the situation excite me or disturb me. I had great peace.
I like to think of it as prayer protection. Everything on the outside is still happening. But now I am wrapped and protected in the arms of Jesus, sharing my concerns with Him. External circumstances do not disturb me. When I invite Jesus into my life and my situation He walks with me. I’d rather have Him by my side, experiencing His peace, than walk all alone.
Don’t let life’s circumstances rattle you. Give your concerns to the Lord in prayer. Lead the tranquil and quiet life He desires for you.
Father, I thank you that we can take all our burdens to You in prayer, so that we can lead a quiet and tranquil life. Thank You for the peace that prayer brings. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Grace be with you,
This is a powerful message. Thank you ❤️
Thank you Cheri! It’s something we all want, isn’t it? To be undisturbed from without, not to let our external circumstances keep our souls in chaos…prayer can do that. Jesus can do that. But I have to lay my cares at His feet!
It is so very important to lay everything at His feet, isn’t it?
The picture I once once was given to understand this was that every offense was a debt. When we take that debt to Jesus and let go, we can forgive. As we have been forgiven so we can forgive. But then another idea came. This was born out of an interaction with someone who felt I had offended them. They were not able to take the debt to the cross. Over time, because they had not learned to let that debt go, to forgive, they began to collect interest on it. After much time had passed I had the unfortunate experience to meet this person again. I saw firsthand what debt with interest does to a person who cannot let go. They become bitter. The interest on the debt, the unforgiveness this person held, only ruined them. It was a painful and hard lesson to learn but I am so thankful for it.
Jesus taught me that we must learn to take these offenses to the cross. It is only when we forgive can we truly be forgiven. Otherwise we will be tied to that offense for all time and never free.
So when you face an offense, ask yourself, do I really want to be a debt collector, or a debt releaser? Therein lies the basis for your prayer.
Homer Les
http://www.homerlesandwandaring.com
What a wise and beautiful word Homer! Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I pray we will all be debt releasers, amen?
Amen!