Do you want Peace?

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust! He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark." Psalm 91:1-2 & 4

The closer the 4th of July comes, I'm pondering the fact that it's sad that we are a nation that has lost it's hope, faith, peace, freedom and security in God. We use to be a nation that was "One Under God" and now we're one under ourselves, our dreams and what we want. I'm very certain that our founding fathers could not have foreseen how distant we would become to each other when they wrote the Declaration of Independence. Our citizens do not respect each other nor our country. And some of it rightly so. Our nation seems to have forgotten that we were founded upon God.

There is such sadness and longing for God yet people are refusing to look to Him in the only way He can be found. Have you looked into Oprah's "Soul Series webcast"? It's full of good advice from those who are spiritually minded in finding your way through your spiritual journey which is far from God. Finding your faith through these methods only gives you hope and peace for a short time. It doesn't help you get through the bumps in the road and keep you afloat for the long term. Only God can do that but some are so anti-God that they are missing the boat because they refuse to give Him a chance.

My devotional hit upon hope this morning. I find it interesting that Mrs. Charles Cowman was talking about people loosing hope way back in her time which was from 1870-1960. Here's what she had to say about the time in which she lived, "Commentators and reporters today have recently been giving to the nation some alarming facts of the present-day world conditions. Through the medium of television one catches a glimpse of world leaders sitting in their peace conferences and at the United Nations seeking some satisfactory way out of the chaotic and hopeless condition. What is to be gained by crying "Peace! Peace!" when there is no peace? Mankind already exists amid the ruins of a world full of broken homes, broken hopes, and broken hearts. One wonders no longer how true is the statement, "The world has gone to pieces." Man and all his wisdom, devices, and schemes will not solve the present-day problems. Look up, dear heart. There is a way out - but one way - and that way is God's way!"

I like what George Mueller says, "There is never a time when we may not hope in God! Whatever the necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearances help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be founded that it is not in vain."

Jesus gave us a way to gain the peace that we're missing. "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." John 14:16. May we not loose hope but continue to rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us to the Father. May we "abide in the shadow of the Almighty".

Are you feeling lost? Are you feeling like you can't reach the peace you so desperately want? You can not do it on your own no matter how good it may sound from those who call themselves "spiritual leaders" of today. Do you want someone to help you through the difficult times? I can guarantee you can't get through them on your own power. I believe there is one true way to find it and that is through Jesus. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16. Grasp that freedom through Jesus. He's only a prayer away.

Krista Jones
7.1.08