1 00:00:02,630 --> 00:00:15,070 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,820 --> 00:00:13,900 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're so glad to have 3 00:00:13,940 --> 00:00:18,420 Speaker 2: you listening. I'm Lynette Kittle, and today's topic is Trusting 4 00:00:18,460 --> 00:00:21,700 Speaker 2: God When Peace Cannot Be Found. We'll be right back 5 00:00:21,910 --> 00:00:38,220 Speaker 2: after a brief message from our sponsor. Trusting God When 6 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,979 Speaker 2: Peace Cannot Be Found. Written and read by Lynette Kittle. 7 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,580 Speaker 2: You will keep, in perfect peace, those whose minds are steadfast, 8 00:00:48,150 --> 00:00:53,650 Speaker 2: because they trust in you. Isaiah 26.3 Listening to the 9 00:00:53,710 --> 00:00:56,890 Speaker 2: media and reading social media lets us know what a 10 00:00:56,950 --> 00:01:02,870 Speaker 2: troubling world we live in. With wars, natural disasters, civic uprisings, 11 00:01:03,030 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 2: mass shootings, assassinations, sickness, diseases, accidents, and much more. If 12 00:01:11,060 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: we're looking for peace in a world of chaos, we 13 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,660 Speaker 2: won't find it because it can't offer us something it 14 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: doesn't have to give. Peace isn't something people can conjure 15 00:01:20,380 --> 00:01:24,470 Speaker 2: up or find in things or comes through situations or 16 00:01:24,770 --> 00:01:28,510 Speaker 2: even offered from another person or group. But it only 17 00:01:28,569 --> 00:01:32,390 Speaker 2: comes through one source, Jesus, the Prince of Peace and 18 00:01:32,490 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: Savior of the world. As Isaiah 9.60 describes, For to 19 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 2: us a child is born, to us a son is given, 20 00:01:41,530 --> 00:01:44,250 Speaker 2: and the government will be on his shoulders, and he 21 00:01:44,270 --> 00:01:49,450 Speaker 2: will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince 22 00:01:49,570 --> 00:01:54,510 Speaker 2: of Peace. Jesus, too, himself, assures us that he is 23 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: our source of peace, saying in John 14.27, Peace I 24 00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: leave with you, my peace I give you. I do 25 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,070 Speaker 2: not give to you as the world gives. Do not 26 00:02:05,110 --> 00:02:08,010 Speaker 2: let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 27 00:02:09,230 --> 00:02:12,370 Speaker 2: Trusting God is where our hearts and minds will find 28 00:02:12,430 --> 00:02:15,970 Speaker 2: relief from the troubles, worries, and fears of the world 29 00:02:16,010 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: we live in. Jesus is the world's source of peace, 30 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 2: yet every day it seems millions are rejecting Him and 31 00:02:23,660 --> 00:02:27,660 Speaker 2: His offer to give them peace. Rather than receive His 32 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,220 Speaker 2: gift of peace, they put up a barrier of unbelief 33 00:02:31,260 --> 00:02:35,090 Speaker 2: between them, isolating themselves from the peace they are so 34 00:02:35,169 --> 00:02:39,940 Speaker 2: desperately are looking for in the world. Jesus' peace came 35 00:02:39,970 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: at a high price too, as Isaiah 53.5 explains, but 36 00:02:44,780 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for 37 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,380 Speaker 2: our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on him, 38 00:02:53,030 --> 00:02:57,130 Speaker 2: and by his wounds we are healed. Still his peace 39 00:02:57,190 --> 00:02:59,890 Speaker 2: is what guards our hearts and minds while living in 40 00:02:59,950 --> 00:03:04,170 Speaker 2: a harsh and cruel world. As Philippians 4, 7 explains, 41 00:03:04,790 --> 00:03:09,050 Speaker 2: and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will 42 00:03:09,090 --> 00:03:13,750 Speaker 2: guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Some 43 00:03:13,810 --> 00:03:15,810 Speaker 2: of us are not sure how to trust God in 44 00:03:15,870 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: a peaceless world. The following are four ways to help 45 00:03:19,540 --> 00:03:23,700 Speaker 2: us begin trusting God for peace when we cannot find 46 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,660 Speaker 2: it in the world. 1. Ask God for His peace. 47 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: Sometimes we believe God doesn't want us asking for His help. 48 00:03:32,150 --> 00:03:35,990 Speaker 2: but that couldn't be further from the truth. James 4.2 49 00:03:35,990 --> 00:03:39,970 Speaker 2: describes why some lack peace. You desire but do not have, 50 00:03:40,030 --> 00:03:42,910 Speaker 2: so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what 51 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not 52 00:03:46,470 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: have because you do not ask God. Number two, focus 53 00:03:51,260 --> 00:03:55,140 Speaker 2: on God's word and his promises. Reading and studying God's 54 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:58,220 Speaker 2: word fills our hearts and minds with his truth and 55 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:03,690 Speaker 2: unfailing promises, reminding us of his faithfulness and calming our fears. 56 00:04:04,410 --> 00:04:09,090 Speaker 2: Proverbs 4.22 reminds us of the importance of feeding on them, 57 00:04:09,650 --> 00:04:12,850 Speaker 2: for they are life to those who find them and 58 00:04:12,930 --> 00:04:19,180 Speaker 2: health to one's whole body. 3. Resist following and practicing 59 00:04:19,300 --> 00:04:25,380 Speaker 2: false offers of peace. Religions other than Christianity offer peace, 60 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:31,229 Speaker 2: saying it comes through various practices, including exercises, chants, and offerings. 61 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: Although we may think some of these things are harmless, 62 00:04:35,300 --> 00:04:38,420 Speaker 2: they will confuse our hearts and minds and lead us 63 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,659 Speaker 2: astray from where true peace is found, because there is 64 00:04:41,740 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: only one way to find it. As Isaiah 59.8 describes, 65 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,550 Speaker 2: The way of peace they do not know. There is 66 00:04:49,630 --> 00:04:52,650 Speaker 2: no justice in their paths. They have turned them into 67 00:04:52,710 --> 00:04:58,430 Speaker 2: crooked roads. No one who walks along them will know peace. 4. 68 00:04:58,610 --> 00:05:02,620 Speaker 2: PRACTICE PEACE IN OUR DAILY LIVES Jesus walked in peace 69 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: on the earth, and we can choose daily to walk 70 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,290 Speaker 2: in and practice it too, by choosing it over conflict, anger, 71 00:05:10,750 --> 00:05:14,450 Speaker 2: and offense. When confronted with situations that cause us to 72 00:05:14,490 --> 00:05:19,310 Speaker 2: feel anxious and unsettled, we can choose to practice peace instead. 73 00:05:19,930 --> 00:05:23,260 Speaker 2: As Jesus taught in Matthew 5, 9, Intersecting faith and life. 74 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 2: Are you experiencing God's peace today, the peace that comes 75 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:37,180 Speaker 2: through knowing Jesus Christ? If not, receive it today by 76 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: asking Him to come into your life. Further reading, Finding 77 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,500 Speaker 2: Peace When Life Feels Out of Control. 78 00:05:48,820 --> 00:05:51,780 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 79 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 3: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 80 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,900 Speaker 3: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow 81 00:05:57,940 --> 00:06:01,260 Speaker 3: Your Daily Prayer, in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 82 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:04,419 Speaker 3: a brand new prayer and devotional each day so your 83 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 3: days begin in conversation with God. 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