Taking Hold of Peace


TAKING HOLD OF PEACE

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." - Revelations 21:4 NLT

It is human nature to put high value on what we can see with our eyes.  We cling tightly to what promises joy or fulfillment.  It may sound like a crazy thing to say, but I am grateful for the trials and disappointments in life —not because I enjoy pain, but because I know that they help me to hold on to this world a little less tightly.

Only God is solid and unchanging (Heb 13:8).  Everything else in life will shake, decay and pass away.  It is a wonderful thing to enjoy our blessings, but what a horrendous grief it is to have to have our fingers pried off of people and things that are taken away.  The tighter the grip, the more intensified the pain when we later have to let them go.

No one can hold a candle to the immeasurable love He has for us.  No possession can hope to satisfy the deep longings of our hearts the way that He can. Beloved, are you holding on tightly to someone or something, trusting them for security, provision, love or peace?  Has your hope been placed in what will fade away?  Why not take hold of the One who lives forever and has an endless supply of it all?

Father, we believe; help our unbelief!  We ask for the power to grasp Your love’s width, length, height and depth (Eph 3:18).  Help us to loosen our hold on what is finite, visible and temporary to take hold of the immeasurable, invisible and eternal.

Father, we look forward to Heaven -—perfect peace, eternal joy and the blissful vanishing of every tear—when death, pain and sorrow will finally meet their end, and we will finally see You face to face.  How we long for the day when our faith will be met by sight.  Until then, help us to hold tight to peace, by keeping a light grasp on Earth, and a firm grip on Your hand.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unshakeable Hope

Image
  UNSHAKEABLE HOPE By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” - Psalms ‭139:23  ‬NIV As the times we are in are heating up, our eyes search for HOPE and comfort.  We look longingly over our shoulder at the “Good Old Days”—simpler times, old relationships and habits—people and things that, in the past, brought momentary relief.  But, more often than not, we find that the fleeting well of comfort found there has since dried up. ‬ We have not been abandoned to fend for ourselves, however. God, Himself, will be our refuge!‬ When everything else is shaking, we have been given a glorious hope.  God is immovable, and when we put our trust in Him, so are we!  ‬ “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:1-2 NIV Beloved, let’s not until the worl...
Read more

Kissing Boo-Boos

Image
  KISSING BOO-BOOS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly Oh, the miracle of a kiss on a boo-boo!  I remember being little and getting a cut on my finger.  I’d raise that chubby finger and go running to my mom.  She always knew what to do.  She would gently clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  We weren’t done until my hurt had been kissed.  There was magic in that application of compassion and love.  It made the pain go away. We have all seen that toddler with a boo-boo.  They run to their mom or dad to clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  If the wound isn’t treated, the tiny nick can continue to hurt and bleed. Each time it is touched or bumped they are reminded of the pain.  And an untreated wound can become infected and grow. There are people all around us with unkissed boo-boos today.  They are hurt, afraid or sad.  They go through life fearful of being hurt again, and looking for someone they can t...
Read more

The Secret of The Birds

Image
 THE SECRET OF THE BIRDS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea monsters and all deep sea creatures; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds.” - Psalm 148:7, 10.   Morning has broken and the choir of birds outside my window is singing their hearts out.  Birds may not be considered to be intelligent, yet their response to God in hardship could teach us a few things.  We humans grumble to God about so much, but the birds praise their creator in severe heat and bitter cold.  They may have nests and the shade of trees, but they don’t have the many comforts we enjoy, yet they praise Him.  They know a secret:  God is enthroned upon our praises.  When our hearts are full of worship, He takes His rightful place and brings with Him joy and peace. Let’s take a lesson from the birds.  Their trust in their maker to provide for their needs, even in the face of harsh seasons, calls out to our faith.  It ...
Read more