Even in a world of chaos, there is peace in the center of the storm.
Would you like to know peace in the middle of today's crisis and to experience unconditional love like you've never known before? I want that for you too!
As the world seems to vibrate with fear, anger, and hatred, 2020 has been a year of chaos, stress, and instability for many. Yet, for others, it's been a year of calm amidst the storm - filled with a renewed spirit of intimate prayer and a deeper love for all the souls across the planet. It's been a time for purposeful acts of kindness, deepening relationships, and deliberately resonating with love, patience, gentleness, and peace.
“We are not what happens to us but within us.”
We can have inner peace even in the midst of a chaotic storm. How is this level of calm possible in the midst of a violent storm? As the world seems to rock with uncertainty and fear, there is secure stability in God.
Know God, Know Peace.
Peace doesn't require us (or our surroundings) to be perfect or unaffected, but it allows us a solid, unwavering, foundation to stand on during the inevitable storms that come.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful."- John 14:27
“The most important thing you can do is get saved.”
The Free Gift
Salvation is a free gift from God to each of us. All we have to do is accept it.
All religions in the world rely on some level of works to get to Heaven. Thankfully, knowing God personally is not a religion, it's a relationship. God tells us that no amount of work will ever save us. The good news is that we don't have to save ourselves, Jesus already paid that price for us.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
Gifts can't be earned or purchased (otherwise they're no longer gifts), they can only be rejected or accepted. Saving ourselves is beyond our human capacity. Realizing our works can't save us requires us to release our ego, set down our pride, and humble ourselves. With a humble, open, and sincere heart, we can accept God's free gift of salvation.
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." - James 4:10
The Need For A Savior
No amount of works will ever save us because we're not perfect. We've all sinned.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23
"There is none righteous, not even one" - Romans 3:10
Where does being a sinner leave us? It leaves us separated from God (eternal death).
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23
Thankfully, God knows all things and He has a plan and a gift for each of us. God sent His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sins. And the plan didn't stop there. God raised Him from the dead, just as each of us get to be raised up from our sins through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Jesus is perfect, and He did the work that none of us (as imperfect humans) could ever accomplish.
"knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;" - Romans 6:6
"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. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." - John 3:16-17
Accepting The Gift
There's nothing God wants more for us than a personal relationship with Him. He loves us enough to let us choose - we can reject or accept His gift - it's up to each of us. True love isn't forced, it's offered with an open heart and hands. God loves us enough to give us free will, so we can choose this too!
How do we accept this free gift? Acknowledge our need for a Savior, that we're sinners, believe that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and accept Him as our personal Savior. It's truly that simple.
"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." - Romans 10:9-10
"what must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" - Acts 16:30-31
For example, with a sincere heart you can pray something like this...
“Dear Lord, I am a sinner and I need a Savior. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe you sent your son, Jesus, to die for my sins and that He rose from the dead and is in Heaven today. I accept you as my Lord and Savior and thank you for the gift of salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Now What?
There's no church you must attend, or works you must fulfill, there's no level of being good enough, and there's no more wondering if you'll go to Heaven. If you truly meant what you said to God, and you believe in Jesus as your personal Savior, you'll be with Him in Heaven after your time on Earth is complete.
Remember this is a relationship, not a religion. Like any good relationship you'll want to know them better. If you’ve accepted God’s gift of salvation, the best way to nurture your new relationship with God is to read His Word, the Bible. It's His love letter to each of us.
The Bible is not a history book or someone's opinion in book form. The Bible is the inspired word of God. It contains 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years, yet it's an integrated whole from cover to cover, which bears evidence of its supernatural engineering in every detail.
"you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:15-16
Our time spent reading, studying, and exploring the Bible is time devoted to nurturing our relationship with God - getting to know Him better. This results in blessings far beyond this world.
God's Promises
God doesn't promise that once we're saved the world around us will be calm and peaceful. Actually He tells us the opposite, what's to come here on earth is far worse than all of history has ever experienced. But what He does promise is peace - not in the world but in Him.
Remember, we are not what happens around us but within us. We can have inner peace even in the midst of a storm.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful."- John 14:27
"I will never leave you, nor forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5
“Know God, know peace.”
Even in the midst of chaos, tragedy, and suffering we can know God's peace in our soul. It doesn't mean we don't experience heartache, but we can do it with an eternal assurance and perspective. No matter what happens around us, as the world seems to be falling apart, we can rest in God's eternal peace, knowing that we are loved unconditionally and we'll be with God in Heaven through eternity. We know this kind of peace by knowing God, and we know Him more by spending time reading and studying His word.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
Welcome To The Family
If you've received Jesus as your personal Savior, you're a child of the King. The God who created the universe, who hung the stars in the sky, is your Heavenly Father. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Welcome to the family of God.
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:26
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
- Ephesians 5:1-2
Know Truth
The most important thing you can do is study the Word of God. Don't rely on others for truth, find the answers for yourself. It's all there, in the Bible.
At any stage in our walk with God, we continually learn from others as they walk (with or without God). The knowledge from others can be very helpful, but it must all be tested by what God says, in order for us to know if its true. Truth is absolute. Again, don't take my word for it, see it for yourself in God's own words (in the Bible).
The best way to know the answers are to read them for yourself. Bits and pieces make more sense when they’re put into context. Reading the Bible all the way through, and studying it daily will help you grow exponentially.
Begin with just a few verses every morning before you get out of bed. This habit can change your actions for the whole day, and your perspective for eternity. Daily Bible reading is powerful, it comes with tremendous and unexpected blessings. Your life will be changed and blessed by spending time absorbing God's word. These aren't just my words, God guarantees it.
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10-11
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near." - Revelation 1:3
God will find new ways to continue blessing your life as you spend time in His word and putting it into action. May we each walk closer with each other as we walk closer with God. So much love, blessings, and prayers for you. You are a precious child of the King. All the angels in Heaven are rejoicing over you as you've accepted God's free gift of salvation, and I rejoice with them, amen and amen!
Begin Your Daily Nourishment
Check out my blog post about a Daily Mantra. This can jump start your morning and your daily practice of walking closer in a relationship with God. Blessings await you!!
#peace #calminthestorm #getsaved #knowGod #eternalsalvation #eternalsecurity #seekfirsthiskingdom #godlyperspective #howtobesaved
I tell you these things, not to convince you, but to spark curiosity and encourage you to dig deep and explore these issues for yourself.
As always, don't take my word for it.
Examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are true.
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
- Acts 17:11
Written by Lori Grimmett, a student of Biblical studies for more than 40 years,
and of Biblical theology and eschatology for more than 25 years.
Comments