Day 16 Peace Within
Monday, September 7, 2020 Day 16
Peace Within
Knowing and Believing in God’s Character Brings Peace
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Please read Genesis 1
As we continue on our journey concerning peace within, a practical tip that can help create this inner calm is to focus on God rather than ourselves. All too often, stress and anxiety overtake us until we are an absolute wreck on the inside. In our reading today, we start at the beginning, and I mean the very beginning when the earth was formless and void (v. 2). As the first chapter of the Bible unfolds to tell it’s cover-to-cover story, so does the creation of the world and all that is in it, including the forming of mankind. Envision the power and intricacy of God in this day to day process. Let’s view this with BIG eyes to see how BIG he is. It is his steadfast love that brings order, beauty, uniqueness, and LIFE to all things:
…To him who spread out earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:6-9
When I choose remember the enormity and the ability of our loving God, my heart then settles down concerning my day to day issues. If he can sustain our own galaxy as well as the other 100 billion galaxies that exist, he can surely uphold me in my sometimes-self-inflicted-spin. As my perspective of God grows in my mind, my problems then begin to shrink. He can bring light into darkness…he can bring order into chaos…he can give purpose to the dust of the ground…he can give me HOPE that I need. Again, if he can do all these things, then why am I so worried about the day at hand? He made the world in his love, as well as you and me. Allow his steadfast love to take over your heart so that you will gain peace in place of anxiety.
Today, choose to praise God for his ability and his ingenuity. From this place, hand him your present issues and trust him to do what you cannot. Begin the practice of focusing on God more than your worries and stresses. Just as in the beginning when the Spirit was hovering over the waters (v. 2), he is now waiting to invade you with his peace.
For further reading: Psalm 33:6-9, 18; Psalm 95:3-7; Numbers 6:24-26.
Heavenly Father,
You are BIG in every sense of that word. You are so much more than we can ever imagine .There are just “those” days we need reminding of who You are minute by minute. Thank You for Your word we can immediately access in those times we feel anxiety, fear, loneliness, worry, anger, distress…. the list can go on and on. Yes Lord, without You we are just a mess but with You we are filled with a hope that exceeds ourselves and our limitations. All things are possible with You. Help us to cast all our troubles on You knowing You are the God who created everything from nothing. Give us faith to know if You are the Creator, then You are the Sustainer as well. Amen
