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Are you experiencing “Perfect Peace?”

Peace is not the absence of trouble or turmoil. It is a quiet confidence within you even in the midst of these times of trouble. The Lord Jesus was in a boat with the disciples when all of the sudden, a storm broke out (Mark 4:36-40). the storm got so bad that the disciples thought that they were going to perish. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. They woke Jesus out of His sleep, and even told Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” He rebuked the storm and everything calmed down. Consider this, the disciples thought they were perishing, yet Jesus was sleeping……in the midst of a storm. He had peace even in the midst of a condition where others were in panic and thought they were going to die! Today, God reminds you that He gives us His perfect peace. Do not let your heart be troubled. Even in the midst of a storm, God is there with you and the storm will NOT overtake you! Let Him give you courage and strength today!

John 14:27 (AMP) “Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”

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This is what will stop contentions!

There is much debate in this nation as to how words can stir up anger, hatred and strife. This is such a powerful truth. Proverbs 15:18 (AMP) says: “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.” Another version (AMPC) says: “he who is slow to anger appeases contention”. When we let anger take over our mental and emotional states, it removes the logical and common sense filters that allow us to “think before speaking or acting”. We then go on a word or action tirade, and once it’s finished, the damage is done. We have probably hurt others with our words or actions, and might even have destroyed relationships. In some cases, people can lose their job, their spouse, a friend, and in some cases, even land in jail for hurting or even killing someone in a fit of rage. Ephesians 4:26 (EHV) says:“ Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. It’s not a sin to be angry. What is a sin is if you allow your anger to control your actions, thoughts and decisions, thus causing you to do things that are sinful in nature. Anger can be used constructively. You can break a bad habit if you get angry enough to begin the process of breaking the habit. In many cases, people will not do anything about a problem until they have had it and they can’t take it any more. Anger is a good servant but a bad master. So instead of immediately  giving in to anger, be slow to anger. Let patience have it’s work in the midst of the challenges of life. In doing so, you will be known as the person who can appease or calm potentially dangerous contentions and disputes. This way, issues will be resolved instead of relationships being destroyed. God is the God of peace, not of dissension and contention! We are His people, so let’s flow with His nature!