Perfect Peace by Ann Broughton

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV).

    Trusting in the Lord and having peace can be very difficult if you are facing something that is uncertain. But this is when the Lord can truly show you that His love is there for you in the midst of your crisis. But the key words here are “whose mind is steadfast”. Steadfast means that you absolutely know that God loves you and no matter what happens, you will always trust Him. We cannot see the future, but God does know it. He wants you to be in peace and know that His love will never fail you.

    I love the story of the woman who Jesus healed. She had been very ill for twelve years and had tried many different things to get well. None of these things helped her. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed”. (Matthew 9:21 NIV). There was a big crowd and Jesus was jostled, but as soon as she touched his cloak, she was healed. Jesus knew because He said power had gone from him. He asked who it was. The woman came to Him trembling and told Him it was her and that she was healed. He said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace”. (Luke 8:47 NIV).

    The woman believed with a steadfast heart that she would be healed by just touching his cloak. She had faith and put it into action. It was that faith that healed her. Do you think she trusted in the Lord from then on to satisfy her needs and give her peace? She knew what it was like to step out in faith and believe and not doubt.

    Maybe you are in a position right now that you need to trust in the Lord with all your heart. He is there for you. Pray and believe that He loves you and wants to supply you with the peace that only He can give. 

Dear Lord,

Sometimes it is very hard to trust you, when the future is uncertain, but I know you love me and that you will never leave me. Help me to have the same faith as the woman who was healed. Give me peace.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Treasures in Heaven by Ann Broughton

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV).

    After watching the disastrous aftermath of the tornado that hit Oklahoma City, I have been really thinking about what I consider my treasures here on earth. Those people lost everything they owned in an instant. How would you deal with that? I guess it just really made me relook at what is truly important to me, and realize that things are not that important. I have watched TV and saw the interviews of those who lost their house and all their possessions. Many of them said that they were just so happy that they, and those they loved, survived. When it comes down to the nitty gritty stuff of life, possessions should not be at the time of your list. You will not be able to take any of it with you when you die.

   What is more important is what impact you made on another person’s life. Have you helped someone in some way?  I believe that your treasure in heaven is what you do in the name of Jesus for others. My husband made such a wonderful point in his sermon today. He said that when we work and get a paycheck, we should be thinking of how we can share it with others. That should be our foremost thought. Interesting point of view isn’t it? But you see everything we have is a blessing from God, and we definitely should be using some of it to benefit those who are in need. This is how we store up treasures in heaven.

    So think about where your treasure is, and I sincerely hope that possessions aren’t at the top of your list. Every day is given to you as a blessing, and it is up to you to use it to bless others in some way.

Dear Lord,

Help us to thank you daily for your many blessings you have given us. Help us to use what we have to benefit others in some way. We know that your mission on earth was to help others, so help us do the same.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen