God gives us many gifts. One of the most valuable gifts may surprise you. It is very subtle but also very powerful. It may be the key to living life well and approaching God's kingdom.
Jesus, shortly before his arrest, explained to his apostles, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
A gift of peace. Can it be that valuable? Well, does living a life without worry sound attractive? Is living a life with full confidence something you would like.?
God promises that such a life is possible. "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17
But accepting this gift of peace is not easy. As Jesus describes, it is not given as the world gives. The world deals mainly in materialism. The value of worldly gifts is usually based on cost or quantity. Often, our view of gifts in this way seems to generate more anxiety than pleasure and any pleasure we do receive is very short lived.
If we look beyond the world's ways and look toward the precepts of Jesus, we can position ourselves to accept his gift of peace. A gift of less rather than more. A life with less worry, less fear, and a less troubled heart.
Receiving this valuable gift of a worry free and confident life is possible but we have to work a bit for it. Study God's word and avoid the overly worldly. So, "I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants -" Psalm 85:8
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