looking for peace {day seventeen}

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”  Psalm 29:11

As a mother I find that one of the things I’m constantly praying for is peace.  And strength is definitely a close second.  Being a parent is tough.  Anyone who disagrees with me, obviously hasn’t tried it.

But as a daughter of God, I am unbelievably fortunate to know where to look to for peace.  Or rather, whom to look to.

We are promised that the Lord blesses his people with peace.  We also read in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

So, it would seem to me that in order to have the kind of peace that we need….all we have to do is ask.  And asking is something that I do often.

I haven’t shared my thoughts about the state that our world is in up to this point.  But, I’m going to step out on a limb right now and say that I think our world is in a sad place.  Our children can’t attend public schools or go to a movie theater without the facing the very real threat of being victim to a shooting.  There are more and more children falling into the trap of drug abuse every day.  Our country is constantly at war with someone, and our government is no longer the reliable and trust-worthy system that it claims to be (this one may have always been non-existent).

As parents, it’s difficult almost impossible to have peace when sending our beloved children out into the world.  But, if we look to the Father above for peace, he will grant our request.  He promises us that.

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal” Isaiah 26:4

Lord, I pray to you now.  Please help me to always remember that you, and you alone, provide my peace.  I ask that you help me to trust in your promises and that I will not look for peace outside your word.  Please help me to trust that you will protect us, your children, from this hate-filled world.  Please guide us to the relationships that will help us to grow in you and help us to treasure our time spent together.  I ask all of the things in your precious son’s name, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7