DEVOTIONAL BY BILLY GRAHAM – HOPE FOR EACH DAY

A Formula for Peace

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. PSALM 119:165

God has a plan for peace, and it is found in His Son, whom the Bible calls the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). But we have rejected God’s plan. Wars still ravage our world—and our lives.

Why? Jesus said the problem is within us: “Out of the heart … proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). What a list! Our real war is a rebellion against God—and it brings unending misery.

But God longs to see this rebellion cease. That is why Christ came. By His death He provided the way for us to be reconciled to God. And when we have peace with God, we have peace in our hearts—and peace with each other.

This happens as we repent and receive Christ. The war is over, for God extends a peace treaty to all who come to Christ.

DEVOTIONAL BY CHARLES STANLEY – ON HOLY GROUND

God’s Message to You

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  – Jeremiah 29:11

God’s message to you is always consistent with His Word. Therefore, the apostle Paul instructed the churches to read and study God’s Word, knowing it would produce an abundance of righteousness: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16 NASB).

Early believers didn’t have the Scriptures as we know them. They had the Law of Moses and the words of the prophets. Letters (our books of the New Testament) from the apostles were circulated to the churches who taught the words and principles of Christ. Paul knew if the people studied them, they would be equipped to face all temptation and trouble.

Many times we face emergencies that leave us little time to go to the Scriptures and hunt for God’s answer. However, when we study God’s Word, we have the spiritual tools needed to face the conflict.

You may be facing a deep personal loss. God wants you to know He is a God of comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). He has a plan for your life that goes past the immediate hurt (Jer. 29:11). Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, because it will be rewarded (Heb. 10:35).

DEVOTIONAL FROM POSTCARDS FROM HEAVEN – CLAIRE CLONINGER

Come, Be Renewed

My precious one,

The world you live in is obsessed with staying young.  Every day you see people around you spending enormous amounts of time and energy and money on any scheme that promises to keep them youthful.  Some have mastered the art of looking young on the outside while their spirits within them are withered and old.  They are tired of the uphill struggle of their existence and bored with its routines; they hunger for something more.  Above the roar and the rumble of their stressful lives I am calling them, saying, “Surely, you know.  Surely you have heard I am the Lord, the God who lives forever, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  I give strength t the weary and power to the weak.  Everyone who chases this world’s vain pursuits will grow weary and old.  But those who hope in me will renew their strength.  They will soar like eagles.  They will run and not need rest.  They will walk without growing tired.”

Come to me and be renewed. – God

Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

¹ The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

² It is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”
³ “a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

⁴ And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

¹ You showed favor to your land, O LORD;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.

⁸ I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints—
but let them not return to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.

DEVOTIONAL BY SARAH YOUNG – JESUS CALLING

I Am The Prince Of Peace

As I said to My disciples, I say also to you: Peace be with you. Since I am your constant Companion, My Peace is steadfastly with you. When you keep your focus on Me, you experience both My Presence and My Peace. Worship Me as King of kings, Lord of lords, and Prince of Peace.

You need My Peace each moment to accomplish My purposes in your life. Sometimes you are tempted to take shortcuts, in order to reach your goal as quickly as possible. But if the shortcut requires turning your back on My peaceful Presence, you must choose the longer route. Walk with Me along paths of Peace; enjoy the journey in My Presence.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ISAIAH 9 : 6

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” JOHN 20 : 19 – 21