How Do I Experience the Lord's Peace When I'm Afraid?
When we feel fear we tend to look inward. But a self-centred focus can keep us from experiencing the peace God’s presence brings.
As we read the Bible, we can be tempted just to focus on the parts we understand well and skip over those subjects that are mysterious and confusing. The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is surely one of those subjects! But how is the Church affected if the person and work of the Holy Spirit are not studied? More important, how is our own spiritual growth stunted if we don't understand the Spirit's transforming power within us?
Did you know that the Holy Spirit helps you understand the Bible better and assures you of your eternal salvation? After you learn more about the Holy Spirit, you'll understand why Jesus told His disciples that they would be better served by Jesus leaving them and sending them the Holy Spirit than by staying with them (John 16:7).
When we feel fear we tend to look inward. But a self-centred focus can keep us from experiencing the peace God’s presence brings.
“How does a person get wisdom? I realize we are to be men and women of wisdom, but few people ever talk about how it’s acquired.” His answer was quick and to the point. “Pain.”
There can be no more reliable authority on earth than God’s Word, the Bible. This timeless, trustworthy source of truth holds the key that unlocks life’s mysteries.
The doctrine of the virgin birth, or perhaps more accurately the virgin conception, is important for many reasons. On it hang the doctrines of original sin, the inspiration of Scripture, who Jesus was, and what Jesus did in salvation.
When we are younger it seems a bit easier to relate to God’s purpose for our lives. We readily find meaning in our role as a parent, in social relationships, in work, and in church activity. As we age this can change.
“Have I lost my salvation? Does God still love me even though I'm doing everything wrong? And where do I go from here? I don't know what to do.”
Although we are Christians, we still struggle with sin in our flesh (Galatians 5:17-21). If we live according to the flesh we will reap dead works.
We all have an intuitive sense of justice and that wrong must be atoned for. But because of our sin nature we are prone to self-atonement and false guilt, a sense and thought that we must somehow pay the penalty ourselves.
Each weekday at 7:40 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. my stress level rises considerably. This stress can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on—you guessed it—how traffic is. Yes, I'm talking about my work commute.