Shut Ins...

The Word of God says:

— Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus leaves His peace to all His followers, especially His shut-ins. It is ours for the taking.

— The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’

God is eternal and unchanging. He is our refuge in the storms of life, and He upholds His people in His infinitely strong and everlasting arms. Can’t you hear Him saying to you: ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Underneath are my everlasting arms’?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear … ().

A help that is not present when we need it is of small value. God is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you ().

This promise speaks for itself; the emphasis of the double negative is in the Greek original. God says: ‘I’ll never let you down; never, never, never, whatever the circumstances, and whatever your mistakes.’

It is I; don’t be afraid ().

The disciples were scared out of their wits when they saw in the dark what they thought was a ghost. But Jesus reassured them: ‘It’s me. It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.’ They took him on board and in no time they reached land.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We need to turn worry into prayer and thanksgiving.

— That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Sleeplessness is a great affliction, but God can use it for good. In the book of Esther, in the Old Testament, we are told of a king who had trouble sleeping, and turned to a book. This reminded the king of something he had forgotten, and this turned the course of history. Sleeplessness is also an opportunity for meditating on God’s Word, for counting one’s blessings, and for intercession.

Sleeplessness is a great affliction, but God can use it for good. In the book of Esther, in the Old Testament, we are told of a king who had trouble sleeping, and turned to a book. This reminded the king of something he had forgotten, and this turned the course of history. Sleeplessness is also an opportunity for meditating on God’s Word, for counting one’s blessings, and for intercession.

Suggestions for prayer:

• Thank God that He is utterly trustworthy and that He does not put His children through needless pain or distress.

• Pray for a sense of peace and a total rest in God’s all-secure and loving arms, as you wait on the Lord’s will do come to pass.

• Pray for relief from sleeplessness, and for God’s help to use the wakeful time for thanksgiving and intercession for others.

Prayer:

Lord God, you are eternal and unchanging and your love is completely steadfast and faithful. We thank you that in the Lord Jesus Christ and all He endured for us you have taught us to trust you in every experience of life. Forgive us that too often our faith wavers, and help us to learn to put our confidence in you as Jesus did in the dark night of His sufferings for our sake. May we too be able to pray, ‘Your will, not mine, be done.’ So may our hearts and minds be guarded and kept by his strong and loving peace. We pray in his Name. Amen.