The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
- Psalm 29:11
This sentence links strength with peace. It states two critical points, each from the Lord.
1. The Lord will GIVE strength (force, security, majesty, praise)
2. The Lord will BLESS …with peace
We cannot experience the long term abiding peace with which the Lord is trying to bless us unless we first allow the Lord to give us the strength he so wishes. To have peace of any sort, we must first be able to rest about the things which bring anxiety.
The Lord holds His hand out to give us the strength to do that, yet, when we refuse to take hold of it due to unbelief, we are like the weakling at school who gets bullied for years, not realising that he has the power within to fight back. Once that realisation comes — once the strength of heart and the overcoming of fears comes to the weakling — his life changes for evermore. Peace reigns in the place of fear.
So it is with our peace. How do we enjoy peace — or rest — in God, for seven days and seven nights, in a continual internal Sabbath, if we don't receive the strength to believe it?
The Lord knows we need the strength of conviction — the power to believe — and He provides that. Like cobwebs and dust, we sweep the fear and unbelief out and allow in the strength of faith required for that peace to also enter. It brings with it a calm mind and heart which abides in Godly quietness despite the noises of trouble thereabouts.
Jesus' mind and heart were quieted enough for Him to sleep in the storm raging about the ship, while outside, His disciples' minds and hearts were in typical turmoil, not being able to take their eyes off the size of the perceived terror.
Philippians 4:7 says the peace of God passes all understanding. So, does His strength!
Today's prayer: Dear Lord, I praise you for the peace I enjoy, however, I could do with more. Please awake me to the strength you give, so I can acknowledge and absorb it.
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