The Anxiety Relief Scriptures DevotionalSample

ACCEPT JESUS’ PEACE

We all like to receive gifts, but have you received the gift that Jesus left you? In John 14:27, He assures you that he left you his peace. He also says to “let not” your heart be troubled nor afraid. The phrase “let not” means that this is something within your control.

When I read this scripture, I immediately thought about the story of Jesus walking on troubled waters (see Matthew 14:22-33). In the story, Peter also walked on the troubled waters for a brief time as he kept his focus on Jesus. But when he started regarding the circumstances (the wind and waves), he begin to sink.

Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith. So when you start regarding your circumstances above your God, you will feel like you are sinking too. But when focus on Him, your faith strengthens and His peace becomes your peace!

Consider the words of the popular hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”:

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!”

This hymn contains the secret of receiving Jesus’ peace: You recognize that Jesus carries your sins and sorrows. Your job is to carry your burdens to the Lord in prayer. Everything! There is no concern that you have that is too small or large for you to carry to the Lord.

Whenever you feel burdened or troubled, use that as your signal to fix your eyes on Jesus and pray as a means to transfer your burden to the Lord. Just like Jesus commanded, "Peace, be still” to the storm in Mark 4:39, so you invite Him into your situation to restore calm in your storm.