Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 2-7-24, 2 Thessalonians 3:16- "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all." This is a time when peace is a precious commodity. In ourselves, there is a struggle for peace of any kind. If we are well, we struggle to stay well. If we are weak, we struggle to become stronger. If we are financially challenged, we struggle just to feed our families. If we find ourselves in high emotional or political tension areas, we struggle to protect ourselves. These are "facts of life." However, there is another "fact" that overshadows all of the above. This is the "fact" of God. Whether a person actually believes in God or not is of no consequence in the "fact" department. God is! A person may choose to attempt to live without God; but, that does not alter His existence one slight bit. God is! If you choose to believe that God is, and that God loves, then God's characteristics begin to impact your personal life. God is many things, one of which is peace. God is Shalom, peace. He is ultimate peace. When you pray for God's peace to continually be given in every circumstance, you are praying for a peace beyond human control and understanding. You are praying for a conquering peace, an overpowering peace, a peace that washes away strife and struggle. Not that the circumstance changes, you change. God's peace changes you. As you place your whole self in God's capable hands, you change because He changes you. You not only experience peace, you glow and exude peace to others. You become one of God's people who help others become God's people, because God is. He is peace and gives peace! Praise His name forever!