Don't Forfeit Your Peace

Elizabeth Elliot Devotional

Title: Don't Forfeit Your Peace

It would not be possible to exaggerate the
importance hymns and spiritual songs have played
in my spiritual growth. One of the latter,
familiar to most of you, has this line: "O what
peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we
bear, all because we do not carry everything to
God in prayer" (Joseph Scriven). Prayerlessness
is one of many ways by which we can easily
forfeit the peace God wants us to have. I've been
thinking of some other ways. Here's a sampling:

Resent God's ways.

Worry as much as possible.

Pray only about things you can't manage by
yourself.

Refuse to accept what God gives.

Look for peace elsewhere than in Him.

Try to rule your own life.

Doubt God's word.

Carry all your cares.

If you'd rather not forfeit your peace, here are
eight ways to find it (antidotes to the above
eight):


"Great peace have they which love thy law: and
nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165 KJV).
"Circumstances are the expression of God's will,"
wrote Bishop Handley Moule.

"Don't worry about anything whatever"
(Philippians 4:6, PHILLIPS).

"In everything make your requests known to God in
prayer and petition with thanksgiving. Then the
peace of God... will guard your hearts"
(Philippians 4:6,7, NEB).

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me... and
you will find rest" (Matthew 11:29, NIV).

"Peace is my parting gift to you, my own peace,
such as the world cannot give" (John 14 27, NEB).


"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"
(Colossians 3:15, NIV).

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing" (Romans 15:13, KJV).

"Cast all your cares on him for you are his
charge" (1 Peter 5:7, NEB).


"Grant, O Lord my God, that I may never fall away
in success or in failure; that I may not be
prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity.
Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow
only in what separates us. May I strive to please
no one or fear to displease anyone except
Yourself. May I seek always the things that are
eternal and never those that are only temporal.
May I shun any joy that is without You and never
seek any that is beside You. O Lord, may I
delight in any work I do for You and tire of any
rest that is apart from You. My God, let me
direct my heart towards You, and in my failings,
always repent with a purpose of amendment."

--St. Thomas Aquinas