His Wonderful Peace!

Friday 8-12-2016   Home in Modesto

Scripture Reading:  Jer 10 - 12    John 14

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 14:27-28 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.  NKJV

O.  Jesus was headed for torture and the cross. His disciples would be facing discouragement, fear, persecution and even death. Their Master offers them a peace that is unlike the typical peace known by the world which totally depends upon the circumstances surrounding them. His peace will be His special gift to them so that their hearts need not to be troubled or fearful even in the worst of times.

A.  If His gift of peace was capable of calming their fears as their whole world was falling apart, then it is also capable of calming the storm inside my soul. While the American dream of liberty for all seems to be crumbling around me, His peace speaks to my heart saying, “Cool it! God is still God.”

P.  Lord you know that I have lost some sleep while weeping over the direction our nation has taken within the past few decades and the ugly future that seems to be forming for my children, grandchildren and theirs. More than once I have appealed to Your “peace” to bring calm to my thoughts and allow me to rest and go to sleep. Today I thank You for “Your peace.”

Ralph

Wonderful Peace

by William Cooper 1889

1.    Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

o   Refrain:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

2.    What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!

3.    I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!

4.    And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Author of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:

5.    Ah soul, are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime!