Scripture:
And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
DANIEL 10:19 (ESV)
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
Devotion:
Growing up I would always find myself alone. I never really had many friends and was never considered to be a social butterfly either. Being accepted by my peers and family was something that I dreamed of and prayed for. I always worried about the fact if others loved me or even liked me. There was no joy, no happiness, no peace.
My mind continuously raced, and my emotions were all mixed up. Having a fear of being rejected caused me to always assume that I would not fit in anywhere I went. In big crowds, finding a way to escape and take off walking somewhere was always the ideal plan. It was nothing for me to walk around without any protection (shoes) on my feet at all. Of course, there was a moment or two when I would step on something that would make my knees buckle due to the way the object punctured the sole of my foot, but it still did not stop me. I felt free and it was the only time that I felt connected to something that was beyond my control. Especially when I would walk through the grass, sand, and even the mud
.
The older I got the more I realized that having your feet protected was important when standing firm footed and grounded. It allowed you to be still in those moments when you felt like running. We are often faced with many obstacles or circumstances that make us feel like we want to run or just walk off somewhere else. When we our feet are ready and protected with the Gospel of Peace, we can become peacemakers in the mist of any storm. We can therefore be still and trust God to grant us the peace, wisdom, understanding, and love that we need instead of trying to figure things out on our own. We can then run towards people to share the good news instead of running away from people out of fear.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, you have always been there even at the times that I felt I was alone. You were the missing piece in my life, and I am so very thankful and grateful that I came to know and love you. The connection that we share is way better than the enjoyment I got from walking around barefoot and embracing your sweet creation. With you there is happiness, joy, love, and peace. Keep my mind when it decides that it wants to run in the different direction that you are guiding me to. Continue to give me the strength and courage to share your good news and embrace peace no matter what may come my way. In Jesus’ precious name I pray AMEN.
Refection:
No matter what the devil tries to put in your mind or how much he tries to mix up your emotions, always remember that you are valuable, worthy, loved, and created in God’s image which makes you more than enough. Even when things do not look so good, God is always right there guiding us and directing us in the way He would have us go. While you are walking through your journey and sharing the good news of God, remember that peace is with you so make sure that your feet are ready and fully protected to withstand any thing that comes your way.
Comments