We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Aaron Martell.
Bible Reading:
Job 22:21-22
21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. 22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.”
Word:
Peace is a funny thing. Because in order to know that you have peace, there must also be the possibility of unrest, chaos, tension, dare I say, “be at war with.” No matter how you define peace; a state of calm, inner peace or like the Hebrew word Shalom, wholeness or completeness, peace can only come out of chaos or brokenness.
What I find fascinating is that Job gives us clues of how to attain peace. In order to have peace with God and with others there are three words that I want you to put in to practice: Submit, Accept, Deposit.
Submit- in some translations it says “agree with” (ESV), “acquaint thyself with him” (KJV), “give in to” (MSG), no matter the translation, the truth is still there. How are you submitting, bringing yourself under God’s love, authority, truth, within your life? What area in your life are you remaining obstinate, that you don’t have peace? Or another perspective is, what area in your life don’t you agree with God? Is that an area of unrest? If so, why can’t you agree with God in that area? Why can’t you submit? Trying harder in submission doesn’t work? Acknowledging where you are at odds with God or others is the beginning point of peace.
Accept- other translations we hear, “receive instruction” or “let him tell you what to do.” Either way, how are you not simply reading his instructions, but accepting them? Receiving them? Memorization of God’s word can be useful, but if we don’t apply it to our life, if we don’t receive them, you might as well memorize Guinness Book of World Records, interesting information, but not necessarily useful for gaining peace within life.
Deposit- I am modifying this word because the above passage says, “lay up words” or in other translations it says, “take his words to heart” or “store them in your heart”. What does it look like, when you receive His words, you deposit them in your heart? You store them up in your heart? Just like a money deposit, as we receive money, it can build our bank account and then we can make withdrawals as needed. Same is true with God’s word, as we receive them and store them, they build within our heart, and we have a peace that surpasses understanding.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank you that you offer peace in the midst of my chaos or brokenness. Help me to recognize that more often when I feel as though my heart and my mind is at war with your truth or your grace. May I accept your instruction, receive it in such a way that it is more than just knowledge, but it’s transformation. May your words be deposited in my heart, so peace may flow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Skillwork:
- Submit- what area within life are you running your own way? What area is filled with chaos or brokenness or stubbornness? How do you need to be brought low and submit to God’s ways?
- Accept- What does it mean for you not simply be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word? Instead of simply gaining more knowledge, apply that instruction within life.
- Deposit- How are you letting God’s word fill your heart? Knowing his words bring life.
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