-September 21, 2022-
Good morning, happy Tuesday,
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7).
Today, September 21, is both The International Day of Day of Peace and World Gratitude Day. Peace is what the world yearns for and strives for; gratitude is something that is very rare. The world is looking for these two beautiful things but in the wrong places.
For the child of God, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. We also experience the peace of God as we pray with thanksgiving. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding. Paul wrote in in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is no greater blessing than to have peace with God.
Jesus, while with His disciples in the upper room before His crucifixion, said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We are so blessed to have this peace that enables us to go forward trusting in the Lord, no matter what we face. Peace comes from God and is a great gift and blessing. We don’t need one day a year to think about peace, we have it every day of our lives. I love the bumpersticker that says, “No Jesus, no peace; know Jesus, know peace.” There is no true peace outside the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ!
Not only is peace rare and elusive in this world, but gratitude is as well. So few people are thankful to God for all His blessings and bounties. In our country we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. One day or even two is insufficient to give thanks to the Lord. We should be thankful to God every day of our lives. Thankfulness to God helps be thankful to others for what they have done for us.
When New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig spoke to the fans at Yankee Stadium, he referred to himself as “the luckiest man on earth.” We as believers aren’t lucky, we are blessed. Blessed with salvation and eternal life; blessed with we all of God’s promises and blessings. May we not be anxious in anything but prayerful and thankful for everything! Let us bask in His blessings and experience His peace.
Let us rejoice today with the peace that God has given to us and be thankful to Him for all His blessings. We have both peace and gratitude today and each day through our Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t need special days of acknowledgment of peace and gratitude, for we have them at all times.
Have a blessed day in peace and gratitude today. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 