How Can Peace Fill Our Soul When Trouble Lies Ahead?

by Barbara Latta 

The Fruit of the Spirit Series – Peace

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Shortly before He was to be crucified Jesus told his disciples, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause I came unto this hour (John 12:27). Then only a few days later he told them not to let their heart be troubled (John 14:1). 

How can peace fill our soul when trouble lies ahead?

The Son's soul was troubled at what lay ahead, but He let peace abide and control Him so He could fulfill the Father’s will. Jesus was telling His disciples to have the same peace.

Even though they didn’t know what lay ahead, Jesus knew they would need those words. I’m sure I would have reacted the same way the disciples did. Their Savior, Teacher, Leader and Friend is arrested because He was betrayed by one of His own. Can you imagine the shock when they saw Judas arrive in the Garden with soldiers?

Their pulses must have raced at the thought of being arrested also. They scattered like a flock of sheep pursued by wolves. Thoughts of peace were the furthest thing from their minds. Survival was. They fled. They hid. They denied. Peace was impossible. Or so they thought.

After being filled with the Holy Spirit, the same man who denied Christ preached to a city filled with people and 3,000 were saved. The same one who tried to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant wrote, For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile; Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:10-11). Peter found out the peace Jesus talked about before His crucifixion was real and was also possible to demonstrate.

Jesus tells us the same thing. When our thoughts are troubled and we are pursued by disaster and temptation, where does our heart go? Does fear reign or do the Words of our Lord eliminate the terror?

Because my mind wants to wander away when situations arise that are troubling, I use my favorite verse to eliminate worry, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV).

As you think about the Fruit of the Spirit that God has given us, may you also take this Word with you this week, The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11).

What are your favorite verses about peace? Share your thoughts.

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Why Do We Still Seek the Living Among the Dead?

by Barbara Latta

Resurrection Day. Or some call it Easter. The day the women in Jerusalem found an empty tomb where the body of Jesus was placed by Joseph of Arimathea.

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen! (Luke 24:5).

Angels told the women why the tomb was empty.

Jesus had predicted his resurrection on many occasions, but the reality of what His disciples and the citizens of Jerusalem had seen outweighed His words (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23).

They only saw the natural. Mockers yelled. Torture inflicted. Blood flowed. A body died.

His mother cried.

His disciples ran.

One of them betrayed.

Another one denied.

Now at the tomb, the women who loved and served Him heard the message that reiterated the Savior’s words of resurrection. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Did Jesus Really Die on Friday?

by Barbara Latta

We celebrate Good Friday as the day of the crucifixion.  Humanity’s sin was paid for when Jesus’

blood ran down the cross into the ground. His body was placed in a nearby tomb because of the Preparation Day.

The Bible says that the day after the crucifixion was the Sabbath and that the women came to the tomb to anoint the body on the first day of the week which is Sunday (Mark 16:1-2).

I was always confused about this because Friday to Sunday is not three days.

And Jesus clearly stated He would be in the ground for three days and three nights.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).

Three Gardens of Doubt - Eden, Gethsemane, Our Minds

 by Barbara Latta

The First Garden

I don’t like snakes, but I know people who do. They like them because they know how to handle

them. These professionals are the experts and they know the nature of the reptile and how these creatures behave. They are not caught off guard by any attacks.

Adam and Eve were placed in a perfect environment. God walked and talked with them and He gave them everything they needed for physical enjoyment and nourishment. They lacked nothing.

Then a snake appeared.

Subtlety, lies, deception. Whispered words through the leaves of a tree that held beautiful, tasty food.

The words that went into Eve’s mind caused her to doubt the words her Creator had said.

She reached out and took the fruit. She saw it, held it, and believed the lie. She took a bite and mankind fell. They were caught off guard by the attack of doubt.