John 14:27 (NKJV) 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.
How does God care for us? He cares for us by giving us His peace and His Word to help us maintain the peace in our hearts and our minds. It is a peace that is divine in origin, unperturbed by the problems, disturbances and difficulties of life. It is a peace that is unwavering, unshakable, and indestructible. It is God’s will that we have peace in our lives. God’s own peace—that which He possesses has been given to us. We need to remember that everything our covenant partner possesses belongs to us, and peace is among it. Therefore, draw upon His peace when you are troubled and anxious; rest in His love and faithfulness.
God’s peace is different from the world’s; it is present even amid a perfect storm. It is present in all circumstances. It is a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding; it is inexplicable.
Peace comes when we are aware that God is with us. It is always God’s desire to be with us. Jesus assured the disciples, and this assurance applies to us, that the Holy Spirit lives in all believers. He is our Teacher, Helper, and Comforter; He is always there for us. The Holy Spirit, our Counsellor, helps us in times of need and brings Scripture to our memory so we can maintain this peace. But if we choose to look at, think about, and worry over a situation, it can be stolen. Therefore, the extent to which we take hold of that peace is proportional to how much we allow the circumstances to affect us.
Let us cast our cares to God in prayer together:
Heavenly Father, thank you for establishing a new covenant with us through the blood of Jesus. I am blessed to be your covenant partner, as it is possible purely by the abundant grace you have poured upon me. I am accepted by you and have peace with you. The blood of Jesus has redeemed me. Therefore, nothing can separate me from your love. Your perfect love for me casts out all fear in my life. I choose to cast all my cares and anxieties upon you today. Thank you that you are the GREAT I AM. There is nothing to fear with you as my covenant partner, because you are more than enough for me and greater than anything my enemies try to throw at me. You are not someone who will lie or speak and not act on it. Although I am pressed between two hard places, I am confident that you will make a way where there is no way. You have heard my cry, and Scripture says that you will deliver me from all my troubles and afflictions in this life. Amen.
Reflection: Will you make it a habit to cast your cares on God through prayer so that you may experience His peace more fully?
Sermon Series: Are You Casting Your Cares to the Lord
我将我的平安赐给你们
约翰福音 14:27 我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的不像世人所赐的，你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。
上帝如何看顾我们？祂看顾我们，是将祂的平安和祂的话语赐给我们，好帮助我们保守我们的心怀意念常在平安里。
这是一种源自神圣的平安，不受生活中的问题、扰乱和艰难所搅扰。这是一种坚定不移、不可动摇且无法毁灭的平安。在我们的生命中拥有平安是上帝的旨意。上帝将祂自己所拥有的平安赐给了我们。我们需要记住，我们盟约伙伴所拥有的一切都属于我们，而平安就在其中。因此，当你烦躁不安时，要支取祂的平安,安息在祂的慈爱和信实中。
上帝的平安与世人的平安不同，即使在狂风暴雨中，它依然存在。它存在于任何境遇之中。这是一种超然的平安，出人意外，它是无法言喻的。
当我们意识到上帝与我们同在时，平安就临到了。与我们同在始终是上帝的心意。耶稣向门徒保证—而这保证同样适用于我们—圣灵内住在所有信徒心中。祂是我们的导师、帮助者和安慰者，祂随时随地与我们同在。我们的谋士圣灵，在我们需要的时候帮助我们，并叫我们想起圣经的话，好叫我们能保守这平安。但如果我们选择去看、去想、去忧虑某种处境，这平安就可能被偷走。因此，我们抓住多少平安，与我们容许环境影响自己多少是成正比的。
让我们一起在祷告中将我们的忧虑卸给上帝：
天父，感谢您借着耶稣的血与我们立下新约。我何其有幸能成为祢的盟约伙伴，这完全是因着您浇灌在我身上那充沛的恩典才成为可能的。我蒙祢接纳，并与祢相和。耶稣的宝血救赎了我。因此，没有什么能使我与祢的爱隔绝。祢对我完全的爱，驱散了我生命中所有的惧怕。我今天选择将我所有的忧虑和焦躁卸给祢。感谢祢是那自有永有的“我是”。有祢作我的盟约伙伴，就一无所惧，因为祢对我而言绰绰有余，且大过仇敌试图向我投掷的一切。祢决非说谎之人，也决非发言却不践行之神。虽然我正处于进退维谷的夹缝之中，但我深信，在没有路的地方，祢必开辟一条道路。祢已经听见了我的呼求，圣经说，祢必救我脱离今生一切的患难与苦楚。阿们。
默想: 你会养成借着祷告将你的忧虑卸给上帝的习惯，好让你能更完全地体验祂的平安吗？
讲章系列：你是否将你的忧虑交托给主？