Five Things That Rob Peace
Sudden Fear
The “Chicken Little” syndrome ………. the sky is falling. In other words, the consistent reaction to various life challenges is panic. That panic state causes a negative or doom and gloom outlook with the things we face. These consistent reactions going unchecked can build into panic attacks, discouragement, depression along with other detrimental things.
The Enemy
Satan or The Devil’s plan is very simple. To do everything that he can to keep those that do not have faith in Jesus Christ from believing in Jesus Christ as Savior. Secondly, he wants to try to persuade every believer to live in fear and doubt. The fear and doubt that God cannot really take care of every need and even sometimes that He does not even care for us. Those are lies from Satan or The Devil who the bible defines as “The Father of Lies”.
Sin
Our own willful sinful choices can rob us of peace.
Jill Briscoe shared this:
I remember talking to a girl here in this church two or three years ago. She said, “Jill, I’ve lost my joy, I’ve lost my peace, and I want it back.”
“Where did you lose it?” I asked.
“That has nothing to do with this,” she replied. “Help me to get it back.”
“But where did you lose it?”
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
But eventually she did talk about it. She lost it when she moved in with her boyfriend. That’ll do it.
Giving Up Peace
Sometimes when we get in tough circumstances, we can lay our peace down and literally forget where real and lasting peace comes from. Whether it is a crisis of health, finance, relational, loss of a loved one or other tough life circumstances.
Losing Focus
We are all busy people. Is there anyone here this morning that is not busy? We all have many demands on our lives and many of those demands can potentially cause us much anxiety, stress, worry and fear. Distractions are truly all around us and sometimes our minds can seem to run on overload constantly.
What does God’s word have to say about this?
Luke 12:22-31, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”