“I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 (NLT)
Jesus is speaking with His disciples preparing them for when He leaves. He says He must go be with the Father and there He will prepare a place for them. He says the only way is through Him, He is “the way, the truth and the life.” (V. 6) He then goes on to tell them that the Father will send the Holy Spirit, an advocate who will not leave and will lead into all truth.
Jesus goes on to tell them that He will leave them with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And oh, how I find hope in this verse today. That in Christ I can have peace of mind and heart. I can and do find myself feeling troubled by all that is happening in the World. I’m allowing myself only small doses of news and media. It only takes a few minutes of scrolling through social media or reading today’s headlines and I can begin to feel overwhelmed, heavy and helpless. If I stay in that place, relying on my own thoughts, the weight only gets heavier. But I have the presence of the Holy Spirit to comfort me, to bring perspective and empower me to pray and intercede.
Jesus says, “Don’t be troubled or afraid!” I don’t think this means that I cannot be aware of what is happening. I can’t separate myself and deny the reality of life happening around me. But, it’s in the midst of all the chaos that I can lean in and find peace of mind and peace in my heart. This peace can only come from Him, from His Holy Spirit. And it’s out of this place of peace that I can find direction and purpose. It’s in His presence that I am empowered to pray. It’s in that peace that I find hope. It’s His peace that strengthens me and leads me. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it, I need His Word and His presence in my life. Without it I would be greatly afraid.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the advocate that brings comfort to me daily! I pray for a greater awareness of your presence in my life that comforts me and empowers me. I pray for continued peace in my mind and heart. Amen.
Let’s talk about what you received from today’s chapter. Share your thoughts and insights in the comment section below!
What an amazing chapter!
I love these verses out of John 14 – John 14:15-17 ESV –
““If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
https://www.bible.com/59/jhn.14.15-17.esv
Just yesterday I was teaching/learning this with the kids… if loving Jesus means obeying Him… then we need to know what Jesus wants… and thankfully the Bible shows us And we have the Holy Spirit to help us! God is so good.
Lord I pray that I will keep you first always and obey your commands! Grow me in understanding your Words, that I may know how to love your children! In Jesus name! Amen
““I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 NLT
-peace of mind and heart…In daily conversation or even thinking, the words…-I’m losing my mind-are thought or said! And that’s just not true! Jesus gave us many gifts, but it’s up to us to receive & use those gifts!
He gave His life…that was the price…
Peace of mind…that gift is what gets me through these crazy days!
And, I must remember that just b/c the world goes crazy @ times that doesn’t mean that I am!
Lord, help me to be careful with all that You gave! You gave me not only peace, but life…help me take care of what You so generously gave!!!
Thankful for the peace of mind that He gives mee!
Thank you Jesus for the gift of Peace. Especially in the times we are living in now. I do not know what I would do without the peace of Jesus Christ in these days we are living. When you turn on the TV or go out into the world, people are afraid, and talking of fear. But Thank you Jesus I have peace and the Love of Jesus and I just pray and read my Bible and Jesus gives me Peace. I am so Thankful for the Peace and Love of Jesus in these trying times we are living in.
Amen!
John 14:13-14
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus says that all we have to do is ask. Sometimes we get so enthralled with what is going on in our lives that we simply forget to ask. He chooses to do good things for His children. We just have to ask.
Sometimes, we do ask but what is the motive behind our asking? He already knows what is best for us. Therefore, He may not always give us what we ask for. I look back over past relationships and there were those that didn’t work out even though I asked. But here I am, soon to be 25 years into a marriage that I am thankful that God didn’t answer those previous prayers about other relationships. Sometimes what seems to be an unanswered prayer in one place is the ultimate answered prayer somewhere else.
When someone asks me to pray for them, I try to stop right then and pray for them. Simply because they asked me to pray and I want them to know I’m going to pray. Which often leads to me praying for them right then.
Today, I’m simply thankful for my Heavenly Father that I can go to directly and simply ask for what is on my mind or in my heart.