This is the Truth Network. Encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On Encouraging Prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James.
So today on encouraging prayer, we're going to talk about how to have God's peace.
Sort of inside of you, a way you carry it in a way that really makes a difference. And so, James. Yeah, yeah, this is a great topic, Robbie, because it really challenges us to live on a new level. And I've got to go way back to one of my first grade report cards that I found on a visit home one day. Uh which said and I I for some reason I Block this out, I guess it said.
James gets in fights on the playground often. But he knows he's wrong. And so I just kind of want to preface it with that. Because this is an ongoing work in my heart and life. But I read something in our Daily Bread just last week, and it was a piece by John Blaise that I thought was outstanding.
And it was called A Non-Anxious Presence. And in that piece, he mentions Rabbi Edwin Friedman's book, Generation to Generation. And um Yeah. In that book, Friedman talks about cultivating a non-anxious presence in a world. That has gone into emotional regression, as he defines it, that is toxic.
And man, if our world isn't in that now, I don't know where we are. Yeah, it's crazy. Absolutely. And yeah. Prayer in that situation would seem like An interesting Yeah.
you know, just opportunity, I would suppose.
Well, it's the only way forward. You know? Because honestly, What this is really about is, and of course Friedman's writing about leadership, but I'm thinking about applying this to the whole of life. for people who know Jesus who has promised us. Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you. I do not give. as the world gives.
So don't let your hearts be troubled. You and I have the choice every day. To either go with that peace, to enter into it. or to just kind of leave it aside. And You know, I think that's the real challenge.
Because if we carry that piece, people will see it. They'll they'll know it. I I think of uh You know, the impact that has made in my life, and the impact that God is actually. Yeah. use that piece for, you know, as As uh you know, in his mercy, he has lived through me.
It's beautiful. You know, I wish I had it more, you know, because unfortunately, I can remember too many times when I didn't have it. But boy, when you do have it. Um It transcends all understanding in certain circumstances, right?
Well, and this is the thing: all we have to do is ask. You know, all we have to do is come back to that place of Jesus, I receive your peace. And those words even aren't necessary. It's just a matter of leaning into Him. resting in him.
and realizing that You know, apart from him, I got nothing. I mean, James gets in fights on the playground often, you know, but if he turns to Jesus. Then He's going to have peace that he can give to others as well because. That's what Jesus' peace does. It flows from us into the hearts and lives.
of others and There's nothing better than that. Yeah, it it it it really does kind of Fit in, especially with what the subject matter is today of Valentine's Day. His love comes from our place of I mean, his peace comes from a place of love. And when you're All of a sudden, sensing that. instead of getting in that fight on the playground it's like Oh I have all this.
I'm really okay. in you know in just in where i am rather than taking on whatever Yeah, it really is all about love. It's about knowing knowing that love that is better than life, as David puts it. You know, like we talked about last week. And I think about Psalm 91.
When I think of this, a friend of mine, Don Long, sent me a note about this this morning. And he mentions verse 14, it says, Because he loves me, says the Lord. I will rescue him. I will protect him. for he acknowledges my name, he will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
So, you think of all those things that come as a result of. of loving God. You know, he hears our prayers. He'll rescue us, he'll protect us. He'll answer us.
He'll be with us in trouble. He'll even honor us and bless us with long life. I mean, there's so much. there And of course that long life is eternal life, knowing that uh Most of all, you know, be a good time for you to pray that. Let's do it.
Father, on this Valentine's Day, we just pray You would help us to carry your peace in such a way. That If people really notice it, Lord, help us to give it away. just by being with you. We lean into you in this moment and We thank you for your peace that surpasses all understanding. Move through us, Jesus, we pray.
We love you. and we look forward to what you will do. In your name. Amen. Amen.
You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray.
