"Peace Through Strength" -2

"That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets." (Psalms 144:14)

  Whether we are talking about a kingdom, a household, or the heart, this is the kind of strength that is required to hold it all together. It is one thing to believe and trust that God is doing what is needed in our lives to protect and guide us; but this is more about taking steps in the areas where you feel He is working and not complaining when you think that He is not. That is more of a thing than you might know, because He is always working, whether you feel that He is or not. We look for something to show us that there is a work of some sort, but peace is actually a work also; without peace, we really don't understand what hope feels like. It might be hard to see what you are hoping for, but it is easy to feel what hope brings! And we have that hope because our God is strong and faithful: He is mighty to save, and He never goes back on His word; but finishes the work that He has started in us! This is why there is no reason to complain, even if you might feel as though life isn't fair, or that you are somehow being neglected. The salvation that you have is more precious than life itself; you really cannot put a value on it, because there is nothing in this world that can take the place of being forgiven and given eternal life in Christ: absolutely nothing...

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but lose for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:8-11)