“With all that’s going on in the world,” Stan began, “I think it would be real easy for me to fall into the trap of having a troubled and fearful heart. That’s exactly what Satan wants.”
“You think Satan has a role in that?” I asked. “You think he can lead you to have a troubled or fearful heart?”
“I do,” Stan replied. “I also think Jesus gave me the solution for that, but it’s up to me whether or not I’m going to claim that solution.”
“How so?” I asked.
“John’s gospel,” Stan said, “records Jesus telling His followers, including me, that He was giving them peace, but that they had to claim it.”
“Claim it?” I replied. “In what way? How?”
“Jesus is recorded as saying about a troubled and fearful heart to ‘let not’ it happen. To me, that clearly sets out a choice. Either I can let it happen or I can choose the opposite. It’s up to me to choose.”
Continuing, Stan said, “In addition, Jesus asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit to live within each believer, including me. And ‘peace’ is a clearly-listed fruit of the Spirit. But, again, it’s a choice I have to make, whether or not to allow peace to be manifested in and through me.”
“So,” I replied, “the peace you are talking about will override or take precedence over a troubled or fearful heart. Is that what you’re saying?”
“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied. “When Jesus told me to ‘let not’ my heart be troubled or fearful, He also told me He was giving me peace to do that. All I have to do is choose one over the other! Peace over trouble and fear.”
Concluding, he added, “But I have to remember it’s an ongoing choice. Just because I have peace today doesn’t mean that Satan is not going to keep trying to cause me to be troubled and fearful tomorrow. He just loves to try robbing me of the peace God has for me. It’s my choice, and I choose God’s peace!”
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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, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27.
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace. Galatians 5:22.
Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of peace, the gift of not having a troubled or fearful heart regardless of what is going on in and around me. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit whose fruit includes peace. I confess that too often I have a troubled or fearful heart because I do not claim all of the peace you have for me. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead to a heart that is filled with peace, not filled with trouble and fear, regardless of what is going on. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Is your heart troubled? Filled with fear? There’s always a lot of stuff going on that can cause us to feel that way if we choose to allow it. Are you choosing the peace that Jesus said He is giving? Or are you choosing the fear and trouble Satan and the world have for you? What does choosing peace look like? What would it take for you to have a peaceful heart regardless of what may be going on around you?
Waiting for the Train 
This is such a wonderful devotion for these times. I am forwarding this to Isabelle- I am hoping she will use some of these ideas and verses for her college essays.
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