🕊️Do You Long For Peace?
🕊️Do you long for peace?
Especially in our current political climate and the wars and rumors of wars abroad?
For the next several blog posts, I'm delighted to explore the wisdom of timeless hymns that have brought me peace and comfort.
I pray that these posts will be a healing balm to weary souls and urge us to shine the light of Christ on a lost and watching world.
This week's hymn is by Frances Havergal, titled, Like a River Glorious
1) God's peace is like a glorious, refreshing, and victorious river
"Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace, Over all victorious in its bright increase; Perfect, yet it floweth, Fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth, Deeper all the way."
As we sing stanza one and cling to Isaiah 26:3, which says, "You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you," We will see God's peace increase, grow, and flow! (And others will notice something different about us.)
2) God's peace guards our hearts and minds
"Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand; Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there."
As we sing stanza two and pray, Isaiah 91:1, which says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty," worry and fear dissipate as we shelter under the hand of the Almighty.
3) God's peace is manifested as we trust His sovereign hand
"Every joy or trial falleth from above, Traced upon our dial by the sun of love; We may trust Him fully all for us to do- They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest; Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest."
As we sing stanza three, remember Isaiah 41:10, which says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." In joy and trial, we will experience God's perfect peace and rest!
Lastly, may we find comfort in Elisabeth Elliot's beautiful words,
"Leave it all in the Hands that were wounded for you."
Friend, how will you release worry and fear and leave the chaotic political climate in the hands that were wounded for you?
