Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I had that dream again, the one where I am at on old job and I am utterly confused. In 2007, I opened a child care center to help with the finances of my church. We had bought this large facility and needed other forms of income. All profit went back to the church. About eight years ago I had to close it because of various reasons. Every once in a while I have a dream about still running it and being very confused. The confusion was that I do not remember buying the food to feed the kids and secondly, I do not remember making deposits and writing checks for payroll. Why are people still here? Then I remember that it is closed and nobody should be there. I woke up anxious.

What can give us anxious dreams? I have to remember that when I try to work out a problem, I am pulling on my own strength. When I seek the Lord about an issue, then I am getting His strength. I cannot divulge what is going on at this moment, but I can tell you that I am wrestling with my mind about an unresolved relationship. I have been in prayer about it for a little over a month, and God told me something yesterday that made me have to die to myself even more. I told God that I do not know if I can do it and be sincere. However, it is not about me, I want Him to get the glory for this.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In the books of Judges we read the story of Gideon, a man from the smallest tribe of Israel. God chose him to defeat the Midianite army. You can read his story in Judges 6-8. Gideon did not go looking to be a hero, he did not set out to bring peace to his land. However, there was a need and God knew that he could find someone faithful in Gideon. The army that he gathered was initially much larger than they ended up with. God did not want them to think they won the victory because of their strength, He wanted them to win it with His. So there goes Gideon with 300 men against an army. We know that there was victory for them and they had forty years of peace.

Judges 6:23-24 (AMP) The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah, of the Abiezrites.

At the beginning of the story, Gideon called God by the name “The Lord is Peace.” In other translations it is “Jehovah Shalom”. While shalom does mean peace it carries a deeper meaning of completeness and wholeness. Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We are whole and complete in Him. This is what Gideon was rooted in to go out against such a great army. It is Jesus within that I have the strength to do the hard things. It takes two people to stay in strife, it only takes one person to bring peace to a situation. I want to be that one person. I want the other person to know that peace too. I want them whole and complete. No other reason than that they are deeply loved.

Isaiah 66:12 (AMP) For the Lord says this, “Behold, I extend peace to her (Jerusalem) like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will be nursed, you will be carried on her hip and [playfully] rocked on her knees.

Colossians 3:15 (AMP) Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

I am thankful to God for this challenge, it will bring even growth in myself. Above all I desire His glory to be manifested in the midst of this situation. I am calling on my Jehovah Shalom and wanting the peace of God to over take me like a river. Notice I did not say a babbling brook. These waters are not calm but His peace is there. I do not need to be anxious for the future, because He is the God of Peace. I am complete and whole in Him. Today’s breath prayer has been, “Lord, You are my Rock and my Shield.” My body has completely loosened from the tension of the morning. No other conversation needed other than between God and myself. Peace like a river.

Adonai, Lord, Jehovah You are more precious than anything we could ever imagine. You are our Jehovah Shalom. Thank You for Your Son, the Prince of Peace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Thank You for the growth opportunities. Thank You for the challenges that You see before hand and have prepared a way. You made a way in the wilderness. You are the same God. We repent for thinking we have to it all on our own. We repent for keeping our minds on anything other than You. We know that there are complication in life, but we are not without You. Thank You for giving us the strength to stand. We thank You for Your Word. It is Your Word that we find our source of life and strength. Your Word is like the freshest water to quench the deepest of thirsts. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.