11/07/02

THE MOUNTAIN

Lesson 8

 

SCRIPTURE: John.14: 27, Phil.4:6-7, Zach.2: 13, Hab.2: 20, Matt.6: 6

 

 

YOUR THOUGHTS: How do you find peace in your life?

 

                                  What is the difference between peace in the world and the peace of God?

 

                                 How do you find peace in this world?  Then did you ask God to show you his peace?

                                    

                 

 MY THOUGHTS: I’d like to start this lesson with a brief testimony on the events that God allowed to happen in my life that drew me into a saving relationship with Him. I had a certain amount of fear or curiosity in a higher power since I was ten or eleven years old, which I identified as God because of my Methodist upbringing. I just could not ignore the vastness of the sky above my head and the enormous mass of dirt and rock below my feet. Then I would hear or read about the phenomenal number of stars and planets that exist in other skies above the one that I see everyday. What intrigued me the most was the ample amount of life forms that exist and their unique traits that put them in their own separate classifications. I think it would be safe to say that I knew that there was a God, but I didn’t know who this God was. God started revealing His personal love for me during my college days. I saw His love through my Grandparents (who were devout Gideon's), in whom I use to visit on weekends and through one of my college buddies. They introduced  me to Gods plan of salvation, John.3:16 through their personal testimonies and through the inspired word of God, but the thing that convinced me the most was the combination of Gods intimate and personal love for me and the meticulous and orderly way all of His creation was mastered.

           Paul Smiths, the college that I attended was located in the Adirondack Mountains of upper New York State.   I’ve seen many pictures of mountains in various magazines or on the TV and was impressed by them,  but in comparison to actually living amongst those mountains,  my admiration for them and the area around them and the creator of them has grown immensely.   There were many times I would walk the man made trails through the mountains with concerns on my mind and experienced a peace that was beyond all understanding. Phil..4:7. I know that being in such a serene atmosphere would give you a calm and peaceful sensation, but this peace that I experienced was much deeper then that.. When you’re introduced to Jesus and are familiar with his purpose on this earth like I was at that time, you see His magnificent creation around you in a different way. You see His love sketched on every mountain peak or in every mountain valley and in every tree or animal associated with that region. When I left those mountains and returned to the everyday hustle and bustle of this world, I had trouble keeping that peace. In time God has showed me that for me to experience His peace I needed to give Him more of my time in prayer and in studying His word. I needed to slow down and listen to His still small voice. During the rush and busyness of the day,  I try to stop on every opportunity I have and pray to God, either by quoting scriptures or singing a praise song or just talking to God like a friend John.15: 14 . Even our Lord had to leave the multitudes so that  He could  be alone with His father in prayer Matt.14: 23. In conclusion I would like to challenge you to   find a place where there are no distractions and be alone with God. Read the Bible and listen and He will speak to your heart in His timing. Remember Moses was on a very quiet and peaceful mountain when he communicated with our God Exod.24: 12-18. So look around for your mountain and enjoy Gods peace and remember His peace is now and through eternity.

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