Peace is Important
As one studies the life of Jesus in the Gospels, one could easily see that even in moments of great need with crowds around Him, there were times when He would get alone with His Father. Scripture also talks about Jesus getting aside to pray "a great while before it was day."
I had an interesting thing happen a couple of days ago. After a disturbed night's sleep (which is rare for me), I woke up and entered into my time with the LORD in the Word and read a devotional post I like to look at each day.
Somewhere along that journey, a thought entered into my mind, even while I was looking at Scripture and an excellent devotional piece. And that thought caused a concern to rise in my heart. Then it transformed into my feeling inadequate to be able to meet the challenge of that about which I was thinking.
This concern of heart increased as my morning watch with the LORD continued.
In fact, I came away from my time with the LORD with a heightened sense of inadequacy. Then as I went about getting my breakfast, I began worshipping and thanking the LORD for all that came to mind, and praying in the Spirit.
As I did this, a remarkable thing happened. A very tangible sense of peace flooded my heart and overcame all my concerns, which I had also given over into the LORD’s hands (in praise).
Suddenly, it hit me.
The Scripture says very clearly that we should let the peace of God rule in our hearts, and, to be thankful (Colossians iii 15). What I had missed was that I had lost my peace, even in the LORD’s presence in my morning watch. Praise, worship, and praying in the Spirit brought that peace back. I realised how the enemy, sowing a tiny thought, had got into my heart and mind and had removed peace.
One of the things we need to understand is that if our thoughts lead us away from the peace that passes understanding (in our hearts), those thoughts are suspect. However, the thoughts that sometimes bring logical complaint to our minds may still be the right thing to do if God's peace is ruling in our heart at that moment. He leads us on another plane, and that leading is always accompanied by the peace that passes understanding ruling in the core of our being.