Birds don’t worry

Image by Rick Leche via Flickr

"Birds don't worry" By Diane Webb

John 14: 27—"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth; give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Jesus gives these most comforting words to his disciples. He leaves them his peace—the peace of Jesus of which no one in the world can give. Do not be deeply troubled and do not let your heart be afraid he tells them. Jesus left all of his followers—even us—the comforter which is the Holy Spirit. Peace is the absence of stress or anxiety. Are you at peace? Are you troubled and afraid? Take the peace Jesus has offered you and fill your heart with it. Jesus specifically left us the Holy Spirit—the third person of the trinity—to comfort us and give us his peace. It is the peace that passeth understanding and you know it when it's there (Philippians 4: 7). There is a poem by Elizabeth Cheney that demonstrates this peace:

"Overheard in an orchard"

Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."

Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend I think it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me."

A line from another poem by Rudyard Kipling also illustrates the concept of peace: "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you".

It's hard to describe how peace feels but everyone knows what is meant by having "peace in your heart". When making decisions or looking back on your day it's easy to recognize when something disturbs your peace or does not leave you "at peace". The Holy Spirit working in your heart and life is like an internal compass—a personal guide who can lead you in the path of righteousness and alert you to wrong choices. To connect with this inner guild and achieve peace in your heart simple look to the Holy Spirit—check in with your heart—before making choices. Your heart will feel "at peace" when you are in accord with the Holy Spirit. Make decisions where you can say with certainty, "I will be able to sleep peacefully about this choice". It only takes a few seconds to ask the Holy Spirit.

There was a middle aged woman who dropped by the grocery store on her way to work one morning. She immediately went to the coffee and candy aisles. After loading her buggy with about $30 in coffee supplies and bags of candy for work, she hurried to the check out so as not to be late for the office. By the cashier's lane was a spinning book rack with a spiritual growth book which caught her eye. She read the back flap and really wanted the book. She looked at the price--$14.95. She agonized about buying the book. "Should I spend this money?" "Should I pay right at $15 for a book I will only read once?" She piously began to pray inwardly to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance on this major financial decision. The answer in her heart was immediate and precise, "you did not ask about the $30 for coffee and candy so why are you asking about the $15 book"? She smiled at her Heavenly Father's gentle chide and put the book in her cart. It's true there are some decisions we take no thought at all for yet others we hesitate. In either case it is so easy to just ask for the Holy Spirit's assistance. Then we can be at peace about all decisions whether it's $30 in coffee and candy or $15 for a book.

Dear Lord, help me today to remember to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and comfort. I want to please you in all things—large and small. I want to be at peace over any decision I make. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit and I accept this gift. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.