Peace by Beth Fredricksen
As I was talking to the Lord one day I asked Him for a word. The word He put in my mind was “peace.” I said, “Lord, how does that look?”
I realized I was experiencing some grief over Tom’s death, even after seven years. I was feeling alone as a widow in the midst of the craziness going on in the world. It was exacerbated by some physical pain in my body. Chronic pain can be a distraction to carrying out simple daily life activities.
My best friend was gone. The person with whom I had a lifetime, personal relationship. We could talk about anything. Going from “till death do you part” in wedding vows at the age of 19 to “I don’t love you” at 25 years of marriage to feeling like a bride at 53 years finally understanding the word “cherished.”
He revealed that “peace” is a choice. You can be in a peaceful setting and still be in chaos in you’re mind. You can be in a peaceful setting and listen to the birds or watch the wind blowing gently through the trees and be at peace, but in either case it’s still a choice.
You can be in the midst of a storm, as Jesus and the disciples experienced when they were crossing the Sea of Galilee in an open boat. Jesus stood up and said, “Be quiet; be still!” They were amazed.
External effects of the storm brought chaos and fear to the disciples. They were acquainted with the destructive consequences of that kind of storm over water. It usually did not produce a good outcome.
Chaos in the elements has to stop because you have more power than that physical storm does. The same holds true for the storm of chaotic, fearful, negative thoughts that you dwell on or allow to control you.
Jesus knew from where His authority came. He had a personal, intimate relationship with Holy Spirit. He knew His given authority was to give Holy Spirit permissoin to release His power through Him. They were like minded with one accord. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We have been given the same opportunity to experience a relationship with Holy Spirit who comes with power. When we choose to abide in that place of peace, we come with power and authority given to us that has more power than any darkness or chaos.
We are the representatives who have the power and authority to declare the “good news”. To participate with Holy Spirit as He releases His power over the captives and uses us to declare them free through us.
[2 Cor. 5:20 NKJ Version] “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
As I spent time with the Lord asking ” How does peace look?”, I saw a picture in my mind of a child sitting on the floor playing with blocks. A child can have fun playing on the floor with blocks when he knows he’s safe. He’s at peace . He has no concern for food or being protected from the outside elements. He trusts in his parents or caregiver, to keep him safe without even consciously thinking about it. It’s been his experience in that place.
I was in a ministry zoom call recently and it was a great call. We were talking about the goodness of God and what he was doing. I had a picture of being in the “Throne Room” on the floor playing with blocks.
It was a surprise because I’ve never thought of the “Throne Room” in that way. I could hear the worship, I knew there was dancing around with everyone rejoicing, praising and honoring God. I could hear, in a part of my mind, the zoom call — giving God glory. I had the awareness that as God was listening to His children having a “family call”, He was smiling. They were in His “Throne Room”, His presence, and He was delighted.
A few days later I saw myself in the “Throne Room”again on the floor and I still had that same sense of praise, worship and dancing. I was in the sweet, awesome, reverential presence of God.
As I was sitting there just looking up in peace, with my blocks in front of me, I was enjoying being in that place. I looked up to my right and saw a fearsome looking angel with fire in his eyes. I still felt the peace and love of God. What came to me was that the fire in the eyes of the angel (not sure if it was Michael or one of his Warriors, also called the Host) represented the *”glory of God” but it also represented the awe and **”terror of God.”
What I felt being revealed to me was this is the terror that will be unleashed on the earth that people aren’t expecting. I heard the Father reaching out in assurance, “I’ve got you. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
I am not alone.
NOTE:
*According to Teen Challenge, when the glory of God is upon you, you experience salvation, separation from sin, and the presence of God. You may also feel a sense of awe and reverence, guidance, direction, healing, and restoration, both physically and spiritually. You may also feel peace and joy, knowing that you are in the presence of the Almighty.
**In Genesis 35:5, the Bible says, “As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob”. This passage shows how God rewards Jacob’s repentance with a supernatural terror that falls on the cities around him. The terror prevents the people of the cities from pursuing Jacob’s company.
I share this to encourage you to go before the Lord yourself and ask the questions on your heart:
How does this _____ look?
What does this ______ mean?
What do I need to do?
Do you know the intimate, unconditional love of God?
Do you know that He will do what He says — that He will keep His word?
That with that relationship, you, too, can sit on the floor of His Throne Room and play with your blocks?
He is waiting.