A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh. – Proverbs 14:30
Two artists were requisitioned to paint a picture of peace for a prize of $250,000. The first painter created a serene portrait of a lake with the sun glistening across the water. The artist added a young girl skipping near the lake with a yellow balloon securely fastened to her wrist. Trees towered gracefully on one side of the lake with birds gathering in their tallest branches.
The second artist painted a pitch-black sky. Lightning zigzagged through the air in unpredictable movements. This painter also had water, but the waves roared as if they were somehow awakened from a terrible dream. The trees were bent and bowed, whining in the wind. But at the bottom on the left-hand side, just near the very edge of this scene, a little bird stood on a rock. The bird had its mouth open singing a beautiful song. One faint light shone down on the bird as it sung despite the situation all around it.
The second painter won the competition. The judges chose that artist who showed the truest manifestation of peace — a well-being that resonates from within despite the circumstances.
One of the names of God is Jehovah Shalom. That means He is the Lord of peace. When you have a relationship with Jesus, He becomes your Jehovah-Shalom, the One who brings the peace that surpasses all understanding. So when your situation seems dark, praise Him during the storms and allow Him to paint your heart with songs of peace.
Pray that Christians in America turn away from the chaos of the media and seek Him as their source of true tranquility.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 14:30
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
