"Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?"
-Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Text: John 14:27-31
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."

The word peace can carry different connotations. The world defines peace mostly in negative terms: the absence of conflict, fear, or anxiety. Jesus is not promising the absence of storms. The storm the disciples are facing in the next few hours will rock their faith to its core. He is speaking about peace that is available precisely in the middle of the storm. The peace Jesus gives "surpasses all understanding, and guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)!

Jesus gives a promise: I'm leaving you with peace.
But then He gives a command: Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

You could have a million dollars in the back. But if you never make any withdraws, you won't be able to pay your bills and survive.

God has given you supernatural peace through the blood of Jesus. But in the words of Peter, "make every effort to respond to God’s promises" (2 Peter 1:5 NLT).

So how do we not let our hearts be troubled? Eric Geiger says, "Whenever we lose our wonder for God, we wander from Him." So we must study and learn God's Word. We must saturate ourselves in Scripture. And we must constantly preach and pray the gospel to ourselves.

Stop right now and tell Jesus what is troubling your heart. Ask Him to help you establish a routine for being in His Word. Make a prayer list that begins with gospel realities and ask God to write those truths deeply on your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of these gospel truths throughout the day.