STAYED Seven P's of Perfect Peace 21-Day Guided DevotionalSmakprov

For the third time through the devotional, at the end of your morning meditation, we suggest spending a few minutes trying to commit a verse or two to memory. Alternatively, if there is a particular verse jumping out at you, open your Bible and explore the passage in more depth.

Pause Let all the thoughts you had coming into this time fall at the feet of Jesus, either symbolically or literally, on your knees if possible. Find a quiet place and be still; recognize any stress or striving and give it to Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT)

Place Thank God for where you are right now physically, as well as where you are at in this station in life (student, staff, employee, parent, child, any other role). You do not need to be anywhere else during this time. God is the sole focus of your attention during this time and you can rest knowing He has provided this place for you.

The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15.3, NLT)

Person The center of your life is the relationship you have with the Father, through the person of Jesus Christ. Your worth does not come from what you do, but who you are as God’s child. Find your identity in Him.

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NLT)

Presence Wait on the Spirit of God. He may not come to you in a moment, but He will come. He may not make Himself physically felt to you, but He is still there. He wants to be with you and you with Him—it is the very last thing He prayed before He faced the cross. You have been on His mind for a long time. He loves you and loves this time with you.

How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of Your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in Your presence, far from accusing tongues. (Psalm 31:19-20, NLT)

Purpose First, remember that you have one. You were created by God for His glory and your enjoyment of Him. Second, know that He can infuse meaning into every part of your life right here and now...even the parts that don’t make sense.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Pleading Knowing that you are loved and that God is caring for you every step of the way, let Him know what is going on in your heart. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Also, use this time to intercede for others, praying for them as the Spirit leads and entrusting them to the care of the Lord.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)

Praise Sing a song or put some music on if you are able to. We have provided some songs for you, or you may use whatever music you prefer. Music is a powerful tool for marrying the truth of God with the beauty of melody and harmony. Our hearts are drawn to beauty, and music can help us establish God’s truth in the deepest places inside of us. If you are in a place where playing music is not an option, meditate on the given verses of praise.

Praise the LORD! Yes, give praise, O servants of the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD now and forever. Everywhere—from east to west—praise the name of the LORD. (Psalm 113:1-3, NLT)

Know that as you get up to leave this sacred time, you can revisit these Scriptures and principles throughout the day. You can pause (even for a few seconds, or even just internally while you are processing other things) at any time during the day and thank God for the place where you are currently. Remember that you are a person created to be filled with the very presence of God. He has a glorious purpose for you—allow Him to work it in and through you. When the pain and problems of life arise, surrender to the loving care of the Lord, knowing that He is with you, working out His plan. Serve others by pleading to the Lord on their behalf, and lift your heart in praise to Him for His goodness throughout the day.

Today’s Song Track 5, Come Unto Me