DAY 15
Devotional by Megan Harrell
“I am an adult, I can handle this,” I said as I sat in the dentist’s chair. I sure didn’t feel like an adult as the dentist began drilling. I’ve never had any problems at the dentist before, but this time was a bit different. I needed a cavity filled, a previous filling removed, a crown put on and a night guard. This was my fourth dental appointment in the last 2 weeks and this trip didn’t go so well (I will spare you the not so pleasant details). I needed to reschedule the appointment for another day when I had more time. More time to sit in a chair I didn’t want to sit in, more time for my mouth to be numb, more time for my gums to stop bleeding. As I left the office I had no desire to reschedule but I knew it was necessary.
Before that next appointment I began praying and believing for peace. Peace in my mind. I read many scriptures on peace over and over again. I had to make a choice. I could choose to let chaos take over my mind or to let peace reign. I chose peace. I took my bright pink Bible with me to that appointment and sat in that same chair. As I was waiting on the numbing medicine to work, I opened my Bible to all those scriptures and began reading them again. There was a peace that I could feel. That appointment was vastly different from the previous 4. YES you read that right, 4 previous appointments. That last appointment was done in less than an hour and I didn’t leave in tears. There was a peace. God’s peace. Even the dentist asked “Are you praying?” YES, yes I am!
We sometimes forget that we have the freedom to choose. Deuteronomy 30:19NLT says, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Why would we not choose life? There will always be chaos and there will always be peace, but it is our choice which one dwells in us. I chose peace, and would encourage you to do the same! For you it’s probably not a dentist appointment that is trying to create chaos in your world. It could be the kids are fighting bedtime, or stress at work, or balancing all life’s demands. No matter what it is, God wants you to have peace. Isaiah 54:10NIV “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord who has compassion on you.” And again He says in Psalm 29:11 NIV “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”
I pray that today you choose peace. No matter the situation, there would be God’s peace surrounding you. His peace that passes all understanding. His peace that calms the chaotic mind. His peace that gives rest.
Here are some great scriptures on peace:
“Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!”
Romans 15:13 TPT
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 4:6-7 TPT
“Now, may the Lord himself, the Lord of peace, pour into you his peace in every circumstance and in every possible way. The Lord’s tangible presence be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 TPT
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”
1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”
John 14:27 TPT
“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”
John 16:33 TPT