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With all the tension building in Israel and the world today, how is it even possible that our hearts not be troubled?
Recently I woke up one morning disoriented from all that is happening. When I feel like that, I always go to the amazing words of Yeshua in the passage stretching from John chapters 13 to 17. They were spoken during the hours of the Last Supper in the upper room through the time in Gethsemane. He was giving His “last will and Testament,” and apparently John was the only one who was listening carefully.
Yeshua instructs us in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me…”
First, this means we can decide whether we allow our hearts to be troubled or not. Where I live there is tension from the external enemies Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas; and also within Israel between right and left, secular and religious. So I need and want to obey Yeshua’s instruction. Here are three tips I see in this passage and in general, that will keep our hearts from being troubled:
1. DEVOTION – Develop a devotional relationship with the Word of God; allow His Word to come alive inside of you on a daily basis. We must constantly turn to God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister its truth to us in our specific situations.
“… if anyone loves me he will keep my word; and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
I came to faith in Japan in 1992, when I was a JuBu (a Jewish Buddhist) and had a radical encounter with the resurrected Yeshua. Early on I was discipled in how to how to read the Bible, pray, keep a journal and things like that.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Just a few months after I met the Lord I decided I was going to fast, pray and read the whole Bible for one week. I was so hungry for the Word. Reading and praying, I came to Isaiah 58:12 and had a supernatural experience. The words “jumped” off the page, went 3D and eventually became the theme of my life. That’s just one example of what can happen while devotionally reading the Word.
2. STUDY God’s Word. Read the Torah, prophets, and writings; read the gospels and epistles. Ask for revelation how the whole Word of God fits together. Read the Bible in context, accessing tools to help deepen understanding.
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me….” (John 14:21)
What are His “commands?” Just the red-letter words of Jesus? All
of the New Testament? The whole Bible, including all Torah
commands? Believers have different views on this subject, and we
need to study how the Word of God fits together.
3. ASK and pray for the will of God, according to the Word of God,
in the Name of Yeshua. Allow the Holy Spirit to work through you
to accomplish His will and purposes. Join with His Spirit to change
the world.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23-24)
Yeshua repeated the same instruction to you and me, for your
heart and mine. As we enter into the End Times, it is of critical
importance that we practice walking this out today and every day:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
