Fret-Free Friday: Peace

Fret-Free Friday: Peace
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Perfect peace is not partial peace. Perfect peace is complete full, unmixed. It is "shalom" peace—rich in blessings, well-being, and God's favor. It is peace of "good health" for the mind, the spirit, and the body. Perfect peace will keep you perfectly peaceful.

You shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard (Isaiah 52:12).

God's peace and calmness are marks of our walk when the Holy Spirit is in control of us—sanctifying our thoughts, guiding our steps, directing our decisions, prompting us to move at the right time, and assuring us that He goes before us.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15).

God wants you to move through this day with a quiet heart,
an inward assurance that He is in control,
a peaceful certainty that your life is in His hands,
a deep trust in His plan and purposes,
an abiding hope in His promises,
and a thankful disposition toward all that He allows.
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©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Part 27: Knowing His Best...Walking In Rest!

Part 27: Knowing His Best...Walking In Rest!
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Knowing His Best...
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

Walking in Rest!
Spiritual rest affects your entire makeup, touching even your emotional and mental well-being. Inner rest helps you relax and enjoy what you are doing and the things around you. Rest brings a broader smile to your face and a wider range to your laughter. The heart at rest refreshes itself in the presence of the Lord...rejoices in the goodness of the Lord...delights in the ways of the Lord. The heart at rest is not in turmoil during working times nor condemned during leisure times. It enjoys the Lord and the blessings He gives. It knows that God is not stingy and freely blesses His children with good things.

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©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

#knowinghisbest #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #rest #spiritualrest #physicalrest 

My Monday Prayer: Acceptance

My Monday Prayer: Acceptance
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Promise
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 NKJV

Prayer
Jesus, I thank You that I have the wonderful privilege of knowing that I can bring my children to you in prayer. It means so much to me to know that each child means so much to You.

Thank You that You do not push my children away from You or keep them at a distance. I am so grateful that You welcome them with outstretched arms; that You embrace them with a full heart of compassion; that You receive them and draw them close to You.

I ask today that You, Jesus, would place Your hand upon my children’s heads. I ask that You would bless them with the richest blessings of Your hidden treasures. Touch their lives, warm their hearts, fill their cups, make them whole, keep them strong. Teach them Your ways and reveal to them the greatness of Your kingdom, the meekness of Your spirit, and the beauty of Your ways.
...
©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

#mymondayprayer #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #acceptance

Fret-Free Friday: I Only Need You, Lord...

Fret-Free Friday: I Only Need You, Lord...
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. -Psalm 145:16 NLT

Who considers these words enough? The hand of God being my chief provision and storehouse, is it not a shame to be anxiously careful for anything? Has the Lord all things in His hand? Then surely I shall receive what He has for me; none will be able to withhold it...you need not, says Christ, seek those other things; they shall be brought to you, if ye only abide in Me. If this does not comfort and strengthen us, nothing else will. -Carl Bogatzky

I Only Need You, Lord...
I only need You, Lord, when the first light of dawn appears in the eastern sky; until the last golden hues of the sunset fade upon the western horizon. I only need You, Lord, when the night sky is over my head.

I only need You, Lord, when I rise up and when I sit down; when I go out and when I come in; when I am quiet and when I am active; when I am alone and when I am with others; when I am healthy and when I am ill; when I am up and when I am down; when I am on the go and when I need to wait.

I only need You, Lord, when my lungs need to breathe; when my blood needs to flow; when my body needs to move; when my muscles need to work; when my mind needs to think; when my heart needs to love.

I only need You, Lord, for as long as birds need flight; for as long as whales need the sea; for as long as clouds need moisture; for as long as wildflowers need raindrops; for as long as sunflowers need the summer sun.

I only need You, Lord for this present moment; for the moment when You take me home; for all the moments in-between; and for all the moments ever after.
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#meetinginthemeadow #ionlyneedyoulord #roylessin #fretfreefriday #fretbusters

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Part 26: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!

Part 26: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Knowing His Best...
A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough. -1 Timothy 6:6-8 MSG

Walking in Rest!
When our trust is in the Lord we will learn to be content in whatever financial state He may have us. Whether we are abounding with much or living on little, the heart at rest never lets possessions possess it. The heart at rest knows that no material possession can add even one ounce of peace or joy to it. It also knows that the absence of any material possession cannot rob the heart of any of its peace or joy—for the source of all inward peace and joy is in the Holy Spirit.

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#meetinginthemeadow #knowinghisbest #roylessin 

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

My Monday Prayer: Meaning and Purpose

My Monday Prayer: Meaning and Purpose
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Promise
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen and elect shall long make use of and enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bring forth [children] for sudden terror or calamity; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. -Isaiah 65:22-23 AMP

Prayer
Lord, I thank You that because we belong to You, You have saved us from emptiness—from a life of empty words, empty promises, empty desires, empty thoughts, empty goals, empty work and empty choices. Your life has freed us, as a family, from empty relationships with each other.

Thank You for Your grace, Your power, and Your love. Thank You for your promise that we do not face a hopeless, worthless, and meaningless future. I believe that we have not been brought into this world for destruction, but for redemption; not for panic, but for peace; not for emptiness, but completeness; not for frustration, but for the glorification of Your name.

Thank You, Father, for the blessings that You have extended to me and to my family. I know that in every circumstance of life we will never face a time when You are not working everything together for the good and to fulfill Your purposes.

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#mymondayprayer #meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #meaningandpurpose

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Fret-Free Friday: God Can

Fret-Free Friday: God Can
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Be full of confidence not in yourself or what you can do, but in the Lord and what He can do. Your life, once given to Him, is in His hands, not yours. Live in His strength, not yours. Depend on His resources, not your own.

Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward (Hebrews 10:35).

How do you cast your care on Him?

• Get out your "fishing pole of faith."
• Tie a hook to the line of your fishing pole.
• Take all your cares and put them on a hook.
• Cast the line as far as you can into the sea of God's faithfulness.
• Cut the line and leave them out there.

...
Take "I can't" out of your vocabulary, and replace it with "God can!"
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#meetinginthemeadow #fretfreefriday #roylessin #photobyheatherlee #castyourcares

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Heather Lee, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Part 25: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!

Part 25: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Knowing His Best...
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Walking in Rest!
Financial freedom brings great rest. Financial freedom is not freedom from money, but from the love of it, and the dependency upon it as a source of security and happiness. Money can only find a proper place in our lives when Christ has His proper place in our hearts. The financially free heart has tasted of the Lord and found Him to be good...knows that it possesses the things that mean the most and have the greatest worth...believes that eternal things have the highest value. It is a heart that has followed His ways and found them true, trusted His word and found Him faithful, gazed upon His face and found Him altogether lovely.

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#meetinginthemeadow #knowinghisbest #money #roylessin #marinabromley

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

My Monday Prayer: A Prayer of Endurance

My Monday Prayer: A Prayer of Endurance
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Promise
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us…Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Prayer

Father, I ask You to keep the hearts of my children close to You; keep their thoughts fixed on You; keep their spirits strong in You. May Your grace draw them to Your heart, Your will, Your love—moment by moment, day after day.

Help us to lean upon You and draw our strength from You. Give us the endurance we need to stand firm, to continue on, to press in, and to press through everything and anything that seeks to hinder us, or sidetrack us, from following Your plan and doing Your will.

May we always have keen vision to watch out for the attacks from the devil—to resist his temptations; to reject his lies; to refuse his condemnation; to refuse his accusations.

I pray that when my children are carrying burdens they would learn to cast them upon You; when they are anxious they would depend upon Your promises; when they become discouraged their hope would be renewed. Assure them today, Father, how dearly You love them.

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#meetinginthemeadow #mymondayprayer #aprayerofendurance #prayer

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Fret-Free Friday: Who Is Like Our God?

Fret-Free Friday: Who Is Like Our God?
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? (Psalm 71:19).

There is no God like our God!
We don't need to help Him out for He is all-powerful.
We don't need to give Him solutions for He is all-wise.
We don't need to give Him explanations for He is all-knowing.
We don't need to wake Him up for He never slumbers or sleeps.
We don't need to hope that He will show up for He is always present.
We don't need to try to figure Him out for His ways are beyond finding out.
We don't need to make Him weapons of warfare for He knows no defeat.
We don't need to try to get His attention for His ears are open to our cries.

Focus...

Not on the winds of opposition, but on the setting of the sail;
Not on the howling of the storm, but on the voice of the Captain;
Not on the darkness of the sea, but on the lighthouse on the shore;
Not on the density of the fog, but on the true north of the compass;
Not on the restlessness of the waves, but on the anchor that holds steady.
...
©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Part 24: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!

Part 24: Knowing His Best...Walking in Rest!
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Knowing His Best...
For anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did his. Now we who have believed enter that rest.... -Hebrews 4:10, 4:3 NIV

 

Walking in Rest!
Faith is the embrace that wraps its arms firmly around God's rest.

It is God's rest, not yours. Because God does not worry, faith takes hold of God's peace...because God does not fear, faith takes hold of God's power...because God does not strive, faith takes hold of God's authority. Faith embraces the finished work of Christ's redemption...the keeping work of the Holy Spirit...the perfect work of the Father's will. Faith declares, "God is my Father; He does all things well...Jesus is my friend; He will never forsake me...The Holy Spirit is my comforter; He will never leave my side."
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#meetinginthemeadow #roylessin #knowinghisbest

©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

My Monday Prayer: A Prayer of Favor

My Monday Prayer: A Prayer of Favor
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Promise
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city’s] gate.
Psalm 127:3-5 AMP

Prayer
Heavenly Father, my prayer to You today is one of thanksgiving, gratitude, and praise. Thank You so much for Your favor and marvelous generosity to me and my family. Every good and perfect gift truly comes directly from Your hand to us through Your giving heart of kindness and love.

I cannot begin to express to You how greatly blessed and grateful I am for the gift of these children. I do, with all my heart, receive each life that has come into our presence as Your beautiful gift. I cannot find the words to thank you enough.

All children are a testimony of Your grace, a proclamation of Your wisdom, a revelation of Your workmanship, a demonstration of the creative work of Your hands. Thank you that You have given them to us as Your heritage—to know, to enjoy, to love, to care for, to celebrate, to delight in, and to raise so that they too may know You, and receive Your Son as their greatest gift of all.

#meetinginthemeadow #mymondayprayer #prayersofpromise #prayeroffavor #roylessin #marinabromley

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©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Fret-Buster Friday: Trusting

Fret-Buster Friday: Trusting
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21 NLT).

There are two things that often rob us of peace. One is "incomplete obedience to the will of God" and the second is "going beyond the will of God." It's important to go when God says "Go!" and it's equally important to stop when He says, "Stop!"

[The LORD says,] "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" (Psalm 32:8 AMP).

[Jesus said,] "The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27 AMP).

Trust the Lord
for today's portion of:
daily bread
daily grace
daily strength
daily joy, and
daily peace.

#meetinginthemeadow #fretfreefriday #roylessin #trusting #devotion #photobymarinabromley

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©2021 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

This is adapted from Roy's book, Fret Busters, which is available through Blessings Bookstore and Apple Tree Cafe in West Monroe, LA.