Sheila Walsh - 5 Minutes with Jesus: Peace for Today

2016 Sheila Walsh

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Special thanks to Sherri Gragg for her invaluable contribution to creating this book.

Cover design by Katie Jennings Design

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. HCSB is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers. Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Italicized text in Scripture quotations indicate the authors emphasis.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7180-3255-5

ISBN-13: 978-0-7180-3256-2 (eBook)

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Contents

W hat did you do to get us to fall asleep? Kate texted her mom.

Kate was nineteen and a pretty experienced baby-sitter, but ready to retire from that gig after trying for forty-five minutes to get Kyle to wind down and fall asleep.

Her mother reminisced: When you were tiny, I would give you a gentle pat-pat, pat-pat on the back, or Id softly sing Amazing Grace and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Sometimes we rocked in the rocking chair. You liked having your back scratched with a big comb! But of course there were times when I thought you were asleep, and Id quietly tiptoe out of the room... then you made it clear that you definitely werent asleep!

Even little peoplewho have only food, diapers, and hugs as their major concernscan have trouble finding peace when its time to sleep. We not-so-little people have a much longer list of concerns that rob us of peace.

In fact, Jesus promised us that wed have a list! He was very straightforward: Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33 NLT). This world hasnt disappointed, has it? Among the many external peace-robbers are children to raise, jobs to maintain, deadlines to meet, bills to pay, chores to do, friends to support. And each of us has internal peace-robbers like fear, bitterness, exhaustion, or scars from long ago.

Jesus, however, did not just promise trials and sorrows. He also promised peace. Before His crucifixion, He told His disciples the troubling details so that [they] may have peace (v. 33 NLT). Events would appear out of control, but they were part of Gods sovereign plan unfolding. When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His followers, He added, I am leaving you with a giftpeace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So dont be troubled or afraid (John 14:27 NLT).

Jesus wants us to know peace, to receive the gift of peace He has for us, to live with peace of mind and heart. Key to knowing Jesus peace is spending time in His Word, and I pray this little book will help.

Whether I start a devotional by sharing a brief story or some thoughts on a Bible passage, I always end with a handful of Scripture passages. Even just making time to read through those verses will give you a moment of peace, but Im confident that the truths you encounter in those wordsthe God you encounter as you read His wordswill help you experience His peace after you close the book and continue through your day.

I want you to know Id be thrilled to hear how spending time with Jesus is changing your lifeand to cheer you on! In fact, Im not the only one. There are many of us who want to remind each other that just five minutes a day can transform our entire lives. I joyfully welcome you into the supportive community weve been building at 5MinuteswithJesus.com, where youll find inspiring images and videos and all kinds of encouragement.

Okay, so youve read about three pages. It may be time to get back to whatever might be your peace-robber! But go in peace... guided by your Good Shepherd. Remember to breathe deeplyand when you do, may that refreshing breath prompt from your heart a prayer to your Prince of Peace.

Peace be with you.

Sheila

I am not a natural athlete. To be more accurate, I am not any kind of athlete. And that became uncomfortably clear the first time I went skiing with my family.

Although Christian was only ten, he took to it immediately. I, however, spent the first two days on the bunny slopesand I would have happily stayed there the whole week if my pesky instructor hadnt insisted that I was ready to move up.

Now I had imagined that the ski lift would be like an elevator: it would stop, the door would open, and Id have a good ten minutes to get on. Not even close! It was a continuously moving row of seats that didnt stopthe lift barely slowed downand I had to shuffle like a geriatric wiener dog to line up and then sit down. All I could hear in the background was my son calling out, Mom, dont look down!

Peter could have used such advice.

Matthew 14 tells us about a truly terrifying moment for the disciples when they looked up from their wind-buffeted boat in the dark of night to see a figure gliding across the water toward them. They thought it was a ghost! Scripture tells us they cried out in fear (v. 26). Jesus quickly identified Himself (the disciples were not seeing a ghost!) and let them know they were safe. When Peter heard this, he made a remarkable request: Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water (v. 28). Jesus simply responded, Come (v. 29).

Peter gingerly slipped over the side of the boat and lowered his foot to the raging sea. It held firm! Then he looked toward Jesus and, step by wondrous step, began making his way toward the Savior.

If only Peter had kept his eyes on Jesus! Instead, the fierce wind caught his attention, and as his gaze shifted from Jesus to the tempest that raged around him, Peter began sinking. In his terror, he cried out for Jesus to save himand Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him (v. 31).