John 14:27 records these words as spoken bu Jesus: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)

It’s tough to not be afraid.  As proud as we can be.  As hard as we can be.  It is still tough to not be afraid when faced with uncertainty.  Not knowing what tomorrow will look like.  Not knowing whether or not you will overcome a devastating family loss.  Not knowing whether or not you will rebound from job loss, foreclosure, financial hardship.  It’s tough.  And yet, Christ calls us to not be troubled and to not be afraid.  He says: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)  In this, He says accept this gift of peace – peace of mind and heart.  Only I can give this to you so no one can take it away.  Yet, it’s totally up to you to accept it.

What is this gift of peace?  In so many words, it’s Him.  Accepting Christ is peace.  He is our peace.  It’s assurance of knowing that we are justified in Him.  It’s confidence in knowing that our burdens are His burdens and He has overcome his burdens.  In John 16:33, He says it best: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

By accepting Christ as our peace, we too have overcome the world.  Nothing, no person or situation, can get the best of us.  No trial or circumstance can defeat us.  In all things we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

So, if I am not to be troubled or afraid, what should I be?  I should be as the eagle mentioned in Isaiah 40:31 – “they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  I should be strong because my strength is in Him. (Psalm 121:2 , Zechariah 10:12)  I should be of good courage. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:6,7 & 9, Psalm 27:14)

If I shouldn’t be afraid, what should I be?  I should be as He is.  An overcomer.  A conqueror.  Victorious because He is victorious.

If we are to be overcomers, conquerors and victorious, then we must first choose to accept the gift that He gives.  The gift of peace of mind and heart.  The gift of Him as our Lord and Savior.

Choose Jesus.  Choose peace.  Choose to live life from a point of victory.