The Covid-19 pandemic was engineered to create great uncertainty, fear, anxiety, depression and hopelessness.  Some of us have lost loved ones, including family and friends to the disease.  Some of us have also lost our source of income and are facing an uncertain future.  Furthermore, the shelter in place measures, lack of social interaction and the uncertainty of knowing the end of this unprecedented season can cause us to lose our peace and our sense of security.  Recently, the Christian Post carried the headline, “Pandemic spikes prescriptions for depression, anxiety, insomnia as experts warns of mental health crisis.”  The pandemic was designed to generate increased stress, worry, anxiety and fear. 

   But we as believers and citizens of God’s Kingdom, have been given access to God’s supernatural peace and provision.  Isaiah 9:6 ascribes to Jesus the title, Prince of Peace.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace because He is the answer and the solution to any trouble.  Jesus is the Lord and Master over panic, confusion, fear and hopelessness.  He is the master over nature, sickness, death, evil, lack and Covid-19 and its effects.   

   When the winds and the waves threatened the disciples’ lives, Jesus proved Himself Lord by calming the storm with the words, “Peace be Still”.  When Jesus walked the earth, He healed the sick, cast out evil, miraculously provided food for thousands, raised the dead, and even provided finances to pay His taxes.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  All dominion, power and authority belong to the Prince of Peace, King Jesus. 

   That is why we as believers can have peace through this storm.  We have placed our faith and trust in Jesus.  He will make a way for us, even when it seems like there is no way.  He is the Way Maker and the Miracle Worker.   

   Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths,” (AMPC).    Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” (AMPC). 

    Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, (AMPC).  Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You,” (AMPC).  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures and share Jesus, the Prince of Peace today. 

We are living in tumultuous and distressing times.  The whole earth is undergoing a frightening storm.  The winds are howling and the waves are crashing all around us.  However, as believers in Jesus Christ, Jesus is in the boat with us while we are sailing through this storm.  In fact, Jesus says we will make it to the other side.   

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus told his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.  There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet!  Be still!”  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him,” (NIV). 

Similarly, like the disciples, we are experiencing the howling storm of sickness and death around us, economic uncertainty, loss of income, loss of retirement funds, isolation, stress, uncertainty and fear of the future.  However, Jesus is in our boat with us and He promised us that we are going to the other side of this tumultuous season.  Jesus was at rest, sleeping through the storm.  How could Jesus be sleeping soundly through the storm?   Jesus knew that until his time came to drink his cup of suffering, no harm could come to him.  He was not worried about the storm, because he knew he was at the center of his Father’s will and knew that his Father would never let any harm come to him.  Jesus trusted or had faith in his Father.  He knew he was his father’s beloved and that a loving father would not disappoint or prove himself unfaithful.  Jesus was also God in human flesh.  He had power and authority over the winds and the waves.  He had authority over the storm.   

 We are not alone in the storms of life.  Just as Jesus trusted his Father and was at peace in the storm, he wants us to be at peace and trust the Father also.  Jesus gives us everlasting life and no one can pluck us out of God’s hands.  He encourages us to read and meditate on His Word so that we can build up our faith and trust in him. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” (KJV).  Jesus also has bequeathed his peace unto us.  In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled,) (AMPC). 

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all under-standing shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” (AMPC). 

God is in control.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  As we continue to put our trust and hope in him, He will not disappoint us.  He is in the boat with us, and He promised we are going to the other side.  As the storm continues to howl, Jesus will calm any emotional storm inside us and He will bring an end to this crisis we are going through.  Let us keep our eyes on Jesus.  Whom shall we fear? Let us encourage the ones who are afraid and do not know Jesus. Share the gospel with them, so that they can experience the Prince of Peace.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures! 

There is a worship song with the lyrics, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know who holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.”  In Matthew 28:6, the angel said to the women who were at the tomb, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay,” (NIV). 

Those words changed the future of mankind forever.  Jesus’ resurrection proved that He is God and that He can be trusted.  In John 2:19, Jesus had told the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days,” (NIV).  Jesus was referring to himself.  Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie.  He is not human, so he does not change his mind.  Has he ever spoken and failed to act?  Has he ever promised and not carried through?” (NLT). 

Because Jesus lives, we can live in victory on this earth, and we have hope for the future.  Jesus is alive.  Before He ascended to heaven, he promised that God the Father would send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Advocate, the Strengthener, and the Standby.  The Holy Spirit would remain with us forever, lead us into all truth, and help us to live a victorious and overcoming life. 

It doesn’t matter what challenges and opposition we may face here on earth, because Jesus lives we are able to overcome.  Jesus encourages us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)!  For I have overcome the world.  (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you,) (AMPC).  1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory (making us conquerors) through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (AMPC). 

Be encouraged today, because Jesus Lives, we can face tomorrow without any fear of the future.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures. 

In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses, God’s Prophet, gave the Israelites a choice.  Moses said, “This day I call the heavens as witnesses against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessings and curses.  Now Choose Life, so that you and your children may live.”  God had made a covenant with the Israelites and He forewarned them that if they were obedient to His laws, they would be blessed.  However, if they chose to be disobedient, they would be cursed.  Today God is calling all peoples on the earth to Choose Life. 

God desires for us to Choose Life each day and in every situation that we encounter in our lives.  No one can take away our power to choose.  When we choose life, we are also making a decision that affects our children, grandchildren, and the generations of our descendants.  If you have been born again, you have made the decision to Choose Life for yourself and your descendants.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Just one family member receiving Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior, can change the generations that follow.  Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved, you and your household,” (NIV). 

How can we Choose Life each day?  We can Choose Life by: 

1. Casting down all vain imaginations and thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word and taking them captive to make them obedient to Christ.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,” (NIV).  We can ask God to create in us a pure heart and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within us, as King David did. 
2. Speaking life and not death.  The Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Each time we choose to speak truth, to not gossip, to not curse or respond in anger, we Choose Life.  Even if we miss the mark, God sees our hearts as we repent and ask Him for help. 
3. Resisting temptation and being obedient.  James 1:13-15 says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.”  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death,” (NIV).  But even if we miss the mark, we can still Choose Life by acknowledging our sins and asking God for forgiveness.  1 John 1:9 says, “If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness) and (continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action), (AMPC). 
4. Reading, meditating on, and teaching God’s Word to our children and grandchildren.  Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, Matthew 4:4, (NIV).  Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall NOT depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success,” (AMPC).   In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Moses encouraged the Israelites to teach their children God’s Word.  His Words still apply to us today.  He said, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be (written) on your hearts and minds. You shall teach them diligently to your children (impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths) and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up,” (AMP).  Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” (ESV). 
5. By Praying and Communing with God.  Matthew 6:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (NIV).  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Peter 4:7 says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray, (NIV). 
6. By not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together.  Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching, (NIV). 

Let us Choose Life each day in our thoughts and in our actions, as faith without works is dead.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures!