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Good Morning,
Something good is going to happen to you today! This is a special edition of the Faith in the Morning Newsletter! In today’s newsletter, I have included my brand new ten day devotional, Peace: Your Shelter During The Storm. God wants His great peace to be your reality in the midst of chaotic and troublesome times. Whether you want to read this devotional over ten days, in one weekend, or in one sitting. The choice is up to you!
Here is what my friend, Pastor David Winston shared about the devotional:
“In Your Shelter During The Storm, Kerrick Butler beautifully captures the essence of God’s peace in the midst of life’s most challenging moments. With wisdom and grace, he leads readers to discover the unshakable refuge found in God’s presence. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking comfort and strength when life feels overwhelming—a truly uplifting guide to navigating storms with faith and peace.”
It’s time to make peace your reality! Enjoy this devotional and share it with others. Have a wonderful day and an amazing weekend!
Peace
Your Shelter During The Storm
Table of Contents
Introduction
On New Year’s Eve, I had an interesting experience. While I was teaching the congregation, in my heart I saw a massive, dangerous storm in the distance. The inner vision caught me off guard. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting to see anything. Within a few moments, the inner vision disappeared, and I continued teaching wondering what I saw.
A few days later, I was listening to New Year’s Eve messages from friends, colleagues, elders, and other ministerial voices I greatly respect. In my list of messages, I came across the broadcast of a friend of mine and a respected prophetic voice. As I listened to his message, I realized what I saw on New Year’s Eve. He saw the same thing. His explanation of what he saw helped me understand what I saw.
There is a massive, dangerous storm heading our way. However, this storm will not overcome us. We are not to run from this storm. We are to run to it, for the peace of God will be our shelter during this storm.
I believe that many of us have discounted the peace of God. The peace of God is greater than anything we can imagine and is far greater than what we have previously imagined. God’s peace is greater than the storms of life which enables His peace to be our Psalm 91 shelter in the storm. His peace will also enable us to thrive in this storm.
In this Devotional, I will share Scriptures, prayers, affirmations, and videos that will help you grow in understanding and help you experience God’s peace as your reality. Read the Scriptures that are part of this devotional. Pray the prayers and say the affirmations that are included in this Devotional. Don’t skim over them, engage with them. Watch the suggested videos that are linked and connected to this Devotional.
It is the desire of my heart for this Devotional to help you live in peace no matter the storms you encounter. Whether they are the normal storms of life or the storm I saw on New Year’s Eve, God’s peace is greater than the storm. As you begin this Devotional, say this confession and affirmation with me, “The peace of God is greater than the storm.”
Day One
The Peace Is Greater Than The Storm
The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 (NKJV)
Say this with me, “The Lord will bless me with peace.” The Lord will give strength to his people. The Lord will bless His people with peace. Let that sink deep into your heart. God wants to bless you with peace! Peace is a blessing that God wants you to have!
“The peace of God is greater than the storm” and “The Lord will bless me with peace” are two affirmations of faith that you may need to put on your mirror, in your phone, or on something you see every day. When you go through the storms of life, it is important to keep the promises of God before your eyes.
In Psalm 29:11, the definition of peace includes safety, security, tranquility, welfare, health and soundness of body, prosperity, rest, and wholeness. It implies nothing missing and nothing broken, but wholeness in every area of your life. God wants to bless you with this definition of peace. This definition of peace is what He desires your life to resemble. He wants your life to be full of His peace.
Isaiah 53:5 says, speaking of Jesus, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.”
Chastisement means punishment. Jesus paid the price for us to live in peace.
Say this affirmation with me, “Jesus paid the price for me to live in peace.”
Your life is supposed to be full of peace, not chaos. You can have peace in the midst of the chaos of life. You can have peace in the midst of the storms of life. You can have peace no matter what goes on in the world. No matter what goes on in your nation, you can live in peace.
Say this affirmation with me, “I can live in peace.”
You can have peace because your peace is not dependent on the circumstances surrounding you. The peace of God belongs to you because Jesus purchased it for you. Do not allow the circumstances of life to rob you of what Jesus purchased for you. Today, choose to believe that the peace of God is greater than the storm.
Day Two
Great Peace For Your Family
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.”
Isaiah 54:13-14 (NKJV)
Isaiah 54:13 is a confession that I speak over my children. It's something that you should confess over yours as well. No matter how old your children are, this is something that you should say over your children. If you have grandchildren, say it over them too. If you have great-grandchildren, say it over them as well.
Let’s practice it together. Say this with me, “My children are taught of the Lord. Great is their peace.”
One of the things we notice about this verse, is that it says “great is their peace” or “great shall be their peace.” This lets us know that there are levels of peace. Did you catch that?
There are levels to peace. What level of peace are you currently experiencing? Whatever level of peace you are currently experiencing, there is a greater level of peace for you and your family. You and your family can experience great peace.
Say this affirmation with me, “My family can experience great peace.”
God has great peace for you and your family! Stream this devotional to learn how to identify with the peace of God.
Day Three
The Peace Of Jesus
"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 (NKJV)
Jesus said, “I'm giving you my peace.” You have the peace of Jesus. The same peace that Jesus walked in on the earth, that He operated in His 33 years, is available to you. When you are born again, Jesus imparts His peace to you.
Say this affirmation with me, “I have the peace of Jesus.”
This word for peace means security, safety, quietness, rest, to be set at one again, prosperity, and intense happiness. The Greek word for peace in John 14:27 is the equivalent for the Hebrew word for peace. In explaining the definition for peace, Strong’s Concordance adds, “peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous.”
No matter the storm you are facing, you have access to the same peace that Jesus lived in and experienced as He walked on the earth. This peace enables you to thrive despite the effects of the storm. There is more peace available to you than you have ever realized. In fact, you can be overwhelmed by peace! Stream this video and learn more about the peace Jesus has made available for you!
Day Four
Overwhelmed By Peace
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
You can be filled with all peace. Yes, you can be filled with all peace! All the definitions of peace are available to you!
Say this affirmation with me, “I can be filled with all peace.”
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2nd Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV)
All the definitions of peace we've covered from the Hebrew to the Greek are included in this blessing, “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” Every area of your life can experience the peace of God. That's the desire of God! God wants every area of your life to experience His peace, not just one area, not just your Sunday mornings, and not just in your spiritual times. He wants every area of your life to experience, be consumed, and overwhelmed by His peace.
Many people talk about how they can be overwhelmed by the chaos and confusion of the storms of life. God doesn't want the storm to overwhelm you! He wants you to be overwhelmed by His peace, so that peace becomes your reality.
There is great peace for you! The peace of God really can become your reality. You can live in peace and make peace your reality.
Share Faith With Others 📤👥
Do you know someone who needs to read today’s email? Please forward this to them so that they can be encouraged by God’s wonderful love and goodness for them.
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Day Five
Making Peace Your Reality
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)
Peace can be multiplied to you. Whatever level of peace you're experiencing now, God has more for you.
Say this affirmation with me, “Peace should be my reality. God has more peace for me.”
Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 119:165 (NKJV)
Let’s focus on the first part of the verse, “Great peace have those who love your law.” Psalm 119 talks about the wonders of God's Word and what His word does in our lives. If you love God’s Word, that means you're going to read it every day. If you love it, that means you're going to study it. If you love it, that means you're going to meditate on God’s Word. If you love it, you're going to follow it and obey it.
The Psalm says great peace belongs to those who love God's Word. If you love God's Word, meaning you're studying it, you're meditating it, you're speaking it, you're reading it, you're doing it, then you’re setting yourself up for great peace.
Let’s progress from the concept of peace being available to peace being our reality. We don't want to just know that peace is available, we want to enjoy the peace. It's similar to food in a refrigerator. If you’re hungry and there’s food in the refrigerator, the food in the refrigerator doesn’t benefit you until you go get the food and eat the food.
It's great that the food is available. That's a blessing! The bigger blessing is when you eat the food. It's great to know peace is available, but it's better when peace becomes your reality.
My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
Proverbs 3:1-2 (NKJV)
Following God's Word, following His wisdom, and following His commands will cause you to live longer and it will cause you to live longer in peace. You do not have to have a short, chaotic, and troublesome life. You can live a long life with peace as your reality.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
Proverbs 3:13-17 (NKJV)
The paths of wisdom are the paths of peace. If you're following the ways of wisdom, then you're living according to the wisdom of God and will walk in the ways of peace. This Scripture lets us know that if you don't follow the ways of God and you follow after the foolishness of the world, or you decide not to do things God's way, then you're not going to walk in the ways of peace. Following the wisdom of God will cause you to live in the ways of peace.
No matter where your life takes you, you will see there's an option for peace because God gives you His wisdom. Remember it says in the Book of James, if you lack wisdom, ask God for wisdom, and He'll give it to you liberally. (James 1:6). This means that at every occasion, there's wisdom from God and there's peace from God.
Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:18 (NKJV)
Notice the desire of God. He said, “if you would have just listened to Me, if you would have just done what I said, your peace would have been like a river.”
God didn’t want them to have a little bit of peace. He wanted them to have a rushing river of peace. As the song says, you really can have peace like a river.
Say this affirmation with me, “I can have peace like a river.”
Following God's commands, following His Word, living according to His Word, and living according to His wisdom, is how we set ourselves up for great peace and peace like a river.
Day Six
The Mindset Of Peace
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8: 6 (NKJV)
What does it mean to be carnally minded? To be carnally minded is to think after the ways of the flesh, to have an unruly mind, to think the way how your body wants you to feel, what your body wants you to do, and living the way the world tells you to live that's against the Word of God. If you live that way, if that's your mindset, it's going to produce the effects of death in your life.
If you're spiritually minded, if you renew your mind to the Word of God, you will experience life and peace. What life is this? It is the life of God that's been made available to you. This peace is the peace of God.
Experiencing peace as a reality has to do with the way you think. If you want to experience peace as a reality, you have to be spiritually minded. Your mindset, your mentality, and how you think is vitally important if you want peace to become your reality.
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
To be kept means to be guarded. This person is kept and guarded in complete peace, double peace, or perfect peace because he keeps his mind on God.
Why does this person keep his mind on God? Because he trusts God. The life of faith is the life of a person who trusts God. It’s a life that says, “God, I’m going to do what You want me to do. I'm going to do things Your way. I may not always fully understand it, but if this is what You want me to do, that's what I'm going to do. I trust You. Instead of being worried, instead of being anxious, I'm going to keep my mind on You.”
When you make the decision to keep your mind on God because you trust Him, God will keep you in perfect, complete peace. Your mindset matters!
Day Seven
Battling Anxiety
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV)
When anxiety strikes, when worry strikes, when you're tempted to be worried about something or to be anxious about something, you have to follow the instructions in this passage. Do not ignore the worry. Do not ignore the anxiety. In the moment, when anxiety and worry are right there, when that care of the world is right there (Mark 4:19), when that care is trying to grab a hold of you, in that very moment, turn to God in prayer.
I'm not saying you have to fall to your knees. I'm not saying you have to run to a prayer closet. It can be a simple prayer on the inside, like “God, I feel anxious right now.” It could be, “God, I feel stressed right now.” It can even be, “God, I feel worried about that, but according to Your word, I ask for, what I need.”
What do you need? Whether it's wisdom, whether it's provision, whether it's health, whether it's strength, whether it's encouragement, whatever you need at the moment, you ask for it. As you ask for it, say what the Bible promises you concerning that area.
After you pray that prayer, say according to 1st John 5:14-15, “Father, I thank you that I have it, because when I pray according to your Word, You hear me. Since You hear me, I know that I have what I prayed for. Thank you!”
What is the response of God, when you respond to anxiety and worry according to the instructions of Philippians? The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind. We have to become professionals at responding to worry and anxiety by turning to prayer. This way of responding needs to become our habit if we want peace to become our reality and our shelter during the storm.
If we want peace to be our reality, we cannot respond to stress like Martha in the Gospels. Jesus told Martha that she was worried about many things. Don't let worry and anxiety and the cares of this life overtake you.
In Luke 21:34, Jesus said that the cares of this life can cause people to live like they're drunk. There's no alcohol involved in the passage, but the people involved were drunk only on the cares of life. The King James Version calls it surfeiting because they were drunk on cares of life and were making horrible decisions as a result
When you're turning to prayer when anxiety and stress and worry try to strike, you will experience peace. And if you're always turning to prayer, you will continually experience the leading of the Lord. He'll grant you peace. He'll grant you wisdom. He causes you to be with the right people, at the right time, doing the right things and will give you wisdom, friends, families, and counselors.
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Day Eight
Led By Peace
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
Colossians 3:15 (AMPC)
You are to be led by peace. Don't be led by pressure. Be led by peace. The peace of God is designed to operate in your heart, like an umpire operates in a baseball game. In a baseball game, the umpire decides what goes, who’s safe, who’s out, and what's foul. You have to allow the peace of God to act like an umpire in your heart.
God’s peace is not always a voice. It's an inward knowing and sense. When you are about to make a decision, do you sense God’s peace with that choice? Or do you feel a lack of peace or a “check” on the inside? We have all experienced that sense of peace or lack of peace before. Sometimes we rush past it and overrule it and suffer the results of our poor decisions.
In Isaiah 55:12, we learn that we should go out with joy and be led with peace. God wants to lead you with and through peace. Stop allowing the pressures of life to lead you. Follow the peace of God in your heart. Watch this video to learn more about following God’s peace instead of pressure.
Day Nine
You Will Outlast The Storm
“But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."
Luke 6:46-49 (NKJV)
The storm could not shake the house that was built on the rock. The storm could not agitate the house. The storms of life come to everyone, however the peace of God can be our shelter during the storm. The peace of God enables us to not be be shaken or agitated by the storm.
When you build your life on the foundation of a relationship with Jesus, consistently applying what He instructs you to and following His peace, you are setting yourself up to live in the shelter of peace during the storm. The storm won’t shake you. It won’t even agitate you. What are you going to experience? Peace.
You will outlast the storm because peace is your shelter.
Say this affirmation with me, “I will outlast the storm, because peace is my shelter.”
The storm is not greater than the peace of God. You're born again. Remember the Scripture tells that greater is He who is on the inside of you than he that is in the world. As a result, the storm is not greater than you. You are greater than the storm. God has made you greater than the storm.
Say this affirmation with me, “God has made me greater than the storm.”
No matter the storm you're facing right now, what storms are on the horizon, or the storms that are rising in our nation and in this world, God has made us greater than the storm.
Pray this prayer, “Father, help me apply the principles of this Devotional so that peace becomes my shelter in the storm. Increase my understanding concerning this so that peace can be added and multiplied to me with the result of my family and I experiencing great peace. I thank You for Your hope and Your help, because I only can do this with you. I trust in you, help me to keep my mind steady on you, help me experience and live in peace as my reality, no matter what goes on around me. Thank You for everything you have done for me. Thank You for Your peace. In Jesus' name, amen, and so be it.”
Day Ten
Stable During Unstable Times
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:10-15 (NKJV)
and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].
Ephesians 6:15 (AMP)
The peace of God is designed to help you stay stable during unstable times. In Ephesians 6, Paul was using the imagery of the Roman soldier’s armor to illustrate spiritual truths. The Roman soldier wore shoes that had nails on the bottom. The purpose of the nails was to help the soldier stay planted even if they were marching through or battling in tough terrain. The peace of God is similar to those shoes.
Say this affirmation with me, “The peace of God enables me to be stable during unstable times.”
God doesn’t want the enemy or the storms of life pushing you around. He wants you to be stable because of the gospel of peace. The good news of the gospel of peace is that we have peace with God and the peace of God. God’s peace enables us to stand firm even when the storms of life are raging. Through the peace of God, we can be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that what we do for God is worth it. (1st Corinthians 15:58)
As we stand in peace, we have to use the authority given to us in the name of Jesus. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” When we are planted in the peace of God, we can use the authority given to us in His name to quiet the storm and experience the victory God has for us. (To learn more about the authority you’ve been granted, watch these videos.)
As you put into practice the principles taught in this devotional, I want you to expect a victorious outcome. Remember Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” No matter the storm, God has peace and victory for you.
Say this affirmation with me, “No matter the storm, God has peace and victory for me. The God of peace is crushing the enemy under my feet.”
Thank you for reading through this devotional! The God of Peace wants His great peace to become your reality. Endeavor to apply the principals of this Devotional and you will see God’s peace fill your life. (To learn more about God’s peace, watch these videos.)
Do you know someone who needs to read today’s email? Please forward this to them so that they can be encouraged by God’s wonderful love and goodness for them.
Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe to the Faith in the Morning newsletter to receive daily encouragement in your inbox!
Would you like to be a blessing? If you would like to financially support the work of Faith Christian Center, please click here to give.
