“Peace is something that we all desire, yet often feels elusive in today’s world. Even before the pandemic hit, the fast pace of American culture combined with the ever-increasing usage of technology has many of us feeling frantic and frazzled. Cheryl Elton has made it a life goal to pursue Christ’s perfect peace, and today she shares what she has learned through Scripture and experience about finding peace in a chaotic world.” (From Hope Unyielding podcast show notes)

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The Bible is not a book full of clever maxims, helpful suggestions, or do’s and don’ts—it is the book of LIFE! As such, its many principles and paradoxes challenge our human thinking: when we give, we receive; when we lose ourselves, we find ourselves; to be rich, we must become poor; exalting ourselves, we’ll be humbled, but humbling ourselves, we’ll be exalted.

God longs to fill us and be part of all we do, all we are, and all we become, but His hands are tied if we’re hanging on to our human pride. When we think our ways are better than His and fail to lay down our preconceived ideas and rationalizations rather than accept His truth, He can’t go to work. Relying solely on intellect, talents, relationships, possessions, or wealth to make it through life fails to put us in a position to receive the fulness of grace, peace, and blessing He longs to give us.

The solution? Humility.

Humility is a characteristic God values highly, because He knows He can work with those of a humble heart. Only when we recognize the poverty of our own souls do we realize our desperate need for a Savior.

There’s a wonderful peace when we can honestly approach God, life, and one another with humility. Humility isn’t denying your strengths; it’s being honest about your weaknesses. Humble servants of God recognize that by themselves they can do nothing. Their strength and enablement come from Him alone.

In one of his writings, well-known South African pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) describes the Christian heart of humility and the wonderful peace it brings to the soul:

Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.

Are there areas in your life in which pride still has you holding on to the reins? Perhaps it’s time to release them into the Master’s hands.

“And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)

With open arms He’s standing ready to shower your life with grace, to give you perfect quietness of heart, and to fill you with His peace “when all around and above is trouble.”

God values humility.

Copyright © 2020 Cheryl Elton

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While recently browsing books, I came across Elisabeth Elliot’s Be Still My Soul: Reflections on Living the Christian Life. Perhaps because God’s peace is one of the most meaningful aspects of Christian living for me, and something I seek and write about often, the book quickly grabbed my attention as a “must-read.”

It did not disappoint.

Be Still My Soul proves why Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) is regarded as one of the most perceptive and popular Christian writers of the 20^th century. She writes with a simple yet profound eloquence that causes us to slow down, ponder deeply, and draw closer to God.

This short book is divided into easily readable chapters with headings that touch on a variety of topics. In a chapter titled “Helps to Holiness,” a section called “Trust and Obey” begins:

There is in each of us a kind of homelessness, a deep, unspoken, inexpressible longing for a safe place away from the clamor. Without God, most of the world tries to satisfy that longing with more money, more leisure, more things. Christians know that is futile, and yet we too hold back from choosing to cling to Him with single-hearted determination.

Another section called “Self-Effacement” in the chapter “A Servant Heart,” begins:

When I get to heaven, I want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not “good job, excellent and committed CEO.” In spite of the clamor of society around us, the urgings to succeed and conquer, I would rather emulate my fellow believers who have taken the narrow, lower way.

Throughout the book Elliot shares her reflections on many aspects of Christian living, including peace, God’s love, suffering, holiness, prayer, and walking with Jesus.

She has a wonderful way of seamlessly interspersing personal stories and struggles with scripture, thereby relating the big picture of how she has come to view God’s sovereign plan over her life.

If you struggle with the frantic pace of busyness in our can’t-stop world, this book offers an inspiring collection of reflections on living a life that is “far less about doing than it is about receiving grace, peace, and rest for our weary souls.”

Learning to be still, and leaving our anxieties and cares in the hands of a loving God, is what we are called to do, Elliot says. Here, she helps us do just that.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to go deeper with the Lord. I know I will return to it again.

Be Still My Soul portrays with simplicity and grace the beauty and wonder of learning to rest in God.

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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Do you have a quiet place you go to be alone with God? A place where you pour out your prayers and praises and seek His counsel?

For me, during my early years as a Christian in high school and college, a local park and nearby beaches were my special places. I loved to sit and watch the tide roll in, reminding me of God’s faithfulness as I quieted my heart in His presence. Today, I have my comfy chair at home.

Quiet time with the Lord is imperative if we want to maintain peace in our lives. Jesus tells us in this life there will be trouble—but in Him we find peace.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NIV)

Seasons of trials, conflict, afflictions, and adversity are inevitable in this life. The world is a volatile and unpeaceful place, and tuning in to the news often inflames uncertainty. If we let it, anxiety and worry can easily consume us on every front.

A respected ministry leader and teacher I know once suggested that peace is our greatest spiritual weapon.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. (Romans 16:20 NKJV)

God’s peace is the only weapon that can work instantly, to crush Satan under our feet! Only by maintaining peace in our minds and hearts will we be able to hear from God when the storms come.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)

The antidote to so many of our struggles is found in His presence. There is no greater habit we can incorporate into our lives than quiet time with Him in the secret place each day.

Silencing our hearts through prayer and His presence, God brings His Word to our remembrance, He gives us wisdom; He speaks His counsel into the depths of our hearts.

Jesus, the One who has overcome the world, is in you. Talk to Him often and share your life with Him. Let His peace rule in your heart—the wonderful peace found only in His presence.

Copyright © 2019 Cheryl Elton

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With the Christmas season in full swing, it’s easy to become overloaded with the many obligations and expectations it brings.

We can get so busy with the decorating, shopping, concerts, and other activities that we’re fitting into our already packed schedules, that we lose sight of why we’re doing it all to begin with—leaving us feeling drained and overwhelmed.

In an effort to get a handle on our endless to-do lists, it’s easy to rush into the day, spending little or no time with the One who helps us most!

St. Francis de Sales said:

Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.

Let’s let that sink in!

To spend more time in prayer when we’re busy certainly goes against our natural inclinations. Yet the truth of this statement falls in line with the many paradoxes of Christian living: e.g., when we give, we receive; when we praise God through our difficulties, we find joy. 

When we enter the day from a place of rest, and invite Jesus to partner with us as we go about our tasks, our eyes will be open to see Him working; our hearts will be at peace to hear His voice.

We’ll be sharing the yoke with the Master, allowing Him to lighten our loads.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

With His peace guarding our hearts, we will do less, but accomplish more.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest . . .  (Hebrews 4:9-11 NKJV)

In our drive to be productive, let’s remember the thing most worth being concerned about: spending time with the Lord . . . resting in, and enjoying His presence.

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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Establishing daily quiet time with God is necessary for anyone who wants a close, intimate relationship with Him. Many of the great men and women of faith throughout Scripture and history have testified to morning being the optimal time.

Yet a wandering mind can challenge many Christians during their quiet time with the Lord. Have you ever started praying, only to find a few seconds later you’re thinking about what you’ll have for dinner that night? Or begun reading the Bible, only to have your thoughts jump to that Facebook post you liked?

The world trains our minds to jump from thought to thought constantly. Television, advertising, the Internet—all with fast moving images—encourage these thought patterns.

But the good news is that with God’s help we can learn to focus and quiet our minds as we develop new habit patterns of silence. We simply need less of us, and more of Him.

For ten years hero of the faith George Müller had regularly spent time in prayer each morning—but he struggled considerably with a wandering mind. So he changed his habit to meditating on Scripture. As he did, he found he would almost effortlessly go into prayers of thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and supplication.

From that time on, prayer was no longer such an effort! Reading and meditating on Scripture provided a natural springboard to praise and prayer. Müller then sustained the habit of Bible reading and prayer for the next 40 years with much more ease.

When relationship with the Lord becomes a priority, He reveals and helps us with the things we need to change, including learning to control our thoughts. 

In the 16^thcentury, St. Francis de Sales wrote:

If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master’s presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in our Lord’s presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour will be very well employed . . .

We must build new habit patterns of silence, taking the time to tune out life’s demands and distractions, and entering the secret place of His presence. It is only there we find rest.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”  (Psalm 91:1-2)

If you struggle with a wandering mind during morning devotions, try meditating on Scripture, as Müller did. If you’re not comfortable with quiet, or you struggle with racing thoughts, take heart. Jesus Christ is with you, helping, strengthening, and encouraging you in all your endeavors.

With His help in developing these disciplines, in time we learn to carry His stillness with us, wherever we go.

Let the Prince of Peace Himself welcome you into the new day. He is with you . . . just waiting for your call!

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

For more on the value of cultivating quietness, see chapter 16 “The Quiet Classroom” in my book Pathway of Peace: Living in a Growing Relationship with Christ

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Yesterday, while heading out the door to go to the movies, my husband announced “I don’t have my phone—but we have yours, right? We need at least one phone with us.”

Funny how for years we lived with no cell phones—now we can’t seem to survive without them! I thought.

For most of us, leaving the house without our phones, we feel lost, even vulnerable, unsafe.

The ability to communicate and get information anywhere anytime has tremendous value, but can also serve as great distraction.

Reaching for the phone—for some while still in bed—is often the first action of the day. Yet this simple act, as innocent as it seems, can quickly distract us. Before we know it, we’re responding to messages, checking emails, reading articles—and we’ve robbed ourselves from entering the day fully engaged with God!

Many heroes of the faith in Scripture spent quiet time with God, usually early in the morning.

David tells us in Psalms:

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.  (Psalm 63:1-2)

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3) 

Daniel had quiet times of daily prayer. Job would rise early to offer sacrifices and pray for his children.

And of course Jesus understood the importance of daily quiet time with the Father. In the gospels we read He often went out early in the morning to seek silence and pray.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.  (Mark 1:35) 

Establishing daily time with God is necessary for anyone who wants a close, intimate relationship with Him. Although morning devotions aren’t a command in Scripture, it’s clear that many of the great men and women of faith throughout history have testified to morning being the optimal time.

In his book Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds writes:

The men [and women] who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day. 

Without setting our hearts with God first thing in the morning, it remains difficult—once we move into the demands and distractions of the day—to be still within, to hold His peace, and to hear His voice throughout the day.

It’s a matter of priority, isn’t it? I won’t occupy myself with other things until my heart is first engaged with You. 

In that precious morning time of Bible reading, prayer, quiet meditation and listening, He fills us with His presence, His peace—and the heart we need to love Him and others through each new day.

What a joyful way to live!

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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I woke to the steady rhythm of waves pounding on the shore, the unremitting rise and fall of the tide easing me out of the night’s slumber.

Outside my window, the beach where folks leisurely walked the night before now covered in water.

High tide. 

Though powerful and dangerous, there’s something calming about the sight and sound of the ocean—the constancy of the waves’ ebb and flow relaxing, reassuring. 

Here we see God’s majesty on full display, and gazing out at the endless sea, we become small. 

Through summer’s warm sunny days, people gather here to enjoy the water, the sun, and the sand. Groups sit and talk, while sharing a picnic lunch. Kids at the water’s edge dig sand tunnels, letting waves fill them with water, while others build sand castles, only to have the breakers knock them down. 

And surprisingly, during my days at the ocean I saw no one on the beach looking at their phones! 

In a world filled with distraction and noise, people still flock here for solace. To be reminded that not everything need be scheduled, that there is a place where it’s okay to unplug and remember a simpler life. 

To gain perspective on life and what’s important. 

To observe God’s faithfulness through the wonder of nature . . . 

Quiet walks along the shore, lying on the sand watching clouds roll by, reveling in the warmth of sunshine on my skin. This is where I long to stay. A place where time loses its urgency, and my to-do list doesn’t matter. 

God speaks to us through the wonder of creation. Here I can praise His presence, perceive His love, and enjoy His peace . . . 

Wherever you are, take time to appreciate God’s creation today.

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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Did you know statistics reveal that 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses?

The pressures of life are constantly bearing down on us. We all face needs that can result in anxieties about our health, finances, safety, relationships, the future. 

While people try many things to bring peace to their lives, Jesus’ words in John 14:27 remain:

“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.” 

The peace of Christ is something we must invest in daily through our relationship with Him. Just because we were at peace yesterday, doesn’t guarantee we will be today.

This short video offers some great practical tips to more consistently experience God’s peace.

The message beautifully complements Pathway of Peace: Living in a Growing Relationship with Christ.

Enjoy!

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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Last week, during our Midwest travels, my husband and I took a day to enjoy a bike ride along a quiet rail trail in western Michigan. Scenic and flat, it was my kind of trail, and despite the cold weather made for a pleasant outing.

We arrived in a small town called New Era, population 800. After lunch at the village diner where we were obviously “out-of-towners”, we wandered next door to check out a health food/coffee shop.

While waiting for the owner to make hubby’s afternoon espresso, we noticed a sign on her wall:

C.O.F.F.E.E.

Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everywhere

Within minutes we were chatting away with her about Christ, our shared faith, and the things of God—as if we’ve known each other for years!

Tracey shared with us how after seeking God’s guidance and prayer, He led her to find a new larger building she’ll be moving the business into this summer. How it all came together was clearly a “God thing.”

She desires to have her shop bring glory to God, and provide an oasis of calm to all who enter. She expressed her longing to embrace more of God’s peace in every aspect of her life.

While enjoying coffee, conversation, and finally prayer together standing at the register, “coincidentally” no other customer entered until we were saying “Amen.”

Tracey was one of many “divine appointments” we experienced during our 2 ½ week trip. What joy it is to discover on such a trip again and again life’s greater purpose than sightseeing, seeking relaxation, and enjoying restaurants. 

That we can bless and be blessed by the people we meet!

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Every day God is showing us where He’s working, and inviting us to get involved. Are we willing to forfeit—even for a few minutes—our own agenda when He calls?

Maybe He’s putting someone in our path we need to speak to or can help. Perhaps He’s bringing a person to mind we can pray for.

When He does, don’t wait! He’s inviting us to act—now!

When we do, we’ll see Him working in ways we could never orchestrate on our own!

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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