Experience Perfect Peace in God's Presence

SHOW NOTES: 

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, I share an excerpt from Step Six of my new book, Living Perfectly Loved. 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).

Jesus is the anchor for our souls. In the storms of life, or whenever we begin to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or afraid, we can retreat to God unashamed and He will restore us to perfect peace in His presence. I’ve given practical suggestions for entering God’s presence. The when, where, and how of your encounter with God may be vastly different from that of someone else—and that’s okay! What’s most important is that you experience Him—first by entering into His presence with thanksgiving and praise; then by taking time to sit at His feet, in His Word and in prayer. He will refill your tank that’s been emptied by the day’s demands, refresh your spirit, and strengthen your faith. We will find comfort in knowing we serve a God who is unafraid in our fear, all powerful in our weakness, and completely in control when life feels totally out of control. 

CONNECT WITH KELLY: I’m your host, Kelly Ann Snyder, a Christian writer, speaker, and teacher. Grateful to God for rescuing me from the grip of anxiety and fear, I created this podcast, started a blog, launched a small group for women at my church, and wrote my first book titled, Living Perfectly Loved, to encourage, equip, and inspire Christian women to live free from fear and full of joy, secure in God’s perfect love. I enjoy fresh flowers, nature walks, decorating my home, sipping tea, and studying God's Word.

Visit my website at kellyannsnyder.com to learn more about me and Living Perfectly Loved Ministries, including information that can help you take the next step forward in your faith journey.

By signing up for my email list today, you’ll get blog and podcast episodes sent directly to your inbox, and be given the opportunity to learn about other Living Perfectly Loved Ministries offerings made available only to my subscribers. Here’s a link to a free resource I created for signing up: 40 Anxiety-Reducing Self-Care Tips for the Weary

You can also purchase my new book on Amazon today: Living Perfectly Loved: A Christian’s 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip of Anxiety and Fear

Find me on my Facebook Page @kellyannsnyderauthor and on my Facebook profile @kellyannsnyderofficial, as well as on my Instagram account @kellyannsnyderofficial. I look forward to connecting with you soon!

EPISODE RESOURCES: Living Perfectly Loved Playlist

DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. This podcast is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed practitioner. Please consult with your physician or healthcare specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this podcast. The podcast host makes no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies she has offered, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The use of this podcast implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.

For additional help or resources, I recommend you consider reaching out to a professional Christian counselor or a pastor at a church for guidance in your next steps. 

Episode Transcript

Kelly Ann Snyder (00:02):
I'm Kelly Ann Snyder.
Welcome to Living PerfectlyLoved, the podcast created to
encourage, equip, and inspireyou to live free from fear and
full of joy, secure in God'sperfect love.
If you're longing to stand firmin Christ amidst the storms of
life with a faith deeply rootedin God's perfect love, stop

(00:25):
anxiety and fear from stealingyour joy and controlling your
life, shine brightly and lovefearlessly, confident in who God
uniquely created and called youto be, then this faith-inspiring
podcast, full of practical helpand spiritual tools, is for you.
You're listening to Season One,Episode Seven: Experience

(00:46):
Perfect Peace in God's Presence,brought to you by Living
Perfectly Loved Ministries andmy new book, Living Perfectly

Loved (00:55):
A Christian's 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip
of Anxiety and Fear.
For all recommended resources,products, and freebies discussed
in this episode, please see thenotes for this episode.
I'm happy to announce that ineach episode this season, I will
be sharing an excerpt from mybook containing each of the 12

(01:17):
steps the Lord used to deliverme from the grip of anxiety and
fear.
In this way, you'll be getting asneak peek into my book, Living
Perfectly Loved.
I'm so glad you've decided tojoin me.
Subscribe to my email list todayat kellyandsnyder.com and you
will be kept in the loop withall book and ministry-related

(01:37):
announcements I make, and beeligible to receive all free
resources I create and sharewith my subscribers.
Visit my website atkellyandsnyder.com to learn more
about Living Perfectly LovedMinistries, including direct
links to purchase my book andinformation that can help you
take the next step forward inyour faith journey.

(02:00):
If you haven't yet listened tomy podcast trailer, I'd like to
invite you to do so afterlistening to this episode.
All right, let's get started!The following is an excerpt From
Step Six of my book, LivingPerfectly Loved, titled,
Experience Perfect Peace inGod's Presence: Isaiah 26 verse

(02:24):
three says,"You will keep inperfect peace those whose minds
are steadfast because they trustin you." This is God's promise
to us.
Are you believing and trustingin one moment and in the next
doubting and afraid still easilyknocked down by waves of fear?
Maybe you've experienced abreakthrough from the grip of

(02:46):
anxiety and fear, but you findyourself still easily sucked
back into it.
The thing is, even if we've gonethrough the work by identifying
triggers, of confessing andsurrendering, without consistent
time with the Lord, we will loseour focus on God.
Rather than remembering to useour faith shields to deflect the

(03:07):
wind and the rain, we'll makefeeble attempts to withstand the
storms of life in our ownstrength.
This never works.
Our fears end up growing bigger,louder, and stronger and we
become easily overwhelmed by theday-to-day struggles we face.
In life we can intentionallychoose to take the path that

(03:27):
will lead us closer to God, orwe can let ourselves drift
farther from God's presence.
When the storm is raging andchaotic winds thrash about
threatening your peace, Jesus isthe anchor for your soul.
He will be your shelter from therain, He will keep you safe from
the dangers of the rugged opensea, and whenever you start to

(03:49):
drift, He will reel you back in.
God will tether your heart toHis when you fear you will
drown, and rest assured, He willkeep your little boat afloat.
The Lord will command the windand the waves to be still.
He will lead you beside quietwaters.
See Psalm 23 verse two.

(04:10):
He will refill what the day'sdemands have emptied, refresh
your spirit, strengthen yourfaith, and restore you to
perfect peace in His presence.
If we remain close by His sideas sheep under the protection
and care of a shepherd, we willexperience God's perfect love
and peace, and we will thrive.

(04:31):
In Psalm 23, King Davidpoetically paints a beautiful
picture for us of how Jesus, theGood Shepherd, watches over us
and lovingly cares for us as thesheep of His pasture.
Let's take some time to soak inall this psalm has to teach us:
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I lacknothing.

(04:52):
He makes me lie down in greenpastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the rightpaths for his name's sake.
Even though I walked through thedarkest valley I will fear no
evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, theycomfort me.

(05:14):
You prepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, mycup overflows.
Surely goodness and love willfollow me all the days of my
life, and I will dwell in thehouse of the Lord forever" Psalm
23.
As you can see in Psalm 23, ourGood Shepherd is providing,

(05:37):
restoring, leading, comforting,protecting, and sacrificing for
us that we may live asabundantly blessed and loved
sheep all the days of our lives.
In Christ, we lack nothing.
Our hopes, dreams, and longingsfor something more will all be
met in the power of Hispresence.

(05:57):
He calls to us from the deep,gently whispering our name,
offering us rest in a world fullof chaos.
He is our protection and we willfind comfort and security in
knowing He is looking after usevery moment of every day.
With indescribable peace, ourGood Shepherd blesses all those

(06:18):
who walk with Him and follow Hisways.
One of the ways I connect mostreadily with God is through
praise and worship music.
It's like kindling to the HolySpirit's fire within me.
It moves me to worship, then toread my Bible, pray, and journal
my thoughts.
It helps me hear God's voicemore clearly.

(06:39):
In fact, one of the ways Godfirst called me to Himself was
in a song.
For me, the right song can be astransformational as a powerful
sermon.
I love adding new songs to mymusic library and creating
playlists for the variousseasons of life I'm in.
You can check out my LivingPerfectly Loved Playlist on my

(06:59):
website at kellyandsnyder.comunder the free resources tab, or
click on the link to theplaylist in this episode's show
notes.
Music has been a gift from Godto me, even though I'm not
particularly gifted at singingor composing it myself.
Through music, the Lord hasdrawn me closer to Himself, one

(07:21):
song at a time.
My daily quiet time routineoften begins with worship.
I turn on my worship playlistand I sing songs to God lifting
up each word to God in prayer.
While I'm singing, God oftenbegins speaking to my heart.
He puts certain words orthoughts in my head.
This is when I turn to my Bibleand start reading.

(07:44):
Sometimes I read systematicallythrough a book of the Bible.
Other times I'll use a studyguide or Bible reading plan in
my Bible app to guide methrough.
I'll look up Bible commentaryonline or begin a word search in
my Bible app for the words orphrases I feel God's speaking to
me, and then read through thescriptures that pop up.

(08:05):
Whether using my printed Bibleor a digital version to dive
into God's word, I'll underline,write notes, and highlight what
stands out to me in the text.
Then I'll spend a little timejournaling what God has put on
my heart.
I'll record my own thoughts andvarious Bible verses I want to
remember.
Finally, I pray as I feel ledfor myself, my family and

(08:29):
friends, my church, my kids'school, government leaders, et
cetera.
I'll confess my sins and thankGod for the time I got to spend
with Him, and for strengtheningand leading me to fulfill His
plans and purposes for my life.
Where can you go to meet withGod?
God is ready and willing to meetwith us anywhere.

(08:50):
You may find it helps, though,to designate a specific place in
your home to meet with Him,ideally away from the chaos and
distractions.
Should the ideal space not bereadily available, you can still
meet with God wherever you are.
If you are a mother of youngchildren or live in tight
quarters with a big family, Irealize finding any quiet space

(09:13):
may prove to be quitechallenging.
In this case, bring the peoplein your life close to you to
share in the experience ofreading God's Word and praying.
There is nowhere the Holy Spiritcan't reach you.
Nothing can separate you fromGod's presence or His love.
See Romans 8, verse 38 through39.

(09:33):
One of my favorite places to getaway and spend time with the
Lord is outdoors in nature.
When I stop to look up at thesky, I take notice of openings
in the clouds that appear likeportals to an open heaven.
I praise Him for all He hascreated, for the opportunity to
sense His nearness.
When I hear a singing bird orsee a beautiful butterfly float

(09:57):
by, I know that God is with me.
The rainbow after the rainreminds me of God's promises and
His faithfulness.
Amid gentle breezes rustlingthrough the trees on a hike, or
relaxing by the ocean wavescrashing and bubbling up the
shoreline, I see heavenlydisplays of His beauty and
greatness.

(10:18):
I feel Him in the warmth of thesunshine on my skin, with its
brilliant rays shining down onmy face.
I close my eyes and soak it allin.
God is in it all, if only wetake time to notice Him.
When do you connect with God?
God is always present andavailable to meet with us.

(10:39):
Often when we feel distant fromGod, it's our social calendars,
overstuffed schedules, upsidedown priorities, and lack of
discipline that are getting inthe way of regularly entering
into His presence.
If meeting with God on aconsistent basis has been a
struggle for you in the past,you may find it helpful to set
aside a specific time each dayto meet with Him, in the same

(11:03):
way you might create space inyour schedule to meet a friend
for lunch or coffee.
Some women I know prefer to meetwith God first thing in the
morning.
Taking this approach ensurestheir day gets off to a good
start and it helps them avoidany distractions that might
later interrupt their time withthe Lord.
Still others prefer to spendtime with God in the evening.

(11:24):
This is when they feel mostrelaxed and able to focus, or
this is when they have the mostavailable time.
What's important is not the hourof the day, but the quality of
the time you spend together.
We want to give our best to God,not our leftovers.
When our hearts aren't really init, we end up going through the
motions just to say that we didit.

(11:46):
That's not what God wants and itlikely won't lead to
experiencing more of God's peaceeither.
I typically choose to have myquiet time with God in the
morning.
Just as soon as I'm awake enoughto focus.
However, I also tend to findpockets of time throughout the
rest of the day to pray, readarticles, or books, that
encourage my spiritual growth,and journal the things God has

(12:09):
been saying to me or teachingme.
I include my kids as well.
Most every weekday we do a short10 to 15 minute devotional as a
family.
We've used Right Now Mediavideos, various Bible reading
plans, and devotional books overthe years.
We briefly discuss the materialwe cover, and then we end our
time by praying together.

(12:31):
My routine and the amount oftime I spend continues to change
with each new season of life.
I've discovered that thequantity of time and materials
isn't very important.
Rather it's that I commit tospending dedicated time with the

Lord every day (12:44):
unrushed, concentrated, heart open and
vulnerable to Him.
God can be found and experiencedin countless ways.
Keep your spiritual eyes openand watch for God to show up in
your day to day routines andmundane tasks.
He's in the everyday chores,like the piles of laundry and

(13:04):
dishes needing to be cleaned.
You can find Him in the kindnessof a stranger.
He's in casual conversationsthat turn into opportunities to
share the love of Jesus.
He's in the love andfaithfulness of your family and
friends.
We can meet with God anytime andanywhere.
The when, where, and how of yourexperiencing God may be vastly

(13:26):
different from mine, but theimportant thing is that you
experience Him.
First, by entering into Hispresence with Thanksgiving and
praise.
Then, by taking time to sit atHis feet and in His Word and in
prayer, to get filled back up,renew your spirit, strengthen
your faith, and be restored toperfect peace.

(13:47):
God is good all the time.
When we open our eyes to Hisgrace and pursue His loving
presence, we will see Hisgoodness and experience His
peace.
Without doubt, perfect peace canonly be experienced in God's
presence.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank You forbeing with me in the storms of

(14:09):
life, commanding the wind andthe waves to be still, and
leading me beside quiet waterswith You.
Restore my soul.
Lead me along the right pathsfor Your namesake.
When fear threatens my peace,help me to feel Your presence
and trust in Your unfailinglove.
There's perfect peace in You andfullness of joy in Your

(14:32):
presence.
Help me to put You first in mylife and make meeting with You
daily more of a priority.
I want to be closer to You.
I praise Your name and worshipYou alone.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode of the Living Perfectly

(14:52):
Loved podcast.
While it's true that God is loveand we are perfectly loved by
Him, we all struggle at times tolive like this true.
While we should strive to growin Christ likeness, we can rest
in knowing God loves us becauseof who He is, not because of who
we are or anything we could everdo for Him.

(15:14):
In Jesus Christ, we are enough!Remember, you don't have to be
perfect to live perfectly loved.
You have always been and willalways be a completely forgiven,
fully accepted, deeply loved,daughter the King.
Beautiful friend, His grace isfor you.

(15:35):
Please subscribe to my podcastnow and stay tuned for another
episode of Living PerfectlyLoved.
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May He shine His face on you andbe gracious to you.
May He turn His face toward youand give you peace, in Jesus'
name.