The Bible says that Jesus gives us peace that the world cannot give, the world cannot even understand. So when He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God,” how can we be called sons of God, if not by getting that status of sons and daughters through Jesus? So there is no way we can call ourselves either peacemakers or sons of God unless we truly understand the words of Jesus that we are, through Him, experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding, and through Him, through faith in Him, are now no longer strangers. But now we are sons and daughters, and we can call our God, Abba Father.

Psalm 103:1-5 KJV – “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

King David’s rather abbreviated list of the benefits of knowing the Lord makes a point that we would all do well to practice, and that is to remember how much we have benefitted from our relationship with the Lord. David starts with the eternal benefits of forgiveness, healing, and redemption, and then moves to the temporal benefits of experiencing His lovingkindness, tender mercies, and provision and strength.

Psalm 27:13-14 KJV – “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

The Hebrew word translated as “wait” can mean exactly what we think – to wait for something or someone. The primary meaning of the word however is, “to bind together”. Thus David says, I would have lost hope unless I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the here and now. He then offers a word of counsel to the reader telling us to bind ourselves to the Lord and be of good courage and “He” will strengthen our hearts.

Of the innumerable benefits of knowing the Lord in the land of the living (in this life) is one that we should be especially thankful for in these last and perilous days.

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

In a time where the world seems to have collectively lost its mind, our hearts and minds are protected with a peace that surpasses all understanding. That phrase, “surpasses all understanding”, means that when the world has no peace and is in a constant state of anxiety and fear, our hearts and minds are supernaturally protected and encased within God’s peace. Paul’s mention of “making your requests known to God” tells us he was addressing the same thing David wrote of, which is the goodness of God in the land of the living.

When things come our way that can cause a sense of anxiousness or anxiety, Paul says, as David did, to bind yourself to the Lord through prayer and petition (the meaning of supplication) with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for all the benefits of knowing the Lord and expecting to see His goodness in the land of the living. Few things are more precious in these last days than a guarded heart and mind.

For any who may be thinking, “That sounds good and I am sure that it is true for others, but my situation is severe and my need is desperate.”

John 1:12 KJV – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

As God’s child, through having received Him, you have the right to peace that passes understanding. You have the right to a guarded heart and mind, and in God’s family there are no exceptions or situations that make you exempt from them.

You might be waiting to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living right now. While you do, bind yourself to the Lord in prayer and petition with thanksgiving, and your wait time will be met with peace and strength. If you’re waiting for His provision, bind yourself to the Lord. If you’re waiting for His direction, bind yourself to the Lord. If you’re waiting for any answer to prayer, bind yourself to Him as you wait for His goodness to be seen in your situation. It will guard your heart from despair and your mind from wandering and wondering about His goodness. It is your right as His blood-bought, believing child. 

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.