Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample

Jehovah-shalom There's a good chance that most of us have either heard of or are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom. In some circles, the word shalom is even used as a common cordial greeting. But what is the meaning behind this word? And more importantly, how does this meaning factor into this next name of God, Jehovah-shalom, or "The-LORD-Is-Peace"? Some dictionaries simply define shalom as meaning "peace." That's a good start, but it certainly doesn't cover all of it. Two countries can technically be at peace because they're not fighting a war against each other, all the while harboring disagreements and grievances. They're at peace, but they're not at shalom with each other. In a nutshell, shalom describes a state of complete fulfillment, wholeness, and wellness. That's shalom. It's the easy exhale of the soul, knowing everything is all right. So what happens when shalom is combined with Jehovah to form the name, Jehovah-shalom? For Gideon, who coined this name in the Book of Judges, it represented the understanding that the ability to rest easy, relax, and exhale go hand in hand with God's presence. Apart from Him, anxiety, stress, fear, trepidation, and insecurity are the norm. But with the Lord, there is shalom. Sounds great in theory, doesn't it? But what happens when an unexpected expense rears its ugly head in your world? What happens when the doctor's office calls to say you need to come in for some additional tests? What happens when your spouse says he or she doesn't love you anymore? It's then and there that we need to call upon the name of Jehovah-shalom, because we'll never be able to rest, relax, or exhale apart from Him. God doesn't want us to live on pins and needles in this life. He wants us to walk in confidence, to breath easy, and to partake in the peace that can only come from the heart of Jehovah-shalom. Shalom describes a state of complete fulfillment, wholeness, and wellness. With the Lord, there is shalom. Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today?