The Grands Letter

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,

3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD—an ordinance for Israel—to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.

7 “May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.”

8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

If you have been following the situation in Israel, you are aware of the tragic conflicts that exist between Israel and some of the nations that border her. I witnessed, via television, two young Israeli women who had been held captive by Israel’s adversaries. How those girls handled captivity was nothing short of miraculous!

The protection the girls received was clearly from the LORD! The Jews, we must not forget, are God’s people! Historically, when Israel strayed from God, they always encountered trouble from their enemies. That is still the situation today.

All politics aside, if you were being held captive, which side would you prefer to be your captor? In the passage above, the Israelites are encouraged to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Prayer is always toward the LORD, for He alone is able to bring about peace wherever its absence cries out for the need.

The primary need for peace is always within the heart. If you have never trusted Jesus as LORD and Savior, your greatest need is for Him to reside in your heart and guide your life.

Trust me—just a little; confess your sins, and appeal to the LORD for forgiveness. Only then will you know the peace that only the LORD Jesus can give. I am praying for you. Please offer a prayer for me.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom