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I am grateful for the provision Jesus has made for citizenship in the kingdom of God.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:1

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: In English, the first word in John 14:1 implies that the state of my heart is under my control. Is that the intent?

Abba: It is, but I want you to understand more carefully, because you take the “Let not” as the primary instruction in the passage.

Μὴ (Not, lest) ταρασσέσθω (let be troubled, disturb, agitate) ὑμῶν (of you) ἡ (the) καρδία.(heart).

The first word has more depth than simple negation. If you take “let not” as a command, you are not wrong, exactly, but not seeing My full revelation. I do want you to have peace. The heart is where peace resides. Consider carefully the “lest” aspect of Μὴ. The sense is more explanatory. Jesus is saying, “Lest you be disturbed or agitated, you believe, in the Father and in Me.” The thing that is commanded, because of My loving desire for you, is the “believing”. The “letting” is taken care of in the “believing”, more accurately, in the object of your belief.  I Am precisely NOT saying, “Get control of your heart’s condition by some nebulous means, and that will help your believing”. Nor, “Get peace in your heart and belief in Jesus will come.” That would be “putting the cart before the horse”, so to speak.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

Verse twenty-seven repeats verse one, in reverse order. Lest (See what I did there?) you miss the point, Jesus is making it clear that peace is in Him. Further, that He is giving it to “believers”. The “let not” language is exactly as in verse one: “I am giving you the same peace that is in Me lest your heart be troubled or afraid”.

So, the question is whether the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) is the dominant state of your heart. If it is not, what unbelief is blocking the promise?

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

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