God wants us to enjoy a peaceful existence. In the Book of Luke, after the angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, an angelic army emerged with the angel praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14, ESV). God’s Word tells us that He wants our days to be filled with peace, a peace that comes from reliance on Him (Philippians 4:7) and from the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Peace is something many of us long for, but struggle to find. We may seek peace and quiet in a rushed and chaotic day, but too often worries and anxieties keep us from enjoying a state of tranquility or calmness. The world offers us many ways to find peace, for example through yoga, massage, or eastern meditation. These may provide a temporary peacefulness, but the cares of this world inevitably creep back in. So how do we find true peace? Isaiah 26:3 gives us the answer: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” We find perfect peace when we keep our mind focused on God and on the works of His Son, Jesus.
We cannot worry or be anxious and live in peace at the same time. This is why the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 to not be anxious about anything, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Letting go of our worries and anxieties by handing those over to God through prayer and praise, shows God that we are putting our trust in Him. When we do this, God has promised us that He will keep us in perfect peace.
We cannot allow the worries of this world to steal the peace that God provided for us through His Son. There will always be another problem to solve, stress inducing meetings, or not enough time. These daily peace zappers do not have to rob you of your peace. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and we can partake of this fruit anytime by abiding in Jesus. In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus gave us His peace through the Holy Spirit; we already have it. We release this peace by trusting in God’s Word and by keeping our minds stayed on Him. Stay in perfect peace by drawing near to God and by allowing Him to draw near to you.
The Truth in Action: We can choose to remain in a peaceful state by choosing to think on things that promote peace rather than on things that open a door for worry and anxiety. Think about what you are thinking about. Focus your thoughts on God and on abiding in His Word, and then He will keep you in perfect peace. When thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word enter your mind, take them captive and replace those thoughts with God’s truth.
Meditate on Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
Further Study: Read Galatians 2:20. What does the apostle Paul mean when he says that Christ lives in him? Now read 1 John 4:17. What does John mean when he says, as Jesus is so also are we in this world? Given these two scriptures, how do we find peace (and love, joy, health, prosperity, etc…)?