John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace is such a valuable asset. In the opening scripture, the earlier verses narrate Jesus’ conversation with his disciples. It was mainly about his departure from the earth and how His Father has many mansions and he was going to prepare a place for them. He also spoke about the Holy Spirit and how He would lead us into all truth and then he drops the information about leaving peace with them.
Jesus didn’t leave money for them? or fame? or a spectacular ministry? Rather, he left peace with them. You can have everything in life but without peace, you can’t even enjoy fully what you have access to. That is what I took from this passage. Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. To even have a sound sleep, you need peace. Another reason why we need peace is in John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. No matter how we see it, there are going to be moments of peril. What would be needed in those moments is definitely peace. I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, peace is not the absence of war, conflict, or chaos but the ability to cope with it.
Anytime I think of peace, joy also comes to mind and the common denominator of these two is the fruit of the spirit. Just like peace, joy is also not dependent on happenings around us. Because peace is a fruit of the recreated spirit, one must accept Jesus as Lord and become a new creation. That is non-negotiable. In Matthew 7:24-27, the house built on the rock stood firm when the floods came, the rain fell, and the wind blew. This is a picture our lives must portray. In the midst of all of that chaos, the house was still intact. And it was because of the foundation – what the house was built upon. So the first thing to deal with is the foundation of our lives. Are we relying on our own abilities to do this journey called life or letting Jesus take the wheel?
Isaiah 26:3 says You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. This means that the state of your mind determines the level of peace you enjoy. The state of your mind is dependent on what you allow to occupy it. The mind is an important factor when it comes to everything in life because as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, looking unto Jesus. The word ‘looking’ means fixing your gaze on a person or thing. In verse 1, the writer talked about throwing away the weight that holds us back and the sin that easily besets us. Then moves on to say looking unto Jesus. Every sin we commit begins in the mind and whatever you look at, has the tendency to occupy your mind once you brood over it. No wonder Jesus said even if you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. So the more you think about your problem, the less peace you have. Instead, let your mind be on God’s Word and that would take your mind off the challenge you have now.
Philippians 4:6-7 is another tip for God’s peace. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So peace comes in the place of prayer. In prayer, you talk to God and He talks back and based on what God tells you in the place of prayer, faith comes. Faith comes by hearing…Romans 10:17 Another aspect of this scripture is also thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, worship, and praise that is done genuinely bring peace. It goes back to the mind because when you take your mind off the things you don’t have now and focus on the blessings you actually have now, you’d see reasons to be thankful, and that ability not to forget his benefits, brings peace.
The Word is also vital for God’s peace. A sure foundation for our lives is the Word of God. Don’t just read the Word, but also take time to reflect and meditate on it. In Psalm 1:2-3, we see this: but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. The word ‘planted’ is symbolic of having a firm root which means a solid foundation. So the one who meditates has an advantage over the one who just reads.
Reading brings information, meditation brings revelation.
That’s the difference.
A final important point to experiencing God’s peace in the midst of perilous times has to do with your association. Who you have around you is key to standing firm in challenging times. I know you may be a sanguine who is a happy-go-lucky person, the life of the party and easily making friends. But while you make those friends, be sure you have the real people who are of great faith and can support you through godly counsel, prayer, and even materially when need be. Remember the one who walks with the wise will be wise and bad company will corrupt good character.
Pray this prayer if you haven’t received Jesus as Lord because a relationship with Him is key to experiencing the peace He left with us.
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your sacrifice on the cross to save me from my sins. I admit I am a sinner and ask that you forgive me of my sins. I believe you died for me and were raised to live. I confess that you are my Lord and personal Savior and ask that you live in my heart by your Spirit so I can live a victorious Christian life. Thank you for saving me. Amen.
The Word In Clarity 