Written by guest writer, Cathi Mole
This thing about “peace” is sometimes so misunderstood. What is peace? According to some, it happens when everything just falls into place, our prayers are answered and we have reached a state of bliss in our lives. The God-kind-of-peace is actually very different.
Peace doesn’t arrive just because of a ‘happening’ in our lives. It’s a spiritual force that we, as children of God, can walk in or have access to at any time. Peace is part of the Kingdom of God. It is not just a flippant feeling or an emotion. It is an empowerment that we find when we make a decision to trust God instead of giving in to the challenge or the fiery darts of the enemy. It’s not an elusive feeling that we spend our lives chasing after. You know, the way people do in the movies until they meet the right person or move to a tropical paradise and live happily ever after.
Real Peace
I think that we often only realise how much peace we have when we feel as if we’ve lost our peace, if that makes sense? The anxieties of the day creep in and many times it is easy to begin to feel as if our lives are spiralling out of control. This is normally the point where we scramble for our bibles to find the correct scriptures to read or quote so that we’ll feel better. However, I want to remind you that peace is always there, the peace of God which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
One of the names of Jesus is ‘Prince of Peace’ and we’re seated with Him, we’re in Him and He never forsakes us. In my kitchen at home I have three chalkboard spots on a wall near the back door. I have written words on each one – love, joy and peace. The word “peace” is on the lowest one so I find that because it’s easier for us to brush against it, I have to keep going over it with chalk to make sure that it still says “peace” and not “..eace” or “pea…”. You get where I’m going with this? Don’t let the crisis, the valley or the storm rob you of the power you have in the peace you’ve been given in Jesus. Put that peace to work, keep your peace, speak the peace of God over your situation and over your mind.
Shoot for Shalom Peace
That peace of God is powerful and is really “shalom” which is a power-packed word. It really means welfare, restoration, health, wealth, nothing missing, nothing broken. Now, that’s the peace you have in the kingdom of God! Better than a tropical paradise but I’ll take that too…..
Here are three scriptures you can meditate on. Let the truth of the Word of God sink into the fibre of your being so that you can walk in peace which is a gift to us from God.
- “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
- “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17
- “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:16
