In the languid lushness of a cool late autumn day I find peace in the
serenity of the sun pierced woodlands, adrift with cascading shafts of light.
The peaceful silence harmonizing with the ceaseless whisper of the wind
caressing leaves as trees sway gently to a rhythm all their own: The sheer beauty
of nature resting in preparation for the winter struggle ahead. This is man’s
peace. Real peace, spiritual peace, is a calmness of soul that defies
understanding, a reckoning that knowing God is better than knowing why, a
willingness to trust God no matter what. Real peace is most precious… most needed,
when our heart is screaming in fear, worry, anxiety, as our life flows out of
control in an avalanche of emotion. Life is messy and the whys of life will
always haunt us… if we let them. But the peace that defies mental contemplation
and calms our heart is ours for the asking anytime, anywhere, during any
circumstances: It is a free gift of God’s amazing Grace.
The Apostle Paul said those who live godly “will suffer.” The Apostle
Peter spoke of “fiery trials” that test one’s faith. God Himself promised to chasten,
rebuke, and scourge every son and daughter (that would be us, saints). James,
the brother of Jesus, admonished saints to “count it all joy when you fall into
various trials”, the wording in the Greek clearly referring to adversity,
affliction (sickness) and sorrow. And then there is tribulation, persecution,
suffering which produces obedience, and the life “pressures” that produce transformation
into Christlikeness, the stuff Paul was referring to when he said we saints are
“appointed to adversity and affliction.” Small wonder Jesus called “The Way”,
salvation, “difficult.” Saints, God’s peace in our life will be under constant
attack from the powers of darkness who like nothing better than to assault our
peace and cripple our spiritual life. But just as Jesus triumphed over death and
the grave, God’s peace triumphs over all the power of the enemy of our soul.
Having the supernatural peace of God is the foundation upon which we
live the Spirit led life, walking in/with the Holy Spirit. Fear, worry, being
anxious – in a word doubting God – is Self’s emotional response to the bad of
life and is antithetical to God’s peace, directly opposed and mutually
incompatible. Saints, we cannot worry and pray effectively at the same time,
nor can we worry and worship God at the same time, or worry and walk in the
Spirit at the same time. When we turn in trust to God, willfully refusing to
worry – denying Self control of our mind – “setting our mind on things above”
-- the Holy Spirit raises a standard against all that would distract us from
God’s abiding presence and rob us of His peace. You see, God’s love is, in
reality, the indwelling presence of His Son… His life radiating in and through
us as The Prince Of Peace! It is God’s will for His saints to be at peace and
to walk in His peace, regardless of life’s circumstances. The peace of God is
accessed through obedience to God’s word by which we also demonstrate our love
for Him:
* “If you love Me, keep
My commandments. (Jn. 14:15)
* “Fear not, for I am with you … I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” (Is. 43:10; Heb. 13:5)
* “Lean on,
trust in, and be confident in
the Lord with all your heart and
mind and do not rely on your own insight or
understanding.” (Pr.
3:5, AMPC)
* "In all your ways know, recognize,
and acknowledge Him, and He
will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (Pr. 3:6, AMPC)
* Cast down and refute arguments and reasonings, and every thought that
exalts itself against the true knowledge of God, “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
* “Set your mind on things above, not
on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)
* “Whatever things are
true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things
are of good report … meditate on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)
* “Rejoice in the Lord always, [delight, gladden
yourselves in Him; again I say, Rejoice”! (Phil. 4:4, AMPC)
* “Do not fret or
have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and
petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants
known to God.” (Phil.
4:6, AMPC)
* “And God’s peace shall be yours, that tranquil state
of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from
God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace
which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil. 4:8, AMPC)
“FEAR NOT,
FOR I AM WITH YOU …
I WILL NEVER
LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU”
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