Living a life of Peace
Definition of Peace:
Noun
1. condition in which there is no war, violence, quarrel or disorder
2. quietness
3. calm
When we look at the news of today:
1. Murders
2. Lack of job security
3. Corruption
4. Moral fabric of society tearing at the seams
5. Political unrest at various levels
- it is almost impossible for us to have peace of mind.
In addition, society makes it difficult for us to have peace in life as we live in a hectic and complex world. Everything and everyone is moving so fast.
Jesus promised that each one of us can experience true peace.
John 14: 27 (NLT) – I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift that the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Based on the above scripture, it is clear that we cannot find peace outside of the parameters of God. St. Augustine once said, “Our souls are restless until they find rest in God”
So how can we have peace today?
1. Let God Control Your Life
When we give Jesus our burdens and allow him to guide us, we find rest.
Matthew 11: 28-30 (NLT) – Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give is light”
In the above verses, Jesus teaches us 3 things that we need to do in order to have true peace or rest:
1. Come to Jesus
You have to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. If you have already done this, you have completed this important step.
If you have not, note that only Jesus can give perfect and unending peace. Many people are finding peace in other areas of life, but these things only provide temporary peace. Money, fame and possessions will all fade away, but the love and peace of God will remain forever. The peace that come s through a relationship with Jesus will outlast any thing our minds could ever imagine.
2. Take on His Yoke
What is a yoke? It is a heavy wooden harness that is placed over the neck of an ox in order to pull a heavy wagon which the farmer directs.
How does apply to us today? Our heavy yoke could be guilt, the burdens that we carry in terms of trying to please God through good works, trying to find peace outside of Jesus.
Good news – Jesus wants to make our load light by replacing our heavy yoke with his, which is God’s Grace.
3. Let Jesus lead
We need to give Jesus the reigns of our lives so he can teach and guide us. We need to leave our abilities, our futures and our problems in his hands. We must ask Jesus to replace our worries and concerns with his peace. Then we can experience the promise of peace.
John 17: 33 (NLT) – Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.”
2. Follow the Holy Spirit
We must stop allowing our old sinful nature to control us.
Romans 8: 5-7 (NLT) – Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind there is life and peace.
Even Christians battle with a sinful nature, but if we let the Holy Spirit control our lives, that struggle can be less. If we give in to all the desires of the flesh (things that are not pleasing to God) we won’t experience peace.
How can we allow the Holy Spirit take control?
Colossians 3: 2-3 (NLT) – Think of the things of heaven, not the things of the earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God
• When we set our thoughts on higher things, we see life through the eyes of faith.
• When we have a financial need, we must look higher and see God’s promise to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.
• When we are sick, we must look higher, and see that Jesus paid for our sickness and disease
• When we feel all alone, we must look higher, and see that Jesus promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us.
• As we study the Word of god, we begin to set our minds on things above.
• As we set our minds on things above, we will become stronger in our faith and will begin to walk the Spirit.
• We must trust what He says in His Word. When we trust Him we will have peace. Proverbs 3: 5 (NLT) – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding.
3. Take Peace serious
In her series called, Calm, Cool & Collected, Joyce Meyer makes the point that we need to take peace a little more seriously. If we are always losing our tempers, always worrying and getting stressed out we most probably don’t appreciate peace.
Matthew 5: 9 (NLT) – Jesus said, “God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God”
If we allow strife and contention in our lives, we can block the blessings of God. Living at peace does not mean that we have to agree with everyone all the time. It means that we must seek to find the common ground.
It means:
• We don’t have to be right all the time
• We must honour and esteem others
• We must make an effort to live a life of peace
• We must work at it everyday; we have to make a decision to be a peacemaker.
• When we feel tension and strife coming into a situation, stop for a moment, take a deep breath and consider the path you are going to take. 2 Corinthians 10: 5 says to “hold every thought captive”. Take a walk, take a break and come back later
Ephesians 6: 15 (NLT) – for shoes, put on the peace of that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
People seem to always be upset, offended and bent out of shape about something. What is the problem with us? We are not putting on the shoes of peace.
We need to make a decision every morning that no matter what offense comes against us, we are not going to get upset and offended. We need to make up our minds to stay in perfect peace.
We need to have the following attitudes:
• If somebody ignores me, its ok – they probably had a bad day. I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt
• If somebody is rude to me, I won’t give up my peace. No big deal; I can rise above it
• Somebody is talking behind my back; that’s all right. God is my vindicator. I wont sink to their level and start arguing
When we decide to walk in peace we will be prepared for whatever comes our way.
Peace is not just a feeling; it is a state of being. Peace (in the biblical sense) means “to set at one again”.
When we are at one with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we can have true peace on the inside. We are settled internally, and nothing externally can move us from our position of peace.
Strife is a powerfully destructive force that the enemy uses to bring confusion and turmoil in our lives in order to rob us of peace.
Marriages and families are torn apart, businesses are destroyed, and relationships are divided by strife and the lack of peace.
Understand, that the enemy will make sure that you get plenty opportunities every day to get upset with our situations or the people around us. Things often happen on a daily basis that will aggravate us and makes us want to be rude or angry towards those around us.
We don’t have to fall for the trap. We don’t have to live aggravated and frustrated. As children of the Most High, we are above that.
With Jesus, we can have peace in the midst of the storm, we must just let go of self ambition and make room for His peace that passes understanding. We must not give the enemy a foothold. God will honour us if we are makers and maintainers of peace.
Psalm 85:8 (NLT) – I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.
Psalm 119: 165 (NLT) - Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
Psalm 34: 14b - 15a (NLT) – Search for peace and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right.
4. Practical things we can do to have more peace in our lives
In her series called, Calm, Cool & Collected, Joyce Meyer gives the following practical advice:
• Take inventory
o We may have to much on our plates
o Our days are overcrowded with some much activity
o Remember Jesus called us to be fruitful, not busy
o We should cut away the branches that are not bearing fruit
• Don’t be a people pleaser
o We sometimes lack peace because we keep trying to please everyone all the time
o We need to learn that we cannot always please everyone.
o We must never be rude, but we sometimes need to say no.
• Mind your own business
o The less we know about everyone’s business, the better off we are.
o Being nosy and spending energy worrying about what everyone else is doing will produce anything but peace.
o 1 Thessalonians 4: 11 (NLT) – Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business
Salvation prayer
As mentioned from the start, we can only have peace in life if come to Jesus. Before we can even begin to live a life of peace, we need to have a living and loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe you are one of those people who think that God is not paying attention. Maybe you are one of those people who think God cannot help. You are wrong. God’s love and provision is available right here and right now. The word says that we have a choice between life and death. Gods wants us to have life, and life in its fullness.
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, I would encourage you to make that decision today.
Prayer after me:
Dear god, I am sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord and my Saviour and friend. Help me to follow you all the days of my life as your disciple. Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. In Jesus name. Amen
May God Bless you.
Hylton Davidson
30 June 2012
Acknowledgements, thanks and resources:
1. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for His inspiration and guidance.
2. Hope for Today Study Bible – NLT – Commentary by Joel Osteen.
4. Silver Ring Thing Study Bible- NLT – Commentary by various.
5. Joy magazine article by Joyce Meyer – Calm, Cool & Collected
