So, as much as this blog has 4 components, I am really seeking God’s heart that this blog would be His blog! That said, His focus right now seems to be the “Jesus” part. He is giving me revelation after revelation, title after title, content after content. He has me digging in His Word to glean nuggets of what He wants to teach ME as I begin this new adventure.
Today’s topic is PEACE! Have you ever wondered exactly what the Bible says about peace? Have you ever pondered the fact that the Bible says it’s a gift…and yet, our lives so often tend to be painfully devoid of this life-giving gift? Have you ever considered what part you play in receiving this fruit of the Spirit? These questions have been swirling around in my head the last few days as I’ve been digging in His Word, hunting for a little peace of my own.
First of all, we know that peace is a gift and a blessing. The Lord gives His people strength and blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11). We know that it surpasses all understanding and that it will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 4:7). We know that God wants to bless us, to keep us, to shine His face on us, to be gracious to us, to turn toward us, and to give us peace (Numbers 6:24-26). As a side note, this verse in Numbers was our benediction in our high school youth group, and it was YEARS before I realized that they were speaking scripture over us every single week! I just thought it was a “nice prayer.”
My sweet friend Stacey used to sing a song called “Peace, be Still.” It is a comforting song. The lyrics of the first verse are…
He says, “Peace! Peace be still! Lifts His hands…peace be still! Like the wind, my heart obeys Him…when He says…Peace, be Still.”
I’ve always loved and been comforted by this song, yet again, I never realized I was singing scripture! This song is based on the story in Mark 4. Verse 39 (English Standard Version) says, “He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, ‘Peace, be still.’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” The New International Version of the Bible says, “QUIET! Be still!” The New Living Translation says, “Silence! Be still!” The jist, here, is that Jesus is telling the wind and the waves to lie down and be quiet!
The 2nd verse of Stacey’s song is the same as the first, except it says, “Like a child, my heart obeys Him…when He says…Peace, be still!”
Wow! He is speaking to our hearts! Peace isn’t simply a gift. It’s also a command for our hearts…a choice; an action! “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). My dear friend Carrie has always inspired me and driven me on to be more like Jesus! Several years ago, she began speaking to me about “calming the storm within.” It sounded nice, yet inconceivable. I didn’t know what she meant or HOW to do this, but it stuck with me. Only now am I learning that this is intentional! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we CAN calm the storm within…IF we choose to do so! And in choosing to “calm the storm,” we can experience the peace that passes understanding and guards our hearts!
This leads us to question number 3. What is OUR part in receiving this gift? Well…we have to open our hands and hearts and receive it! God can’t give us a gift when our fists are clenched and our hearts are hardened!
As it turns out, the Bible also speaks clearly to our part in receiving the peace of God. We are to search for peace, and work to maintain it (Psalm 34:14). As far as it depends on us, we are to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) (Yeah, no small order, there!) We will be happy (blessed) when we strive for peace, for we shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9).
My challenge to us, today, is to meditate on these verses. May God open our hearts to receive this life-changing peace that He has promised to His children. May we allow Him to calm the storms around us and within us, that we might hear His still, small voice, whispering to our hearts, no matter what is going on around us! May we walk by faith, and not by sight!
I will leave you with a benediction of scripture, as my youth leaders used to do so faithfully…John 14:27…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be trouble, and do not be afraid!