HOW to Have Peace

Peace is an ardent desire for many (most?) of us. Biblically, peace is a tranquil attitude, an overwhelming sense of well-being. It is peace beyond comprehension. No matter the circumstances. But how?

Have peace with God

This supernatural peace is only possible IF you have peace with God, only IF you have been reconciled with God.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

If a person has not received Christ, they are God’s enemies. (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:3)

“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.  (Isaiah 48:22)

Peace from God

After we have received Christ as Lord and Savior, He is in us, and He gives us HIS peace.

Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Apply it

You have peace with God and peace from God. You have received peace. Now we need to learn how to apply God’s peace (lay hold of it; have God’s peace rule in our lives).

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

This is a call to spiritual growth. Strive to increasingly know God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Study and meditate on God’s Word. Strive to stay connected (John 15:1-7).

Focus your eyes on Jesus, not the problem. Let Him rule.

Trust

God is almighty: Sovereign over everything and everybody all the time. (And, at the same time, we are responsible.) Trust Him.

He promised peace and never lies. Trust Him.

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)

These things I [Jesus] have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Thanksgiving

Develop the attitude of gratitude. God is in control, loves you, and is working His holy plan.

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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Don’t miss that crucial middle step: Anxiety then prayer, then thanksgiving for however your loving sovereign God answers, and then peace.

Live Righteously

Believe what He says. Do what He says.

The great enemy of peace is sin.

And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

~~

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, thank You for saving us, giving us Your peace, and making peace active in our lives. Help us know You better and better, and live in newness of the life You have given us. Remind us of all this when we are not living in Your peace.

Christ in you,* the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) (See The Trinity in You)

AND!

You* are in Christ! (Ephesians 1:3-4)

This is our new identity: We* are in Christ! We are new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are united with Him. Like branches on His vine.

Because we* are in Christ:

We have received every spiritual blessing. All spiritual blessings are found in Him. (Ephesians 1:3)

In Him, our sins have been paid; there is now no condemnation. (Romans 8:1)

We have been justified and redeemed. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7)

We have been given the grace of God. (1 Corinthians 1:4)

We will never be separated from the love of God. (Romans 8:39)

We have been reconciled with the Father. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

We have been made alive. (Ephesians 2:5)

We have been adopted by the Father, placing us in the household of God. (Ephesians 1:5)

We have God’s peace. (Philippians 4:7)

We have eternal life (Romans 6:23)

We are co-heirs with Christ. (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:17)

Everything that is in Him is ours as well.

~~

So who are you?  You are a man or woman in Christ.

We “just” need to learn how to yield to Him, how to appropriate all His blessings and riches, and how to walk in newness of life.

~~

“You” and “we” are those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you haven’t, please read Becoming a Child of God.

*This post is for those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have not, the following does not apply to you. But, please, read Becoming a Child of God.

The Trinity is in you, believer in Christ!

God is in you. Christ is in you. The Holy Spirit–the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ–is in you.

Almighty, sovereign, infinite, awesome God is in you, in me. This is so amazing, so beyond comprehension, it doesn’t seem true, but is true.

No wonder we are called a new creation. No wonder that Christ promises He will never leave us.

What would happen for us, living our lives, if we knew, really knew, that God is in us? Our lives would change for sure.

Let’s try to fathom this, as best we can, meditate on the truth of it, appropriate His presence in our lives. And press on with joy.

~~

Father, please help us see the reality that the Trinity is in us.* Help us be conscious of Your presence. Help us rely on Your presence, apply Your presence to our thoughts, words, and deeds. Thank You for loving us.

~~

God in you

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15)

Christ in you

Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ–in you

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God: Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ: I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:19)

The Holy Spirit dwells in you: Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

The admonition “keep going” is frequently on my mind. I’ve written about it before.

There are a lot of reasons to keep going. Jesus tells us to, for one. God’s promises fuel our hope of what awaits us when we keep going.

There are quips about keeping going even when there does not seem to be a good reason:

“Shoveling sand against the tide.”

“Watering dirt.”

I sometimes feel that way. Perhaps you do as well.

What to do

Make sure you are in the right race, the one Christ appointed for you.

Here is a recap from How to Keep Going

Ask yourself: Should I keep going?

Am I telling myself some lies?

Am I physically exhausted?

Speak truth to yourself.

Look further ahead.

Take time for God.

Having Done That

Resolve to keep going on your Christ-assigned path.

The decision to keep going is the crucial step.

Remember who He is. Remind yourself of who you are to Him. Repeat His promises.

Prepare for action. Mentally resolve to go on.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

The finish line

Know that you will receive God’s reward for keeping going. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Determine to be able to say with Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Press on!

God has made – and is making – Himself known to all men.

Creation declares God’s existence and His glory.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1–2)

God placed eternity in our hearts.

He has also set eternity in their heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

God made Himself evident

that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (Romans 1:19)

God’s wrath makes Him known

For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. (Exodus 9:14, and many more)

God’s blessings make Him known

But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the land. (Exodus 8:22 and many more)

BUT ALAS

Men … suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)

And are without excuse (Romans 1:20)

One day they will know

Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15–17)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20)

~~

Father, thank You for making Yourself known to all. Thank You that You have offer salvation to all and that You have saved some. Help us, those who believe in Your Son, testify about You as You give us opportunity.

And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:2–3)

Jesus prayed: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Jesus cleansed the Leper. The Father’s will sent Jesus to the cross.

~~

Christians – the redeemed, those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – are able to draw near to God with confidence. Our confident access to the Father is through Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)

~~

So we pray. And we try to pray in Christ’s name, that is, to pray according to His character, His will. But, of course, we are human and sometimes (often?) pray for what we think are our own best self-interests.

God answers our prayers according to what He knows what is best. And we can—must—trust His answer because of His everlasting, faithful love for us.

~~

We are told when we are anxious we are to pray, AND we are to pray with thanksgiving, knowing God’s response is best.

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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Trusting in God, regardless of circumstances, brings peace. (See Trust)

~~

Father, help us righteously pray, and help us know Your way is always best.

Trust between two people is required for a good relationship. Trust can be built. Trust can be broken. If broken, it may or may not be possible to rebuild trust.

God and us

God knows what is in our hearts.

There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. (Romans 3:10–12)

Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and … He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. (John 2:24–25)

Christians and God

But we, Christians, can – and must – trust God.

We have been redeemed. We are in Christ. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. We are children of Almighty God.

For Christians, trusting God is based on facts and choice. We know, through God’s word, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, that God is absolutely, totally trustworthy. We have a choice, day by day, moment by moment, to trust Him.

Trust in Difficult Times

So, Christian, in that difficult time you are in, choose to trust our Almighty, loving Sovereign God.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)

He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. (Proverbs 29:25)

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

Trust in God’s Character and Promises

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For Christians, who are called according to His purpose, everything (EVERYTHING) that comes into our lives is worked by our loving God for good. EVERYTHING.

We probably won’t understand why we are experiencing some hard thing, but our God, who loves us with an everlasting love, who cannot lie, promises to bring good.

Continually remind yourself of God’s character and promises.

Choose to trust in God, in His character, in His promise.

GIGO = Garbage In Garbage Out

The phrase originated in the early days of computers when poor data or programming led to erroneous results. More recently it has been applied to human decision making.

GIGO applies to Christians also

It is so easy to listen to loud, secular, false teachers, non-God-believing voices. Or hear false accusations. This is garbage in.

Unless we are careful, those declarations take root in our hearts and minds, leading to difficult emotions, ungodly works and deeds.  This is garbage out.

What to do

Be careful who and what you listen to.

Work to have God’s word permanently penetrate your heart and mind.

Follow Paul’s instruction: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Consciously and continually compare what you hear with what God says.

Always ALWAYS chose God’s truth.

God’s Promise

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

See Also

Don’t Listen to Lies

Strengthen Your Heart

~~

Father, help us know Your word. Help us know how much You love us. Help us discern Your voice from falsehood. Help us walk in Your way.

Benefits of Thanksgiving

I have written many times on this blog about thanksgiving, but I received a refresher course this morning when I woke up glum.

God commands we give Him thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

God commands we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. (The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving)

We are to thank Him, praise Him, magnify Him, glorify Him, worship Him. (Thanksgiving Prayer)

Obedience in this, as in everything, brings us blessing. (Remembering Cures and Fuels)

So, anyway, I woke up glum.

My routine is to read a Psalm very shortly after I wake. Today’s was Psalm 50.

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Psalm 50:14–15)

In obedience, I sat there thanking God. There are so very, very, very many reasons to thank Him, both spiritually and earthly. Almost immediately, I was joyful and praising God. He rescued me from glum.

I am determined—AGAIN—to give Him thanks in everything.

Join me?

It is easy to forget how much God loves those who are His. The noise and problems of the world can drown out His infinite heart of love for us. Jesus prayed that we would know that God loves us, “even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:23)

We, those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior, are God’s beloved. (Colossians 3:12 and many more)

Here are some elements of God’s love for us, His redeemed children.

Great love.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:4-5)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3:1)

Perfect love, Complete love, To the max love, love to the full.

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

Unbreakable love.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39)

Protective Love.

[We] are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)

Giving Love.

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Empowering love.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…  (Ephesians 3:20)

For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Colossians 1:29)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

~~~

Wow! And, of course, there is much much more including:

Faithful, steadfast love,

Interceding love,

Merciful love,

Sympathetic love,

Compassionate love, and

Forgiving love.

Our God is infinite in everything, including His love.

Thank You Father. Help us know and live by Your great love. Please remind us when we forget.