PEACE

Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit from the first cluster. Along with love and joy, these fruits especially speak to our relationship toward God.

What it means

In Hebrew, it is Shalom. In Arabic, it is Salam. In Greek, it is Eirene. In English, we translate it Peace. It is the condition in which there is no fighting. There is agreement, harmony, rest, and quiet.

It is necessary to have peace with God before I can have the peace of God ruling in my heart. Peace with God comes by reconciliation through salvation in Jesus Christ. And then peace with God comes by confession of sin and restoration of a correct relationship with God every time I screw up.

The peace of God ruling in my heart comes from the Holy Spirit filling my life and replacing fear with peace.

Over the years I tried to figure out what the opposite of fear is. At first, I thought it was love. Because 1 John 4:18 says “there is no fear in love.” Then later I thought it was courage. Because Joshua 1:9 says to be courageous and not afraid. I have heard it said that courage is doing the right thing even when I am afraid.

But recently I read again in Judges 6:23 where “the LORD said to him (Gideon), 'Peace! Do not be afraid.'” Based on Judges 6:23, it seems that the opposite of fear is peace. Peace in my heart is what makes possible the courage to do the right thing even when I could be afraid!

I think courage is what people see in my actions. Peace is what God sees in my heart.

Why its important

Without peace, there is no courage.

Plus, peace was the original state of living when man was first created. We had peace with each other. We had peace with the earth and the sea. We had peace with the birds and the animals of the earth and the sea.

But most importantly, we had peace with God. God wants me to return to that state of peace with Him. Sin disrupts my peace with God. My human nature alienates me from friendship with God. It makes me His enemy. Making peace with God restores me to my right relationship as a friend, not an enemy.

How to do it

1. Pray with thanksgiving

When I feel overwhelmed I sit down and write out a list of everything that is racing through my mind. Sometimes the list has as many as 50 or 60 things on it. Often it has a couple dozen things on it.

Just seeing the list gives me a feeling of peace. No matter how big the list is, as least I can see it. And once I can see it, its seems manageable. I can wrap my brain around it. Sometimes when I see the list I think, “Is that all there is? Why was I so worried about those things?”

And, of course, once I can see the list, I can pray. I pray for the things on the list one at a time. I can ask God to help me. I can ask Him what He wants me to do about each of these things.

I can also tell God I am thankful for each and every thing on my list that is overwhelming me. I can thank Him that these things are overwhelming me. And because I am overwhelmed I am coming to Him.

That is how I apply Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.

And the result is Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Praying with thanksgiving results in the peace of God ruling in my heart.

Practical discipleship tips on praying with thanksgiving

2. Trust in the LORD

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.'

The more I think about God, the easier it is to trust God. And when I trust God, I am kept in perfect peace.

One way I think about God is to review a list of God's attributes that I carry on a 3 x 5 note card. I have 47 attributes of God on my card. I am reminded that God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, eternal, etc.

When I remember the magnitude of who God is, its easier to trust Him. My problems seem much smaller in light of the greatness of God. His ability to successfully handle my problems seems greater when I focus on Him instead of the problems.

Another way that I think about God is to regularly praise Him as part of my prayer life.

Practical discipleship tips on praising God

3. Read and meditate on Psalm 23

I've heard that dying people most commonly request the reading of Psalm 23 as they are exiting this life. Psalm 23 gives them a feeling of peace. It reminds us that Yahweh is watching over us and has our best interest at heart.

In fact reading and meditating on any of the Psalms reminds me that I live in the presence of God. Which gives me peace in my heart. Which leads to courage in my actions.

Practical discipleship tips for courage from reading the Psalms

4. Be a peacemaker.

In the New Testament, there is a person known as a peacemaker. Peacemakers are blessed and they are called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

A peace maker has to be someone who has a good understanding of what peace is if they are going to “make peace.” James says that peacemakers “sow in peace.” (James 3:18) What ever it is they are sowing (in this case they are sowing “the wisdom that comes from heaven” -- James 3:17), they are sowing it in peace.

Peacemakers are sowing the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ. They are sowing the wisdom of how to live a godly live. They are sowing the wisdom how to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Peacemakers focus an helping people make peace with God.

Peacemakers must have an intimate knowledge of the wisdom that comes from heaven if they are going to sow it. I find that reading from the Proverbs every day helps me understand the wisdom from heaven.

Proverbs 1:1,2 says “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; . . .” I want to attain wisdom. I read the Proverbs of Solomon. Thirty-one Proverbs. I read one a day. I can read through the Proverbs each month.

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