I have read a lot of posts and heard a lot of people talking about peace lately. Put aside fear and be at peace. We pray for peace in our lives. We know that peace comes from God. But are we willing to follow what God tells us to do to have that peace?
I will confess that through all this mess there have been days that have been a little stressful for me. I am normally a pretty laid back guy… sometimes admittedly a little too laid back. There is not much that surprises me and very little that makes me anxious. Maybe it’s just my personality. Maybe it’s the things I see and hear at work on a daily basis. Or… maybe it is something completely outside of my doing.
Most of these last several months I have not been concerned or stressed. There have been a few particularly rough days at work and when I get home from the hospital I quickly change clothes and go sit by myself for a few minutes before interacting much with my family. But for the most part, there has been this kind of supernatural peace in my life.
We all want a little peace. But are we willing to do what it takes to have that peace. In Philippians 4, Paul gives us two things that we need to do to have peace. Not just a little bit of peace, but a supernatural peace that goes beyond all understanding. Not anything that we can create ourselves, but a peace that can only come from God.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7
The first thing is to pray. “Present your requests to God.” Anytime you are feeling a little anxious, no mater the situation, no matter how big or small it seems, give thanks to God and let Him know how you feel. Know that God is in control and no matter how much we want to take over, we can’t.
The second thing is really the hardest thing. We have to guard our input and not allow those around us to create that fear inside of us. Paul goes on to say…
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
We want to have peace, but we don’t want to do this second step. We continue to watch the news every day. We continue to troll through our social media, reading post after post of all the things that are wrong with our nation and the people around us. We escape into our favorite TV show or movie to drown out the noise of the day. We fail to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We allow the world around us to speak into our lives through the media, movies, music, and through social media. We are constantly bombarded with noise to fill our minds with something.
Does that morning news program you watched this morning or the evening news you watched before going to bed meet any of the criteria in Philippians 4: 8-9? What about that book, movie or TV show you watched last night? Was it pure and lovely? We want peace and we pray to God every day to give us peace, but it just doesn’t ever seem to come. We want peace, but we continue to fill our hearts and our minds with things that are the complete opposite of Paul’s list in Philippians 4.
Paul says that if we ask God and we change our input and fill our minds with the things of Christ, the God of peace will be with you. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the God of peace will be with you. We will not just have a little bit of peace to get us through the day or the week, but we will have a supernatural peace that transcends all understanding. A peace far beyond anything we could possibly imagine.
I don’t know about you, but that sounds more like the peace that I want in my life. Not just a little bit of peace to get me through today. That is the kind of peace that I want in my life and that I want others to see in me. A peace that goes beyond anything I have every imagined. And when they ask where that peace comes from, it can only come from God.
I challenge you for the next SixandahalfDays to turn off the news and avoid the news websites and online media. Turn off the TV and the video games, stay off social media, and see if God will live up to His promise. Fill that time with seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Spend time in prayer every day. Not just a standard, memorized prayer, but spend time talking to God about your victories and your struggles. Spend time every day reading the Bible and letting God speak to you. Start with the Gospels and let the teachings of Jesus fill your minds. Read a chapter of Proverbs every day. Seek first the kingdom of God and let the God of peace come and fill your heart and your mind with a peace that is beyond anything you ever imagined.
Comment below and let me know how God is working in you.
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