Unless our judgment has been shaped by a relationship with God, we cannot trust our own judgment. Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.” Jesus brings peace that is the result of being made right with God. This peace breaks the barriers between the human soul and our Creator. Conflict in relationships is one result of not experiencing the peace of Christ. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Creating strife and upheaval everywhere one goes is not the peace of Christ. As believers and followers, peace brings comfort, joy, happiness and love; even when chaos swirls all around us. Even in the midst of the worse moments of life, the peace of Christ can be the force that carries us through. Christ’s peace was so important to Him that even as He was preparing for his death He shared with His disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Philippians 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We must slow down. We must open our Bible and read, seek, inhale, consume and devour the Word of God. We need to seek Him earnestly, seek His peace earnestly. Peace does not come from being stagnant in our walk. We cannot become so comfortable in our life situation that we stay when we are to move, or we stay quiet when we are to speak. His peace will find us in the midst of the biggest storm so we can rest in it as we move through the obstacles; always knowing He is right there, always right there.
I confess that a year ago I was so hungry for God. I was in His Word throughout the day and would stay up late at night to read His words and build strength. As the world around me was falling apart and it felt like the earth was caving in, I stood strong on my Rock. The whirlwind passed, I was back in the bright sunlight. Oh the joy of it being over. The battle was over….I’d survived! YES! Now it was time to rest in His peace; time to refresh and build up the strength for the next battle. “Wait a minute. Wasn’t the battle over? Wasn’t I free? Why do I need to build up my strength again? I won. It’s over!” Because of those thoughts I became stagnant with my relationship with Christ. I got comfortable and started taking God for granted. I didn’t move when He said move. I didn’t speak when He said speak. I didn’t read His Word every day. “But I deserve this break and I don’t want it to stop. I’m not ready for another fight!!!!!” (as I stomp my feet and put on my pouty face). Doesn’t that work with God?
I knew it was time to get back into the fight. I knew that I was well rested, but the problem was I hadn’t spent time in my Bible. I didn’t seek what to do next. I just sat. Funny how we can take the peace of Jesus and turn it into false peace and convince ourselves it is from Him. He doesn’t want credit for what He does not allow or create or do. So now I am embarking on a battle I did not properly prepare for and am feverishly backtracking in order to be prepared. The battle has started, and because I was hiding in my peace I had created, I didn’t even realize it had already begun. I gave the enemy a head start. The wonderful thing is that God already knew what I would do and He has the opening for me to achieve the ending He planned from the beginning, even with my detour.
1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
Written by Gidget L. Rupert on July 12, 2011
