HOW CAN I HAVE GOD'S PEACE? (IS. 26:3)
THE KY IN TRUE, LASTING PEACE IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD. ISAIAH SAYS TO GOD, "YOU WILL KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE,WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS YOU." (26:3).
CHRIST IS OUR PEACE- HIS PRESENCE IS THE PRESENCE OF PEACE WITHIN US (EPH.2:14). AND JESUS DECLARES, "IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE'' (JOHN 16:33).
WHAT IS THIS PEACE? IT IN AN INNER SENSE OF CONTENTMENT AND QUIETNESS, REGARDLESS OF LIFES CIRCUMSTANCES.IT IS A STEADFAST CONFIDENCE IN OUR EVER-FAITHFUL IMMUTABLE HEAVENLY FATHER.IT IS THE PRESENCE OF JOY IN THE MIDST OF UNHAPPINESS.
TRUE PEACE DOES NOT MERELY PAINT OUR PAIN IN A PRETTY COLOR.A PERSON WHO IS GENUINE ,GODLY PEACE CAN ENDURE AN AVALANCHE OF HARDSHIP AND DIFFICULTY AND STILL ENJOY AN INNER PEACE THEAT SURPASSES ALL HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. WHY? BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COME FROM PLEASENT CIRCUMSTANCES, NICE EVENTS, OR GOOD THINGS OTHERS DO OR MAY DO TO US. INSTEAD, IT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE SPIRIT OF A HOLY, OMNIPITENT, AND NEVER-CHANGING GOD LIVES WITHIN US.
DOES ENJOYING GOD'S PERFECT PEACE MEAN THAT YOU'LL NEVER FEEL THE EFFECT OT THE STORMS RAGING AROUN YOU? HARDELY. BUT HIS PEACE IS COMPLETE,ADEQUETE,AND SUFFICENT FOR ANYTHING YOU FACE. KEEP IN MIND THREE KEYS TO EXPERIENCING SUSTAINED PEACE.
1:FOCUS ON GOD. PERFECT PEACE COMES WHEN YOU FIX YOUR MIND ON GOD. YOU MUST DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO MEDITATE ON GOD'S PATEINCE AND WORK. WHEN YOU SPERND MOST OF YOUR TIME CONCENTRATING ON A PROBLEM, DOES IT NOT SEEM TO GROW BIGGER? IN THE SAME WAY,YOU WILL HAVE GREATER SENSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND PROVISION AS YOU FIX YOUR MIND ON HIM.
2:TRUST HIM. YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORY ABOUT GOD ACRING TOO LATE OR PROVIDING INSUFFIECENT HELP. HIS TIMING AND PURPOSE ARE PERFECT; IN FACT, HE USES YOUR TRIBULATIONS TO REVEAL MORE OF HIMSELF TO YOU. HIS WORD IS FULL OF ROCKSOLID PROMISES, MANY OF WHICH INVOLVE GRANTING YOUR PEACE. KNOW THAT HE WILL ALWAYS HONOR THEM!
3:MEDITATE ON HIS WORD. PSALM 119:165 EMHASIZES THAT THOSE WHO LOVE GOD'S WORD HAVE GREAT PEACE AND NOTHING CAUSES THEM TO STUMBLE. YOUR MOST PRECIOUS MATERIAL POSSESION IS YOU BIBLE. EVERY BELIEVER SHOLUD LOVE GOD'S WORD AND FEAST ON IT DAILY. IF YOU LOVE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT IT SAYS- AND THEN IT WILL GUIDE AND ANCHOR YOUR LIFE.