One of the most important factors in a person’s life is
peace. The lack of it or the
presence of it determines everything. The longer I live the more I’m convinced
of the importance of learning to practice God’s peace. I consider God’s peace
absolutely essential to living an overcoming lifestyle.
I once thought very differently. Peace wouldn’t have figured so prominently in my assessment
of a victorious believer. Truth be
told, it probably wouldn’t have even made the top ten. I would have mentioned things like
spiritual power, authenticity, conviction, and passion. While I still highly value all of these
qualities, one stands out above the others—peace.
I know what it is to operate in a measure of spiritual
power, to live with authenticity, to speak with conviction, and to be
passionate, and yet be lacking in this one vital area. What caused the shift in me? One primary reason: Peace is foundational to our capacity
for experiencing God’s Presence daily.
So often I have been moved in a conference, touched by a sermon, and
encouraged at church only to walk out of the doors back into my world of chaos,
perplexity, and confusion. Poof!
No matter how great the spiritual high, it almost evaporated in the pressure of
real life.
This is tragic.
God’s work via the Spirit and the Word in our hearts must never be
squandered. It needs to be
cultivated, nurtured, and cherished.
Yet, the onslaught of the world around us is so intense. How can we cooperate with God,
instead of counteracting what He is doing in our lives?
I believe the answer is found in one simple verse in
Philippians 4:7. This verse has
become a source of life to my soul over the past 7 years. “And the peace of God which passes all
understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.
So simple, yet so complex. A peace so powerful that it protects our emotions and guards
our thoughts. This week I want to
look at the importance of peace in the life of a believer.
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