About five months ago, I released a devotional titled “Peace Beyond Understanding.” I created it in response to the countless blogs I’ve posted about centering your life around Christ over the past month. I don’t write blog posts as if my life is perfect; it’s quite the opposite since I’m dead broke while encouraging you all to trust in Jesus.
I’m able to continue to write these blogs daily because of the peace I’ve experienced in my life despite having no money and no income. If God can give me peace without any money in my pocket, He can do the same for you.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
– John 14:27 [NLT]
The Peace of God is very different from the peace of the world. The World’s detention of peace is when my circumstances are in my favor, whereas God’s peace is based on being unified with Him. When you have God’s peace, you are less worried about making money, having a romantic relationship, or wearing nice clothes. Peace Of God is when you’re main focused is to be more like Jesus.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
– Philippians 4:6-8 [NLT]
Four things that will steal your peace
1. Anger – Being angry at someone can be a sin. God doesn’t want us to hold grudges against anyone since He bared his life on the cross for sins we should be punished for. Studies have shown that Anger is a significant cause of high blood pressure and other health problems, so anger is not only unhealthy spiritually but also physically
2. Jealousy – When we get insecure about ourselves because of other people’s things or accomplishments.
3. Doubt – When you don’t fully trust God nor the idea of God. You’re in constant debate with God’s word.
4. Selfishness – When you live based on your wants and needs while everything and everyone else is secondary.
There are more, but those are the four big ones that keep people from having peace with God. A restless person always needs to have x, y, and z to be satisfied. The world can’t satisfy you because everything in it passes away, but God remains the same.
Here are ways you can have peace with God:
1. Accept Him as Lord and Savior. If you’re not saved, then no wonder you aren’t living at peace because Christ is not in your heart. When you believe He died and rose again to take on the punishment you deserved and put your trust in Him over your life. You will experience peace like never before.
2. Believe that God can bring you out of your troubles by letting go of how you feel and ignore all the doubts people put in your head.
3. Be God-Centered. Being God-centered is all about making God’s will your will. You may have your wants, but even if you don’t get everything you want, you’re still at peace because your main desire is to be more Christ-like.
God’s peace is all about being in sync with Him. His wants become your wants, and what God hates is what you hate. Peace doesn’t mean that you’ll live a perfect life, but it does mean you will live a meaningful life because your heart is centered around God’s Kingdom and not on the cares of this world.
“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”– Matthew 6:20-21 [NLT]
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