God’s Transcending Peace

To remain in His perfect peace requires a steadfast and disciplined mind held captive and obedient to the mind of Christ.

March’s Awakening, Day 7

The absence of strife does not necessarily indicate the presence of peace.

 —John Hagee

A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment.

 —Indian Proverb

[Peace is] the tranquility of order.

 —Augustine of Hippo 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV 

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 4:6–7 NIV 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 NIV   

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 NIV   

            Peace will only rule in your heart and mind when your spirit rules over your body and soul. Most importantly, your spirit must be governed and ruled by the Holy Spirit within you. It is this constant connection with Him that allows His perfect peace to be imparted to you to guard your heart and your mind and keep every thought captive and obedient to the mind of Christ. His peace becomes your unshakable inner peace. You must keep in constant connection with Him through prayer, petition, meditation, thanksgiving, and praise and His peace will most assuredly transcend all the opposing forces. It means continually keeping your mind in order and subject to Him. You cannot allow your mind to be swayed by the distractions of the world or by the distractions that come from within. It means focusing your thoughts on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and trusting Him every step of the way. Inner peace comes from a disciplined mind and a disciplined mind only comes from an unwavering determination to be totally subject to Him.

Let Peace Rule

Does the peace of Christ always rule in your heart, or are you ruled by the atmosphere around you?
March’s Awakening, Day 6

Christ alone can bring lasting peace—peace with God—peace among men and nations—and peace within our hearts.

 —Billy Graham 

First put yourself at peace, and then you may the better make others be at peace. A peaceful and patient man is of more profit to himself and to others, too, than a learned man who has no peace.

 —Thomas à Kempis

A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.

 —D. L. Moody 

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50 NIV   

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 NIV

            A peaceful environment begins with the peace of Christ ruling in your own heart. When peace rules in your own self, then your words and actions will stimulate and promote an atmosphere of peace around you. It is amazing what a peaceful demeanor can do to calm a tumultuous and tense situation. Your inner peace must rule and not be shaken by the circumstances around you. It takes time to cultivate and mature that inner peace so that your immediate reaction is always one of focus and stability, not one of anxiousness and overreaction. Your inner peace will do much to encourage the entrance of peace into those around you—and they will appreciate and thank you for it. Set it firmly in your mind to always let the peace of Christ rule.

Quiet the Storm

Christ is the eye of the hurricane. There may be turmoil and chaos surrounding you, but He is at your center to give you His calm and quite peace.

March’s Awakening, Day 5

If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.

 —Thomas Watson

Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul.    

 —Lloyd John Ogilvie

Peace does not mean the end of all our striving,

Joy does not mean the drying of our tears.

Peace is the power that comes to souls arriving

Up to the light where God Himself appears.

 —G. A. Studdert Kennedy  

Peace does not dwell in outward things, but within the soul; we may preserve it in the midst of the bitterest pain, if our will remains firm and submissive. Peace in this life springs from acquiescence to, not in an exemption from, suffering.

 —François Fénelon 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

            Trouble will certainly come. Seemingly insurmountable obstacles will present themselves. Pain and suffering are an inevitable part of our fallen life with sin and death. Yet still, take heart, for Jesus has overcome the world, sin, and death. Sometimes Christ removes our thorn in the flesh and sometimes it remains—but regardless, He is always there with us to see us through. That is the secret wonder of His peace. No matter what our circumstances, His peace pervades our soul and spirit such that we are still assured of His promises for us, our faith and trust in Him is unshaken, and we have a serene inner core essence that is undaunted by everything external. That is the peace of Christ. That is the peace He has given us.

Peace Begins with God

Are you living with inner chaos or living in His perfect peace?

March’s Awakening, Day 4

There is never any peace for those who resist God.

 —François Fénelon

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?

 —Gerard Majella 

Peace reigns where our Lord reigns.

 -Julian of Norwich 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1 NIV 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NIV

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20–21 NIV 

            Peace begins with God and knowing Him through Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who oversees us and prepares our hearts to receive and live in His perfect peace. Peace apart from God is peace derived only from the world, and Satan is the ruler of this current world and his sole purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. Difficult indeed, to gain inner peace from this world. Embrace God and all that He is and all that He has for you, and you will begin to see peace become increasingly more apparent and more powerful in your life. It is your inner peace obtained from God that allows you to weather the storms of life and ride out the choppy seas. Enter His presence often by prayer and reading His Word and exchange your inner chaos for His powerful peace. It will certainly make each day more tolerable and eventually that inner peace will become your core center of joy.

Quest for Peace

We all strive for it, but just what is that elusive characteristic called peace?

March’s Awakening, Day 3

We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.

 —Thomas Merton 

A man who cannot find tranquility within himself will search for it in vain elsewhere.

 —La Rochefoucauld 

We should have great peace if we did not busy ourselves with what others say and do.

 —Thomas à Kempis

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 NIV

            Peace, just like every other godly characteristic, originates in, and emanates from, God. Peace within yourself is a wholeness, a well-being, and a security in all dimensions of your being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is an unshakable assurance of who God is, your relationship with Him, and in His Word and promises. Peace within is a complete and continuous tranquility, serenity, and inner stillness. It is a balanced and harmonious life of contentment, absent of any hostility, antagonism, dissention, or strife within, even though the world may be crumbling and tumbling down all around you. Peace is a clear and pure mind free from distraction, annoyance, anxiety, obsession, and contradiction. Peace and joy are intimately and inseparably linked together. Joy is the experience of that inner peace. Peace is the state of being that we all strive for, and just like love and forgiveness, it flows from God through us and out to all humanity. Peace is elusive and not as the world gives or offers, but only that which comes from heaven above is true and pure peace. Once you have it, you’ll never want to lose it.

Make Amends and Move On

Be wise—forgive, make amends, reconcile, repair, and most importantly, move on.

March’s Awakening, Day 2

It’s very easy to forgive others their mistakes, it takes more guts and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.

 —Jessamyn West 

A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain.

 —Samuel Johnson 

By forgiving the hurt and disappointments of your past, you release it from holding onto you in your future, and hindering your progress.

 —Eric Watterson, “I Forgive You”

Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don’t understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior.

 —Rick Warren

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23–24 NIV    

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:41–47 NIV 

            The more you have been forgiven, the greater should be your gratitude to God and compassion and forgiveness towards others. Life is short and stressful enough as it is, so make every effort to make each moment count and do not live a life full of regret. Unquestionably forgive, make amends where a rift has entered, make restitution to those you’ve wronged, release all bitterness and ill will, and be as compassionate and merciful to others as God has been to you. Reconcile all your relationships and put them in good standing. It serves you no useful purpose to have severed or damaged relationships if they are potentially positive. Still use good judgment, with appropriate boundaries, and be wise from your knowledge of the past but do not let the past control you or overly sway good judgment. We all need second chances, but we also cannot be naïve nor allow ourselves to be taken unfair advantage of. Life experience, godly wisdom, and maturity go a long way in determining the proper course of action. Just always remember that forgiveness is as much for you as it is for them.

Stung by the Bitterness Bee

Have you taken the bitterness bee stinger out? If not, you’re still being poisoned to death.

March’s Awakening, Day 1

Forgive or relive.

 —Author Unknown  

To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.

 —William H. Walton

Forgiveness does not change what has occurred, it takes the stinger out and cleanses the wound so that you can move forward and live.

 —E’yen A. Gardner, “Love Letters: 54 letters inspired by Love”

We all must be reminded that unforgiveness can creep into and lurk around the secret corners of our hearts, and we can give place to it without even recognizing what it is.

—Stormie Omartian  

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14–15 NIV    

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV  

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 NIV 

            If you cannot fully forgive and fully forget in the sense that the effects of an offense against you have been neutralized, then you are holding a grudge against that individual which quickly will turn rancid into bitterness. Bitterness is an all-consuming poison within you that is exponentially more toxic than the offense of the sin itself. Bitterness will permeate every thought and desire and action, and will always present a skewed and distorted view and perspective that is not reality. You must realize that bitterness has no detrimental effect on the offender, only deleterious effects upon yourself. You have allowed yourself to be stung by the bitterness bee and the barbed stinger needs to be removed or the poison will continue to cause strife and pain. You need the Doctor to remove the stinger and give you the antidote for the poison—fully forgiving and releasing the event so it no longer controls you.  Bitterness is a self-inflicted wound that you must resolve to take action immediately to remedy the affliction and let yourself mend and heal. The longer bitterness remains, the more pervasive it becomes and the more difficult it is to remove and the longer it will take to heal. Holding a grudge does nothing but torture yourself. Forgive, let it go forever, and move on towards a healthier and happier life.