The Peace of God
Today we have the pleasure of reading the wit and wisdom of Sharon, my friend and author of the blog, “Sharon Sharing God”. Sharon is a married, 50-something, mother of two grown sons – and also the grandmother of a delightful beagle! She loves to share what God is doing during this time of great transition in her life. Sharon has graciously agreed to share the pearls she has garnered from the Lord about His peace.
I know you will enjoy what she has to offer and want to follow her over at her place.
Peace of God.
What do you think when you hear this phrase?
I think it sounds pretty. Like a gift all wrapped up in pretty paper with a pretty bow attached. It sounds simple…
But, for me, peace is anything but simple.
You see, I’m a worrier, a fretter, a “stew on things” person. I wrestle with life, always trying to get the upper hand. Yes, I love the imagery of resting in green meadows, and being led beside peaceful streams…
But more often than not, I find myself smack dab in the middle of a weed patch, next to a dry gulch!
Are you anything like me? (Please tell me I’m not alone…!)
Why is that?
I’m a believer, an ardent follower of Jesus – I should be experiencing the Peace of God.
So, why is it so elusive?
I think it’s because I’ve got the wrong perspective. You see, I’ve always thought peace meant an absence of anxiety – a calm, settled feeling – no worries, no fears, no problem. To me peace was found in happy circumstances – when life was just like it “should” be.
But life doesn’t unfold that way, does it?
So here’s what God’s been teaching this stubborn heart of mine. The peace of God starts with making peace with God. I so often fail to remember that God and I were on opposite teams at one point. Sin separated us – and that would have been a forever thing. But God did something about that.
He sent a Savior – He sent His Son.
Jesus paid the price of sin, and bought our redemption. He bridged the gap – He made peace with God – so we would never have to face His wrath. Yes, I believe Jesus truly earned that lovely title The Prince of Peace.
So, peace starts with a settling of accounts. With my sins being wiped out.
Peace starts with the promise of eternal life.
Once the issue of peace with God was settled, once I became a believer, then my eternity was sealed. My soul is safe…
That’s the heavenly perspective that brings everything else into focus.
But God had something else to teach me – something that has taken longer for this stubborn heart to learn.
My definition of peace had everything to do with me. With my ability or inability to control things – to control finances, health, circumstances – to control people. In my desperate striving to make life as it “should” be, I was trying to run my life according to me. (Life according to Sharon does NOT work, by the way…just sayin’)
Peace is God’s work – not mine.
Yes, truthfully, I’d love to have an easy life – free of anxious worries and terrorizing fears. I’d love to be calm and settled all the time. I’d love to be “happy.”
But, I’d rather yield my heart to the One who loves me. The One who died for me. The One who speaks in a still, small voice to my heart – who says:
My eternal issues are settled – thank you, Lord! And this life is firmly under HIS control. His eye never leaves me, He never slumbers or sleeps, He is watching me all the time. He will be with me until I am ushered into His presence forever…
So here’s my new definition of peace – it’s found in Sharon’s Acrostic Dictionary (a wonderful tool – everyone should have one!!):
P utting
E verything
A t the
C ross
E ternally
Now that is a very pretty picture indeed!
“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly
lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7, Amplified Bible)
Are you experiencing the Peace of God today?
BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”
Be sure to stop by again on Wednesday when we will have another author guest posting. Jennifer Janes will be instructing us on how to be “Intentional.” Look forward to having you drop by then.
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Love the PEACE acrostic! Perhaps you really should compile such a book 😉 Hi Janis, thanks for letting Sharon share over at your place today. Blessings to the both of you.
Always glad to read Sharon’s posts!
Anita Johnson
http://www.didyoubringyourcamera.blogspot.com
Sharon,
You hit the nail on the head when you said I want to have control. Which ties peace into trust. So many lessons learned when I am in circumstances which tempt me to fear, fret and worry. Will I trust Him? Continually learning this lesson, but with it learning more about my blessed Savior.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon!
Love ya!
Wendy
I think I am loving Sharon’s Acrostic Dictionary :). Thank you, Janis, for introducing me to Sharon. What a delight! I could use some of this kind PEACE. Putting Everything At The Cross Eternally.
To remember that “this life is firmly under HIS control.”…that He is GOD and I am not…being frail specks of dust, I think we need this reminder alot.
I always enjoy the words of wisdom that Sharon shares as she spends time with the Lord!! These are great thoughts about peace that I can totally relate to, wanting to be in control and being a worrier, fretter myself. But I’m going to remember Sharon’s acrostic for peace, that is a powerful one and I’m off to Amazon to see where I can purchase her Acrostic Dictionary 🙂
betty
WOW!
Just what I needed today. And probally everyday.
Thank you
Gods perfect peace!
Blessings
Hello everyone!
Janis is letting me respond to you all! First of all, thank you for your visit and your comments!
Anita – Thank you, friend. Learning how to trust – learning more about peace – that seems to be a goal right now. To any of you who haven’t visited Anita’s blog – please make a trip over there. She takes the most awesome photos!
Wendy – I’m finding that the more I learn about trust, the more I get to know the Savior – just like you said. I think it’s because the more I let go of my control, the more room there is for Him in my heart.
Betty – Do you think that Amazon would give me a cut on book sales??? You know that I am a worrywart – and that trust is a constant battle. But, I’m learning. There is no shortcut to peace – it grows in a heart that consciously and intentionally yields its will to God.
Wanda – A real book?! I’d have so much fun compiling one! I just find that acrostics make it easier to remember things – and there are few things that I want to remember more than the truth about the peace of God.
Bethe77 – Such a pleasure to meet you! Yes, I need this reminder every day, too. Seems I have a short memory when it comes to that pesky issue of control!
Laura – WELCOME! I’m glad you liked my little “dictionary” – it comes in handy. I actually learned a lot about peace when I sat down to write this post. God’s peace is transcendent – it starts now and lasts through eternity!
Connie – Glad you stopped by! Oh boy, I need to remember this all the time – God is God, and He is good. That’s why we can trust Him. I find that this frail speck of dust needs to remind myself of that fact every day!
“May the LORD bless you
and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you His favor
and give you His peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-26, NLT)
GOD BLESS!
I often think of peace as the absence of anxiety, too… but like you say, that is most definitely not the way life is! Also, this “peace is God’s work”, not mine…that is a beautiful reminder, since I’m tempted to jump in and make things work out the way I’d like to see them. And I loved that acrostic! Excellent, post, thank you!
Anna – Life has a way of trying to steal away our peace, doesn’t it?! And oh, I am such a “fixer” too! What’s interesting to me, though, is that my attempt to “fix” things, to make things work out my way, usually leads to MORE anxiety. So, trusting in the Lord, though so very hard at times, really is the only path to peace.
Glad you enjoyed the post – and thanks for leaving your comment!
GOD BLESS!