God's Peace

Chuckle: When asked if he wanted his pizza cut into 4 pieces or 6. The man thought for a moment and said, "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces."

Ponder This: "No God, no peace; know God, know peace."

Jesus said, "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).

A hurricane is a storm with cyclonic winds exceeding 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes can be very fierce storms with relentless pounding winds and rain that continue hour after hour. But the storm's "eye" is a place of perfect calm in its center. So it is with the storms of life. With the Lord as our center, there is calm and peace, even in the worst of storms.

Peace! What a beautiful and comforting word. Just hearing the word has a calming effect on me, and causes me to consider the level of serenity, calmness, and comfort that exists in my life. Peace is a state of mind that everyone seeks after, but many never find the secret of genuine peace.

Jesus is called "The Prince of Peace." When his birth was announced, the angels heralded, "peace and good will toward men." In our passage, Jesus was comforting his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion. In announcing his going away, he promised the gift of his peace. In the preceding verses, Jesus had also promised that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us and in us. The result of the Holy Spirit's presence and work in our lives brings deep and lasting peace.

Jesus made a distinction between the peace the world offers and the peace he has given us. In earthly terms, peace is usually described as the absence of conflict, but the peace Jesus gives includes confident and calm assurance in every circumstance. With Christ's peace, we never need to harbor fear, anxiety, or worry -- not now, not ever.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

Just imagine never having to worry about anything ever again! Impossible, you say! Paul tells us to turn our worries into prayers. If you want to worry less, then pray more. True peace is not found in positive thinking, absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. As a Christian, your citizenship in Christ's kingdom is assured, your destiny is set, and your victory over sin and death has been won. So, why worry? Let the peace that Jesus gives guard your heart against worry and anxiety. Like the calm in the eye of the hurricane, Christ keeps us in the eye of his care even as the storms of life roar all around us. Claim this promise and live with a peace that defies understanding by those who have not experienced it.

Love, Jerry & Dotse