You Can Have Peace on Purpose
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You Can Have Peace on Purpose
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Peace. It is not being in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or challenge. It is our ability to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in our heart. This is a saying on a magnet that has been on my fridge for about thirty years. It is something I must remind myself of quite often these days.
Today, we face many things that attempt to destroy our peace. Wars, rumors of wars, exorbitant gas prices, skyrocketing living costs, mandates, and daily battles concerning our freedom. All these things demand our attention and attempt to annihilate our peace.
The peace the Bible talks about is not a mental attitude, it is something that comes from deep within. It is based on a consistent relationship with God. It is a response to His grace and faithfulness.
Peace, God’s peace, is available to all of us. Sadly, we do not all pursue peace on purpose. As believers, we know that when we need healing, we must pursue healing. We dig out scriptures that affirm our belief in the healing power of God. We confess those scriptures over our bodies daily and stand firm in faith until healing manifests.
It is the same with prosperity. When we are convinced God wants to bless His people, we pursue that blessing. We dig out scriptures that give validity to this belief. We create prayer boards. We confess God’s Word over our finances and our debts, and we stand firm in faith until we see His blessings come into our life.
There is nothing wrong with either of these responses. In the same way, I believe we should pursue peace.
Many believe we can’t possibly have peace in the chaos in our world today. But that is not what the Bible says. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jn 14:27)
Unexpected and prolonged difficulties such as what we have faced in the last two years can evoke fear and anxiety. People have felt overwhelmed as everything around us appears to be out of our control. Beyond what is going on in the world, many are facing personal challenges such as job loss, grief, sadness, fear, and confusion. It is in times like these that we must pursue peace on purpose and attempt to remove all negative emotions that will affect our physical and emotional health.
Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body.”
The aftermath of the COVID pandemic, impending war, and the chaos we have walked through in the past months, have significantly impacted us, both mentally and physically. Stress is at an all-time high. The future seems murky and uncertain for those who have endured the loss of loved ones, and jobs. Trauma is prevalent across the world and its long-term effects can have devastating consequences.
We must pursue peace on purpose.
If we do not, we will deal with the residual effects of the stress of this season for years to come. According to recent surveys, mental health issues and substance abuse are up 30% since 2019. Four out of ten people report they are dealing with anxiety and depression disorders since the Covid pandemic.
The enemy is working daily to steal the peace that Jesus left us. Why? Because he understands God’s peace is a bomb that explodes all his plans. His tactics are all fear-based. His plan is for you to believe him and repeat his lies, instead of God’s Word. If we choose to believe him over what the Word of God says, he’s got us. However, we must choose to remain in peace, ultimately trusting in God and His Word. When we do that, we destroy the enemy’s plans.
The Strong’s Concordance describes peace as “the tranquil state of a soul assured of what Jesus purchased at the Cross, and one who fears nothing that is to come.” Oh! That we could all walk in this kind of peace. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:14 to pursue peace. The word pursue means to run swiftly after to catch it. In other words, we must go after peace until we attain it. Peace is a commodity that, in this current atmosphere, is priceless. We must go after it.
How do we do that? John F. Kennedy once said, “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.”
We must dig into the Word of God concerning peace. We must daily tear down old, negative, fearful mindsets and build new, strong, peace-ruled structures by confessing His promises of peace over our lives. It won’t happen in a day – but it will happen if we pursue it. Peace remains a free gift from God, but it is up to us to walk in it. Our very lives depend on it, both physically and mentally.
My prayer for you today is this, “May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing, bubbling over, with hope” (Rom 15:13).
Peace is a Gift We Must Receive
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
God, we thank You for the peace that Jesus gave us. Today, we receive that peace in fulness. Help us to walk in it daily. We say, according to Your word, we will not let our heart be troubled and we refuse fear, in Jesus’ name.
Peace is a Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
God, I thank You that peace, Your peace, is a fruit of the Spirit that is available to me. Today, I choose peace. I ask You to develop the fruit of peace in me fully. Grant me the grace to choose peace in every situation. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Peace Is a Result of the Right Focus
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
Father, Your Word says I will remain in PERFECT peace as I keep my mind and my thoughts upon You and Your Word. Today, I purpose in my heart to keep my eyes, my mind and all my thoughts upon You and Your Word. In doing so, the peace of God that passes understanding will be mine. I thank You that I walk in that peace, this day, and every day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Peace Must Be Pursued
Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! (Psalm 34:14, Amplified)
God, I deeply desire peace in my life. I crave it. Today, I ask You for peace. I ask You to show me exactly how to pursue and attain a lasting peace that cannot be disturbed. I believe I receive that peace, this day, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let Peace Rule Our Hearts
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. (Colossians 3:15, Amplified)
Father, today, we choose to let the peace, the soul harmony, which only comes from Jesus Christ, rule in our heart. His peace in us will lead us and guide us at all times. I choose to stay in a peaceful state, as You instruct me to. Today, I give You praise for Your peace in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God, Himself, Grants Us Peace
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thess. 3:16)
According to Your Word, God, You have granted me peace. A peace that rules my life always and in every single situation. You are with me. Therefore, peace is with me. Thank you for this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
His Peace Overcomes All
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Jesus, we thank You for the peace we have in You. Oh, what a wonderful peace. Thank You that this peace remains during times of difficulty, challenge, and chaos. Nothing can shatter this peace that You have given us. Thank You for this peace. We receive it today and declare that this peace, Your peace in us, causes us to overcome in every situation. For this we give You praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Did this article encourage you? Don’t you know someone who needs this message? Please share!
Author Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. To receive her daily inspirational writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com. Photo Credit: Sunguk Kim on Unsplash
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Comments
Than you so much….I take it to heart…and declare for all body of Christ to embrace this divine
inheritance through His grace. Thank you for sharing these prayers.
I needed it this more than you can ever know🙏 But…God knew I needed it💖
This message on PEACE that KIM POTTER wrote is one of the most encouraging and uplifting messages I have ever read. KIM, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO WRITE IT.
Thank you, much
Timely, awesome reminder!
Thank you!
We can not, will not have peace as long we the people of the USA allow and condone abortion.
Lord give us strength to abolish abortion and courage to stand up to those who murder our future.
Great reminder..
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the KING of creation!!!!! Fill us with your peace, daily. For your peace in us, we give you PRAISE!
Thank you I was very encouraged and experienced peace and I’ll definitely share it with others
Memorizing these promises and saying OUT LOUD is the best! Reminds my soul (mind, will, and emotions) to CHOOSE God’s peace…
Thank you for all of the above. It will help me to remember that Jesus trusts me to understand that he is Listening to me and to trust in his Divine intercession and to believe that he will comfort me. I shall have no fear
Yes, very encouraging. Thank you for the Scripture referenced!
This article and prayers was sent to me by my sister. I thank her for sending it to me. Gives me great hope and comfort. Thank God and thank you .
I am thankful for this encouragement of scriptures and prayers about being in peace. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer, going through surgery and radiation, losing two brothers, a very close friend and my father-in-law in the space of 3 years has been difficult. This message on peace and accompanying scriptures are just what I needed. It will be so helpful in helping me to pursue peace.
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
I am praying for you.
When Peace Like A River
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Chorus:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Scriptural Reference: “Praise the Lord, O my soul.” Psalm 146:1
Susan,
I don’t know if you ever heard the backstory to this song.
The back-story to the hymn “Well with my Soul” is relevant to our current situation because we are facing not only a medical crisis but a financial one as well.
I entered the following from Wikipedia:
“Horatio Spafford was a lawyer and a senior partner in a large law firm.[2] The Spaffords were supporters and friends of evangelist Dwight L. Moody.[3]
Spafford invested in real estate north of Chicago in the spring of 1871. In October 1871, the Great Fire of Chicago reduced the city to ashes, destroying most of Spafford’s investment.[3 In 1871, Spafford’s 4-year-old son died of Scarlet fever. Two years later, business demands kept Spafford from joining his wife and four daughters on a family vacation in England where his friend D. L. Moody would be preaching.
On November 22, 1873, while crossing the Atlantic on the steamship Ville du Havre, the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel[4] killing 226 people, including all of Spafford’s daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to Spafford that read “Saved alone.”[5] As Spafford sailed to England to join his wife, he wrote “It Is Well with My Soul.”
Thought you might like it
Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Romans 8:6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.
“the tranquil state of a soul assured of what Jesus purchased at the Cross, and one who fears nothing that is to come.”
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
I thought of kicking against the goads when reading. I too believe “peace must be pursued” and is ULTIMATELY a reward from the Lord. I believe every scripture in Kim’s message as well as her words of affirmation in regard to the passages she selected. IF you believe all things are from Him, through Him and to Him, fighting against Him is futile. Situations come in varying intensity, from discomfort to outright suffering and to suffer is unimaginable but ULTIMATELY, we are assured of what Jesus purchased at the cross and we should not fear. Yes, peace is His reward over tribulation. we must be of good cheer. Amen Father to Your Words of truth. Amen Father to this timely word. Amen to Your peace that came to us through the suffering of Jesus Christ, Your Only Begotten Son. Amen
Jesus, You died on a cross taking our sins upon You and buying with Your sacrifice true heavenly peace for us all! You did it out of love for us. We thank You, Jesus for this gift! Please help each and everyone if us to trust You and not accept the fears satan tries to give us to destroy the peace only You can give. I pray 🙏 this in Your loving name, Jesus! Amen
Father God, I thank You for your peace. Please help me to pursue your peace even more. Please help me not to be anxious or worried or stressed about the things I brought to your attention this morning. I pray that you provide us the things we need. I thank you for how you have provided and met our needs in the past. Lord God, please make a way where there seems to be no way. Abba Father, you are the God of the impossible! In Your Name I pray, amen.
Tom,
Right on. Remember how God made a way in through impossible times in the past.
At times like this I pray: Lord I can’t see how this can possibly work out for good. But I am going to trust you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I will not allow Satan to have victory, but praise Your name in the midst of my storm.
Blessings. I am praying for you.
Yes, Jesus is the Prince of peace – His Presence brings me His peace – as long as I abide in Him I have His peace, which as John 14:27 points out, is not the peace the world claims it can give, but God’s peace is the peace that passes understanding, as Philippians 4:7 points out and promises us. In fact the words say about God’s gift of peace “which transcends all understanding” – this is because His peace is not dependent upon our circumstances, which are often chaotic, uncertain, painful and fear producing in our daily lives – but God’s abiding presence brings me peace even when my circumstances remain unchanged. This broken world is never going to be a peaceful place – but as God’s child He wants to give me His peace which Philippians 4:7 says “will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.” Praise God for that! I can walk daily in this less than peaceful world with my Heavenly Father’s peace guarding my heart and my mind. Thank You Lord for Your gift of peace to me and to anyone who asks you for it – to anyone who pursues Your peace. http://www.mtothe5th.wordpress.com
Yes, Barbara… The ‘key’ for me knowing God’s peace is GRATITUDE for HIS PRESENCE with and WITHIN me constantly. As soon as I remember ‘the one set of footprints in the sand,’ PEACE prevails! I don’t need to ‘pursue’ it, but to simply recognize and receive it with DELIGHT!
Thank you for this prayer of encouragement, My husband and I are going through hard time s and I needed to read this my sister sent it to me
Praise God for His Faithfulness Amen 🙏
Laura, special prayers for you and your husband. God is with you!
THANK YOU THANK YOU for this article! It is with tears that I write this. How powerful this article is! Peace is truly the heart of God for us and I needed this reminder! Thank you for sharing the Word of peace. I will be printing this and saving it for continued prayer time for peace in my life, my home, my friends and family suffering with anxiety and worry, and for this world that has no hope aside from the PEACE of Jesus!