Peace is a Person
In ourselves there’s no way we can naturally live in peace each and every day. Yet it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and something as believers we are to strive to obtain.
The Apostle Paul locked in a horrific prison in Rome wrote in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Can we say the same about our lives? Let us look at the different kinds of peace we can have when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peace with God
First, to even attain peace, we must accept Jesus Christ’s free gift. Once we put our faith in Jesus as our Lord, when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sins (Hebrews 10:17). The precious blood of Jesus covers our sins (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:7). Being safe and secure in His salvation brings great peace.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
Our salvation gives us peace about our future here on earth and when we die. Very often when a person is “born again,” they feel this immediate peace (1 Peter 1:23). The sins of their life up to that point are forgiven, erased, removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). It is like a load is lifted. 💚
The intimacy we can have with Jesus Christ brings us peace. It always amazes me that our Holy God wants us to come to Him in prayers. He loves us unconditionally. Once we grasp hold of His promises with our hearts and minds, then peace will flood our souls.
“Peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament. He took the initiative to establish peace with rebellious men, and He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives.”
Jerry Bridges
Peace Within
Because of this peace with God, we can have peace within. Peace of mind. No matter what storm blows our way, we know we are standing on the Rock (Psalm 62:6-7). We know the Lord will be with us – hold us and comfort us – through it. The key to this is being close in your relationship with Him.
Many years ago, I received a follow up call from my dermatologist to let me know a biopsy I had several days earlier was, in fact, melanoma. I knew this was a possibility as I had a melanoma years before, but nonetheless, I was shaken and scared. I was not where I should have been in my relationship with the Lord, but I certainly called out to Him. It took a few days, but I had the peace only He could give. Thank the Lord, the melanoma was caught early enough.
Fast forward a couple of years later: another phone call, another melanoma diagnosis. This time I was where I should have been in my walk with the Lord. I immediately had peace. I knew no matter what happened, I could depend on Him. Again, it was caught early. (Praise God, I have had five melanomas that have all been caught early enough to not have treatment!)
These were two identical situations, but my relationship with the Lord made me respond differently because of my lack of faith the first time. This is why it’s important to stay close to the Lord no matter if you are on the mountaintop or in the valley. It does make a difference!
When Jesus Christ was about to die on the cross for you and me, He told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He left this legacy of peace for us.
This same peace is the peace I can have if a melanoma is not caught in time. It is the peace in which we can face whatever life throws our way, including death.
Peace with One Another
As believers in Christ, we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ (Romans 8:17).
While we serve together, worship together, and grow together in the Lord, we are to live in peace with one another. This begins with the first fruit of the Spirit, love. We must love one another to have this peace.
“Because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, we are dependent upon the Spirit’s work in our lives to produce the desire and the means to pursue peace. But we are also responsible to use the means He has given us and to take all practical steps to attain both peace within and peace with others.”
Jerry Bridges
Live in Peace
Are you living in peace or are the trials of this world keeping you in fear? Make sure you are keeping sin, disbelief/doubt, and lies of the devil from creeping into your life and stealing your peace.
In a world full of unknowns, uncertainties, and unrest, cling to the One who provides purpose, truth, and peace. Peace is a Person, the Lord Jesus. Call unto Him and ask the Holy Spirit to give the peace we all desire. 💕
13 Comments
Kathy Little
I had not realized that you had traveled this road strewn with these repeated health scares. Bless! But my, my, my you sure are doing a beautiful job of using what God has brought your way to glorify Him. Thank you for how you help us see what’s causing our “lack of peace”…… for showing us from your own life and your own walk with Christ, the contrast in this thing called peace! You have had a front row seat to the peace principle! Your journey helps us in ours!
Leslie
My prayer is that if I ever have to get on the curvy sections of that road (i.e., the melanoma or whatever other cancer isn’t caught early) that I can keep that peace and be a testimony for our loving Savior! 💜 It was so good to see you yesterday, sweet lady! 💕
Emma
Wow! What an amazing story, Leslie! That is fantastic that you were able to see so much personal spiritual growth from each of your close calls with cancer.
The points you gave on peace were wonderful. Peace with God is especially important. That’s were it starts. If we are not yet reconciled to God, we have no hope of finding true, lasting peace by ourselves. We must have our guilt atoned for. All of this totally reminded me of 2 Corinthians 5. 🙂
Leslie
Yes, you are so right, Emma! Thanks for visiting, friend! 💕
Carey
It ‘s such a blessing to be able to look back and see how you have grown in your faith by the way you reacted to the same situation. Praise God for giving you peace during that difficult time and using that experience to draw you closer to Him! What a God we serve! 🙌🏿
Leslie
Amen, what a God we serve! So thankful for His comfort and peace when life throws curve balls. 😉💚
Clarissa
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul”
You are so right! If our relationship with the Lord isn’t where it should it’s hard to be well & feel His Peace! Thank you for encouraging us to draw closer to Him for a peace & contentment we can live out loud so others can do the same. 💗
Leslie
I love that song; it’s a favorite! Thank you for stopping by. 💜
Elizabeth
What a thoughtful and powerful testimony of how adversity brought you to find peace in The Lord.
Leslie
Thank you for stopping by, Beth! 💚 I am surely thankful for His faithfulness in my life!
rivenjoiner
Hi! Found your blog through a recommendation from a_child_shall_lead_them_ on IG! Glad to see you on social media sharing about living daily life with Jesus! I hope you’ll also enjoy visiting our family here on WordPress at MichalskisGreatAdventure, and on FB (Through His Eyes – the Devotional) and IG @throughhiseyesdevotional! Blessings!
michalskisgreatadventure
I’m so sorry, I originally posted this comment, accidentally, from my husband’s account, rivenjoiner.com, so sorry for the confusion!
Hi! Found your blog through a recommendation from a_child_shall_lead_them_ on IG! Glad to see you on social media sharing about living daily life with Jesus! I hope you’ll also enjoy visiting our family here on WordPress at MichalskisGreatAdventure, and on FB (Through His Eyes – the Devotional) and IG @throughhiseyesdevotional! Blessings!
Leslie
Hey Sydney! Thank you so much for reaching out and leaving a comment. I will look for you on Instagram and check out your blog. It’s great getting to know other Christian bloggers through this online community! 💚