By Pastor Dave
Standing in the woods I am struck by how peaceful it is. You can actually hear snow falling on the ground. Nothing to make me anxious and nothing to take away my peace. The woods is a Gift from God, but so is peace.
When the angels announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds in Luke 2:14 they pronounced peace to all men. We can have peace with God. However I look around today and see so many people that have no peace of mind, no peace in their souls, they are anxious and full of worry. I ask myself “Why”? Many will say the pressures of life, trouble that comes our way, the local and world news and of course finances. They all add up to steal our peace.
But for the follower of Jesus, it should be different. Peace was pronounced at Christ’s birth. Also Jesus said in John 14:27. “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, nor let it be fearful.” Jesus gave us peace. We have it if we want it. Not like the world’s peace which depends on things happening and going your way. We, as believers, have this peace in our very souls and in our spirits. Our peace does not depend on our situations. Whether things go our way or not, no matter what comes against us, we can have peace because Jesus gave it to us. But I see believers with no peace. They choose to not pick peace but to take on worry and anxiousness. Romans 5:1 tells us we have been justified by faith and because of that we have peace with God. We see further in Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
In this life and in this turbulent world there are plenty of things to take away our peace. But the believer has it as a gift from God Himself. We can choose peace and we can have it no matter what because nothing and no one can take from us what God has given us. We however can choose not to have His peace. So how does one access it? Simply pray by faith and ask God to fill you with His peace. He will because He has already given it to us. We need to fix our eyes and thoughts on the things of God and His kingdom and not on what wants to steal our peace.
I choose peace and I pray you do also.
All scriptures from the NAS bible.