PeacePrøve

Peace is about having control of your thoughts, and the ability to decide what thoughts to let into your mind and which ones to reject, and which feelings and emotions you let reign in your spirit and which ones you eject. Many times we want to blame our lack of peace on some circumstance. It’s their fault. It’s my fault. It’s the enemy’s fault. It’s God’s fault. But in reality peace has nothing to do with circumstances. The worst times can actually be the best times. Are you only able to achieve peace when everything in your life is just right? Do you have to be relaxed and in perfect harmony to experience peace? Or can you be agitated, disturbed or discouraged and still find peace in those moments no matter the circumstances? And when you know you have faced your circumstances and know you have done everything in your power to achieve a positive result, can you look back and see peace in those situations?

Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. However, everything that happens is not going to be good. No it won’t. But no matter how awful a situation might be, God can bring peace to your heart. Sure we are in a world that is stress-filled, and seems to be getting more so with each day but God invites us to protect ourselves with his armor and his incredible stability of peace. When life gets tough, you have to remember who you are and whose you are. In everything—in everything—God is working for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. And when you believe it you’ll be reassured that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

What's the use of taking a broken heart into a new season? Why carry an empty dream into a full life? When you lack peace, you’ll attempt to continue or perpetuate things out of ease or routine just because it's all you have or all you know. But excellence in peace means choosing to exercise restraint and surge up with power for what would lie ahead. Any kind of undisciplined indulgence has the likelihood of disturbing our peace in the long run. The propensity of peace is not to reveal itself until it’s absent. When you have peace you know it, you feel it. It won’t have to be named or acknowledged. You’ll just know it. But our peace is disturbed when we try to stay in our comfort instead of coming into our calling. God will not let you rest until you walk away from the comfort and pursue excellence in the calling. Self-doubt leads you away from achieving your inner peace but God made you excellent as you are and your job is to uncover it. This happens when you stop looking outside and look within.

If the lack or absence of peace makes you feel anything, the feeling of mediocrity is at the top of the list. Without peace, you feel scattered, crazy, stressed, depressed, out of place, off path, ineffective, pitiful, distracted and just plain old tired. You need a method to escape mediocrity and get closer to your peace. Mediocrity cannot be prayed away. Mediocrity has to be declared away and worked away and God may give you an uncommon approach to getting rid of it. When you let go of mediocrity, you make room for excellence but you must create that space. Set strong boundaries. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Are you saying yes too often? Remember No is a full sentence. Are you worrying too much about tomorrow or the unknown? Remember each day has enough trouble of its own. Are you making the results of your life irrational? Remember life is but a vapor and that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Are you just plain old doing too much? Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Are you entertaining people and practices that you probably shouldn't? Remember you get to say who and what stays or goes.

Eradicating mediocrity through your mouth may require you to ask and praise God for more peace and get into a space of mindfulness. Picking back up to Phillippians chapter 4 and onto verse 8, it says: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Live your life holistically and recognize the need for peace.

Answer these questions and reflect on your answers:

When others disturb your peace, what is your initial reaction?

In what ways do you disturbed your own peace?

Affirm and declare these statements:

With God as my refuge, peace will always be within reach.

I radiate peace to everyone around me.

Lord, you promised me peace and I shall receive it.

Pray in petition to God to pursue His will and way.