Who’s Robbing You?  

In this crazy world in which we live, peace—gentle, lasting peace in our hearts—can be something of an elusive commodity. And yet God wants to pour His peace into our lives. So, how can you and I be part of making that happen? That has to be the question, doesn’t it?

Like it or not, we all have enemies. They’re out there, and they’re intent on ruining your day. Their plan is to rob you of your peace.

How many times have you set out to have a good day, to honor God, to love others and then, right out of left field, someone comes along and ruins your day?

What? Where did that come from?

Sometimes it seems the whole world is conspiring to rob you of your peace. And the temptation—the BIG temptation at that point—is to stoop down to their level and fight fire with fire.

But think about it. Since when has escalating a conflict ever been a good formula for lasting peace?

Proverbs 16:7 says, “When people live to please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them.”

That’s an amazing promise. It’s a promise about two apparently unrelated things— on the one hand, the way you live, what you do, and on the other, what other people (in fact your enemies) will or won’t do.

What I’ve noticed is that, as I live my life the best I can to please God, it doesn’t always please other people. In fact, far from it. But there’s a spiritual principle at work here. God will honor those who honor Him. God will supernaturally intervene in the behavior of our enemies when we live to please Him.

So, do you want peace in your life? Live to please the Lord and even your enemies will be at peace with you.

Life Application Questions

• Who—or what—tries to rob you of your peace? What gets in the way of your plans to honor God and love others?
• Have you ever felt attacked spiritually? How did you respond? What was the result?
• What does it look like for you to live your life with the goal of pleasing God?
• Ask God to show you the truth of Proverbs 16:7 in your own life as you live each day to please Him.