You Want a Peace of Me?

What do people see when they look at you, your life, and your reactions to your environment? Do they see peace and rest, or do they see turmoil and strife? Regardless of what we think we portray to others, the reality of unrest can often be seen in the underlying responses we give in our daily lives. Over time, it is difficult to disguise our hearts completely from others. Scripture tells us that what is in our hearts will be evidenced through our speech, our expressions, and our actions. What we try to hide on the inside will almost always manifest on the outside at some point.

Whether we read the Old Testament or the New Testament, we are reminded over and over again that the peace in our lives is tethered directly to the focus of our attention and our priorities. The placement of our treasure, our energy, our time, and our trust has a profound impact on the end product of our daily life. Are you seeking peace in your life? Where do you place your trust? What is it that you treasure above all else?

The search for peace requires a transparent, realistic self-examination of one’s own soul. If you have been searching for peace in the midst of turmoil and strife, I encourage you to first consider what (or whom) you believe in most. If you place your hope in money, possessions, health, or even governments, then you are in for a tumultuous ride. Have you considered God and Christ? Scripture tells us that Jesus came to earth and took on the form of a man to bear the weight of our sinfulness, to save us from ourselves, and to reconcile us to the Father. If you are tired of chasing your own hollow dreams then you may be ready to experience the peace of God that comes through placing your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Trying to achieve peace on our own is like a dog chasing his own tail—he never catches it. Putting our hope in something fleeting is like putting dirty gasoline in your tank—it clogs the fuel line and chokes the engine. Scripture tells us that true peace is available to all who will place their faith and trust in Christ. As sinners, we are inadequate and incomplete. There is no way that we can ever achieve true peace until we confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and release ourselves into the hand of Almighty God.

Scripture reminds us over and over again of God’s faithfulness. Isaiah compares God to a solid rock that never moves or changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Psalms remind us that God’s love and faithfulness endures forever. If you want to experience the peace that I have, I invite you to let Jesus be your Savior, to place your trust in Him, and to let go of all the other stuff. No, that does not mean that you have to physically give everything away. What it means is that your focus is on Christ and not the physical surroundings. When your gaze is upward, you won’t be as distracted by the clutter around your feet.

Daily Challenge

Read Philippians 4:6-9 today. In fact, spend time in prayer and Bible reading every morning. Give yourself time every morning to prepare for the day through prayer and Bible reading. Hunters clean their guns and sight their scopes before they go out foraging for food. In the same way, we should prepare ourselves for the day ahead by arming ourselves with the word of God and focusing our minds on His plan for us. Preparing well ensures the peace of God will be with us each step of the way.