And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (KJV).

REFLECT:
What is ‘peace? And why is it so important? Usually, we would hear people make certain statements like “I lost my peace., ” “I need some peace of mind, “no peace for the wicked.” oh, let’s not forget the recent slogans going around the world referring to world peace.

Everything we seem to do or are involved in as human beings is situated around the whole concept of peace. It screams at us from every angle, in the media, the curriculums we use in our educational system, to the business and corporate organizations and government. Everything we do is geared towards creating a better world for all, with peace as a driving force behind all our actions and intents.

Without any doubt, all this talk about peace spells out one glaring fact, which is that peace is very important and vital to our well-being as human beings. Therefore, if peace is so important to us, why is it that it seems to elude our world so easily, especially, since the world has put in place so much to maintain peace?

Rather than achieve peace, we hear about happenings, events, and activities that take place contrary to the peace we so desire. All our efforts to keep mending and patching end up resulting in a bigger tear. So, what are we doing wrong? Or what are we not doing right? And what should we change in the scheme of things?

Our Bible verse for today gives us some clues and insight that we may use to help us detect certain solutions to the peace problem our world is facing.

The first clue or insight we get from our Bible verse is that peace can never be manmade, it is solely God-made and God-oriented. Meaning that peace can only come from God. Our Bible verse calls it – ‘the peace of God.’ Every other peace outside of God is a counterfeit version.

Secondly, the peace God gives operates beyond our understanding. It has the power to operate and withstand every upheaval of any type. It is not intimidated by circumstances or situations and thus can be functional even in times of trouble and chaos round about us.

Thirdly, God’s kind of peace keeps our hearts and minds secure and strengthened by the knowledge of Christ Jesus. It is only when we know who Christ is, what He accomplished for us through His death on the cross, and the power of His resurrection, can we activate, and operate in God’s peace and have the full benefits of this peace in our lives. Our Bible tells us that He is our ‘Prince of Peace.’

Fourthly, this peace is designed to guide us into all that God has for us. It guides, leads, and instructs us in the paths of God’s goodness, abundant riches, and grace. Psalms 23. God’s peace establishes a close relationship with us and is determined to give us all the comfort God our Heavenly Father has for us to freely enjoy—- the Shalom of God— nothing missing nothing broken.

Therefore, knowing these truths, we need to lean into Jesus our Lord and Savior, our Prince of Peace so that we can receive all that God’s peace promises. ” 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(KJV).

When we realize that our peace can never come from what the world offers, rather, it comes from hooking ourselves up to Jesus and all that He has accomplished on the cross for us. In doing so, we will cease to be taken by all that the world tends to throw at us because the peace of God — Our guiding Peace — Jesus has already overcome the world. John 16:33. HALLELUJAH!!!

Ebimobo W. Obasi

PLEASE PRAY ALONG:

A Prayer of Thanks for God’s Peace

FATHER GOD, by Your grace, You have offered me a relationship with You. I can be known by You, and I can know You. Thank You for giving me peace that extends beyond my feelings and circumstances. Thank You for protecting my heart and mind from becoming overwhelmed by what’s happening around me. Because of You, I can have peace. Help me to constantly stay guided and secure in this peace that You so dearly purchased for me by sending your Son Jesus to die for me. I will always be eternally grateful. In JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN.