Pray for Peace
So much of our lives would change if we would only ask or hand it over to God. That is why I wanted to focus on ASKING last week because we, as children of the Lord, often forget that one of the privileges we have as the children of God is that we can ask Him anything in our love-relationship with Him. We may not get everything we ask for, but God desires us to ask.
Now peace is exactly the same for me. The bible says that we have peace as a gift from Jesus (John 14:27); it is ours. The Holy Spirit helps us appropriate peace into our lives as we listen to his direction and guidance. Peace is the spiritual fruit of the outcome of this reliance on the Holy Spirit. The Lord encourages us to simply ask for it whenever we are not at peace in our inner being.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)
A characteristic of a person who has little experience of peace, is prayerlessness.
Let me be clear, the peace of God is not attained in our lives by some mystical practices as some may suggest. There is no need for mindless meditation with the emptying of our minds. No need to soak our daily lives in endless praying and mechanical repetition of special mantras etc. God’s peace is not restored in our hearts that way.
Phil 4:6-7 makes it quite clear how peace is restored to our hearts. We simply pray, speaking to God as I would speak to a family member or a friend. We merely present the situation in which we desire peace to God. An exchange happens in our spirit; we give, hand over, surrender the situation to God IN TRUST, and God provides us with a peace that transcends all our human understanding. We find peace as through prayer we bring our hearts and minds to a point where we rest in the Knowledge of WHO God is, His SOVEREIGNTY in every situation that we may be worried or anxious about.
My personal belief is that you don’t stop praying about it until peace becomes your actual experience. Prayer often takes us through a process that corrects our attitude, understanding, or our divided heart (where we trust in God and someone, or something else). Often prayer includes a searching of scripture until God gives us a “rhema” word, a scripture that promises His purpose in our specific situation (ever had a verse that you have clung to in a storm, that was your “rhema” word).
Now peace is not necessarily a tranquil situation; it oftentimes isn’t. It is more likely to be a sense of peace despite what could simply be described as crazy circumstances. However, no matter what the circumstance is, the bible makes it clear that we can have peace in each and every circumstance.
“ Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified Version)
Just pray about it
The world we live in promotes peace as a quiet place, a lack of conflict, financial independence, a sense of serenity and agreement with everybody. This is worldly peace. Jesus’ peace is not a peace like the world offers, but a peace despite the lack of the above.
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” (John 14:27 Amplified Version)
The peace that Jesus gives us is not based on our circumstances
The increasing experience of peace as a characteristic of our life comes as we mature in our walk with God, increase in our knowledge of scripture and develop our trust in God. As we get to know God through His Word, the fruit of peace is increasingly produced in our lives. So do not be discouraged as a believer when you watch older believers who just never seem to be shaken in their faith and trust in God. They have worked hard in previous circumstances to listen to the Holy Spirit, search scriptures and hide the truth in their heart so that in relying on the Holy Spirit, He produces the fruit of peace in their lives. But one thing they all do, as they seek to embrace the peace that Jesus gives them – pray.
Any believer can access peace through prayer; it simply means going into your inner chamber (Matt 6:6) and speaking with Your Father about the circumstance or situation. Then, something supernatural happens in that inner chamber in your spirit that will bring you to the experience of peace.
“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)
Prayer is the pathway to peace on a daily basis.
Why don’t we pray until we experience that peace that rules over us:
- We don’t have faith, i.e. believe God and His promises
- We don’t trust His love for us
- We are in a bad habit of worrying and being anxious, and prayer is not a habit.
- We don’t believe God hears our prayers and works so that in “all situations, in all things, God works for the good of those that love Him.” Rom 8:28
Prayer is the pathway to peace on a daily basis.
Think about it…
- What would peace be like for you? Do you seek a peace that the world offers, a peaceful place of serenity or are you more interested in the kind of peace that Jesus experienced in His life and offered to us, His followers?
- What is your prayer life like on a daily basis? Would you say that you are in the habit of talking to the Lord on a daily basis about the things that occupy your mind and heart?
- As you have grown spiritually, would you say that the experience of peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life is gradually increasing, decreasing or staying the same?
Lord, thank you for the immense privilege we have as Your children to be able to enter into the throne room of grace, where you look upon us with love and favour. Thank you that Jesus made it possible for us to walk in with confidence and not fear judgement so that we, as your children, may receive mercy in all our failings. We also find there, Your amazing help and direction in a time of need and confusion. Thank you that you will send help and blessing at just the right time, and in this, we rest in peace, knowing that in all circumstances, in all things, You are working, defending, providing for us in every way.
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