As Christians, it should be no surprise that there is a direct link between our peace and the time we spend with the Lord.
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.
Many people have heard this verse, but how much confidence do we personally have in it? Isaiah tells us that this perfect peace comes to the one whose mind is stayed on the Lord; a result of trusting Him.
Our personal time spent in the Word, and in prayer and fellowship with God directly affects the amount of peace, love, and joy we are experiencing in our life. These are “fruit” of the Spirit of God within us. But if we don’t spend time with the Spirit of God, this fruit will never make its way into our soul and flow into all the areas of our life.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Jesus has given us His peace. It is not like the ‘peace’ the world gives.
John 14:27 Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.”
People are searching for their peace, joy, love, etc. from everything around them. When in fact, all of these are fruit of the Spirit of God who lives in every born again Christian. We truly can possess these things tangibly, in our soul (mind & emotions), but they come from inside us. Not from anything on the outside.
The apostle Paul, in the book of Philippians, tells us we can experience God’s peace and then tells us how.
Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
You can have perfect peace in your soul in the midst of any storm, but it won’t come from avoiding the storm, or expecting it from someone or something else in your life.
Two factors will determine your level of peace:
- What are you focused on
- What are you letting in
Fill with the good
Whatever you focus on the most you will become sensitive to and whatever you neglect, you will become hardened to. This is why it is so important to have quantity and quality time spent in the Word of God cultivating a relationship.
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.
Mark 6:51-52 then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded, because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
If you focus on God’s Word, God’s faithfulness, the promise, you will be sensitive to God’s provision. You will have peace. Peace comes from time in God’s presence and filling yourself with God’s thoughts.
For more on thinking like God see my article, “Thinking like God.”
Keep out the bad You may be filling yourself with the Word of God, speaking it and acting on it but it is not enough to do these things, if you are allowing opposing forces of negativity into your heart. You must keep the bad out or it will choke the Word that you are putting in.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus demonstrates that the kingdom of God works like a seed. (see mark 4:1-8) He describes how the Word is seed, and sown into our heart has the capacity to produce fruit (God’s will and purpose in our lives) In verses 18-19, He explains what the thorns are.
Mark 4:7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
Mark 4:18-19 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
You may be hearing the Word of God and spending time in His Word, and faith will come. But If you are listening to negative news and speaking negative thoughts, doubt and unbelief will also come.
Paul gives us another key to peace.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, 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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Peace comes from spending time with God; letting His thoughts become yours. God’s very life begins to transform you, and the fruit of the Spirit begins to flow from your spirit into your soul.