5 Ways to Experience Peace
I found a quote that resonated with me in a significant way. It said, "The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence." (Norman Vincent Peale)
This type of life sounds like an amazing existence. Oh, to live in harmony and without stress. YES! That would be the easiest type of existence. But is it possible to achieve that in this crazy, divided, chaotic world?
Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Paul tells us in Philippians 4, "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus."
Yes, it is possible to live a life with a peace that passes all understanding and guards our hearts resulting in harmony and living without stress.
So how do we achieve this big, hairy, audacious goal?
Here are five disciplines that will help you experience peace. These disciplines will take work, consistency, and intentionality. Peace may begin to fade at times; we then engage in these and other habits like them that keep us grounded in peace provided by God's love and sovereignty.
1.Our thinking matters; take your thoughts captive. As a man thinks, so is he. So, we must guard our thoughts. Paul tells us, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
What are you dwelling on? What is monopolizing your thoughts? Paul tells us to think about certain things, "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." We can determine our thoughts and thereby reveal a path to peace. Two excellent resources that give a practical and Biblical understanding of how to take your thoughts captive are:
2. Spend time preaching truth to your heart. John 8:32 says, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Peace disappears when we don't rest in the truth. God knows this and intentionally gifted us with a personal guide to help us know what truth to preach to our hearts at the right time. John 16:13 says, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
The goal is to prioritize God's Word in our everyday life to obtain peace. Peace comes through resting in truth. The enemy seeks to replace God's truth with lies and deception. This is why we must consistently be in God's Word to counter the lies of the enemy and false ideologies.
3. Take advantage of our access to God through prayer. Prayer is a tool for the sake of intimate relationship. It represents access to God. It reveals that when peace fades, God invites us to process life with him. Consider these verses:
2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all."
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.”
If you are interested in learning how to pray consider listening to this sermon and engaging these prayer guides:
The Lord’s Prayer, Prayer Guide
4. Focus on what you are grateful for and tell God about it. Gratitude is a way to remind us about God's faithfulness and ability to overcome. Psalm 136:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." This is why Pauls teaches us to, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) When we live thankful, anxiety, stress, and worry fade because we see God for who he is...present, able to overcome, and compassionate. Each day find 3 things, no matter how big or small, that you can say thank you to God for!
5. Choose to believe. This is our fight for faith. How do we fight for faith? Romans 10:17 teaches us that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." God's Word is paramount to our ability to trust God. We won't know what to trust if we don't listen to God's promises. We won't know what to be grateful for, growing our trust in God, if we don't remember his promises.
Along with his Word, he also gives us each other. Community aids us in our ability to fight for faith. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
When life makes peace difficult, friendship and family can create space for us to experience the love of God, connecting us to his peace. It is incredible how peace-filled we are when we experience not being alone.
A life of peace is possible. But it will require us to be consistent in its pursuit. Pauls tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." It can be a grind, but it is a grind worth engaging!
May you feel the peace of God which passes all understanding today and each day moving forward!
Pastor Matt