John 14:27 AMPC Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
It is the will of God for the believer to live in the peace of Jesus Christ!
Worry is one of the greatest enemies to your peace in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 4:6,8 TPT Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing… (8) So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
It is our choice what we dwell on in our thinking.
You cannot afford to be passive where your thought-life is concerned.
Romans 8:6 AMPC Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].
- You cannot control everything that is going on around you and bringing pressure into your life.
- You do have control over how you respond to those outside pressures and whether they are able to steal your peace.
Internal pressure in the form of worry, anxiety, fretfulness, and fear is a taste of Hell.
1 John 4:18 AMPC There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].
Keys to Peace
Romans 5:1-2 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- We have peace with God and because of that we should walk in peace in every area of our lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- Peace is a fruit of the Spirit which He works in us so that we can manifest that in our lives.
Remember, fruit is not for your consumption but for others to be able to partake of.
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Five Things Paul Tells Us to Do:
(4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
- Be a joyful person and let it come out of your mouth in the form of praise towards God.
Happiness is just for the moment, but joy is an eternal thing.
Psalms 30:5b NKJV …Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Joy will always outlast the trial and trouble.
(5a) Let your gentleness be known to all men.
Philippians 4:5 AMPC Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].
- We need to set aside our selfishness and be considerate of others.
Philippians 4:5 MSG Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
Follow the example of Jesus and become a servant of others.
Think of others more highly than you think of yourself.
(5b) The Lord is at hand. (the Lord is close by)
- Live always knowing that Jesus sees everything that you say and do.
Our lives should be lived as though we have no secrets from the Lord and we walk in integrity.
We should not live two lives – one for God and one for us, public and private. God sees it all.
(6) Be anxious for nothing.
- Don’t worry about anything.
God has always taken care of me and He always will.
(6b) In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
- Pray about every situation.
When you pray, you are acknowledging that you are not big enough to handle the situation.
Pray for wisdom and direction.
Prayer releases the power of God into your situation.
Prayer releases the authority of the Name of Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NKJV and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 ERV And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.
Philippians 4:7 TPT then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.