The Peace Of God

        

        When many of us visit a peaceful place, we hopefully appreciate and enjoy it. Likewise, whenever we see a peaceful picture, listen to peaceful music and find a peaceful moment in a busy day - hopefully we treasure it and look for more ways to encounter peace.

        These instances and others are nice examples of a breath of fresh air in a chaotic world. However, the peace of God goes beyond what we could think or imagine peace could be. 

        We are strongly encouraged and possibly commanded by God through Paul to not worry or be anxious about anything, but in every situation, seek first God and His kingdom by prayer and petition with an offering of thanksgiving as you come before Him (Philippians 4:6-7). The result of living this way is that the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 

        One of the major differences between peace found anywhere else and the peace of God is that God's peace is proactive and humanity's peace or the world's peace is reactive. Humans will seek out peace many times when the seas of life are turbulent, when sea billows roll. Like I alluded to earlier, we find our happy places, we play our favorite music, we count to ten, we find where and what grants us peace and attempt to attain it.

        In contrast, God's peace is already at work for those in Christ Jesus, guarding the heart and mind against theft of joy, peace or self-control as situations present themselves. The actual Philippians 4:6-7 passage reads, 

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

        The critical key is constant communication with The Lord. Paul says to the believers in Philippi, "In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The word "every" gives you the impression that The Lord desires to be involved in the small details and decision-making of our lives as well as the large, major decisions. We should not be a pick-and-choose the time we want God type of Christian. We should desire God in every breath and in every decision for as we include Him in everything we will have The Peace Of God.