Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

 

Have you ever wanted God to answer all of your questions? Have you wanted Him to reveal why something happened in the past, how things will roll out in the future, or what He’s doing in the present so you could stop worrying?

If so, there is a wonderful lesson from David in the Bible that will encourage you.

 

David knew there were some things that were just too wonderful to understand about life and God. For this reason, he chose not to worry about those things God had reserved to be mysteries.  

 

“I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” Psalm 131:1

 

Because David knew God was wonderfully mysterious, he chose to master his own soul, or his mind, will, and emotions.  

 

“Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2 

 

Stilling and quieting one's soul is a choice. It's centering on that believing, quiet part of yourself, away from pain-filled questions where we commune with God from a position of belief.

 

One morning I did this very thing at 4 AM when I couldn't sleep.  I didn’t ask Him questions about the trials I was having, and I didn’t demand that He tell me why I was experiencing troubles. I confessed my love for Him. And instead of asking Him, “Why?” or “How?” I asked Him a question of surrender: “Lord, will you please help me trust you more?”

 

In those quiet moments, a sweet peace settled into my soul, a peace I imagine David experienced when he chose to believe and let go of things he didn’t understand.  

 

When we choose to believe and relinquish what we don’t understand, when we embrace the magnificent mystery of God, our unanswered questions will melt away in the light of His sovereignty and His love, and instead of experiencing worry, we’ll experience peace.

 

Are worries or questions about your future, the past or the present tormenting you? Do like David did and surrender to the mystery of God. 

 

Prayer: Lord, Help me to remember that as I trust you, I will experience your peace. Thank you for loving me so much. Amen.

Bit and bridle

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.  Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)

 

The words from this Psalm strike me as deeply moving and convicting. A bit and bridle are used for a creature that has no hope of every truly conforming to the will and direction of its master. The heart of the creature, we could say, is forever oriented towards its own interests and desires, constantly having to be redirected and brought back in line.

 

The first part of this Psalm promises the nearness and goodness of the Lord to guide and instruct us into the way of peace. His eye is always upon us, inviting us out of our selfishness and into His love. He is never forceful or coercive but instructs and counsels with gentleness and grace. His Spirit draws near to us in our weakness and restores us into His likeness, teaching us what it means to truly live as His sons and daughters.

 

In light of this mercy and grace, we are given a radical invitation: become by grace what we cannot be by nature. Left on our own, our wills will be no better than a horse or mule, always pulling and pushing away from the Lord and His plans for us. Yet the promise of grace is that we are made new! As St. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

It is incredibly easy to take on a posture of pessimism. We do this culturally, economically, politically, and often spiritually. We see the greed, selfishness, and pride in national leaders and corporations, we see the shortcomings in those we love, and we know the parts of our own hearts that remain darkened by sin. And yet, in light of all of this, we are as Christians a people of great hope! Christ has conquered all that is broken and disordered and now rules and reigns and welcomes us into His new Kingdom.

 

Each of us is a work in progress. There are areas of our life where we see great victory and triumph over sin. Yet there are others where we have still not fully submitted to the transforming grace of God. We are still beastly in our desires, like stubborn mules. May God give us the courage afresh to invite His grace into every part of our lives. We are people of hope, and we must believe that growth into Christ’s likeness is always possible.

In it to win it

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. John 17:16-18

 

It is somewhat surreal to think and reassuring to know, that one day I will awake, not in this world, but in heaven. In the meantime, I am left with a mission from God to stay engaged in secular society. My role is not to be spiritually sterilized by modern mores that miss Christ’s heart, but to fertilize faith in God. The easier route is to check out of culture and check in exclusively with the saints. But I miss advertising Jesus if I stay secluded and isolated from society and culture. Beloved like a thermostat regulates a room’s temperature, so my engagement in this life can keep warm the culture’s conversation about the Lord.  

 

Jesus describes to His disciples this ongoing tension of being an influencer for good while not being influenced by bad. Sin does not need to be experienced to know it’s harmful, just like you don't have to break a bone yourself to know it hurts. Thus, the task of these early followers of Jesus was to bring faith in God to a godless society and culture. Not just faith in God, but faith in God through His son Jesus Christ. Their divine mission was to live and proclaim the gospel so believers of the good news changed for good, and thus, the culture changed for good. The disciples remained in the world so the world would embrace its Savior (See Matthew 5:13).

 

We are called to be salt and light for our Lord Jesus. Does our life in Christ engage other lives for Christ? Or, are we so worldly minded we’ve lost our influence for the Lord? If a person’s behavior becomes better when they are around you, you’re salt. If they respect and love God because you respect and love God, you’re light. If your workplace values reflect the values of your heavenly Father, you’re so tasty. If followers of Jesus leveraged their circle of influence for Christ, there would be a revolution of righteousness.  

 

This ongoing tension of being in the world but not of the world keeps us dependent on Jesus and His Spirit which lives in us. Indeed, He prays for us to walk this fine line of being and doing. Without these two pressure points, we would drift through life self-reliant and ineffective. It’s from our time spent with the Lord that we understand how to spend our time with people. Inviting the world into our world requires trust. When we take our world into the world, it requires radical trust. Christ compounds our faith investment into the fruit of saved souls and changed lives. Be in it to win it.

Platform shoes to fill

But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. Genesis 13:6-7

 

Over the years I have watched people struggle with success. One family in particular handled success well. After selling their business they increased their giving, not their standard of living. They live in the same house, drive the same cars, attend the same church and have the same friends. This successful family is still very intentional about investing in their marriage and in people who are hurting and in need. Wisely, this couple continues to practice the humility and integrity that gave them success. Success is a platform of influence to be used for God’s plan.

 

Two family members, Abram and Lot, did not manage success very well. They kept all their possessions and divided, instead of letting go of some stuff and uniting. They could have given away some of their possessions and made room for life together. But because they both kept it all, one eventually lost it all. They could have been better together, but when they split up, they were conquered. We suffer from success if we selfishly demand our way and miss accountability.

 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

 

Has success changed you for the better or for the worse? Has your accountability increased or decreased? One good success indicator is continuing to cultivate a generous heart. Generosity is the best remedy for greed. Perhaps you seek an accountability partner/s or take a crown financial class to refresh your spirit around biblical teaching on money management. You might define a financial finish line and give away everything over that amount. Also, pray for ways your things can be used to grow relationships not divide them. Leverage your assets as tools for God’s work not toys for yourself.

 

Moreover, as our Lord's grateful children, we give Him credit for any successes in life. God gave us the gift of His son Jesus, so by faith we have His Spirit living within us to guide our decision-making. Because of the Lord’s leadership and promptings of the Spirit in our lives, we are able to live abundant lives. Anything good we have comes from God. He gives our minds wisdom to think clearly. He gives our hearts humility to act graciously. He gives our souls salvation to live gratefully. So, we give God glory for our success. Without Him we fail, with Him we succeed.

Recalculating route

David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 2 Samuel 5:23

 

Beloved, plans are made to be adjusted, as the Lord is in the business of leading and guiding us through the planning process of discovery. It is imperative that we remain nimble, flexible, and open to His leadership. What worked yesterday, may not work today, or tomorrow. Prayerfully seeking the wisdom of God is the GPS (Global Positioning System) needed to define His process and locate His destination.

 

Do not be afraid to scrap the old plan/way and script a new one. God delights in leading you through the informal back door, and not necessarily the formal front door. What your friend experienced may be just the opposite of your experience. This is why it is wise to follow Christ’s path through the prompting of His Spirit. The path of Jesus may seem perilous, but you can be guaranteed His presence is in the middle of your planned adjustments, as He will never leave us nor forsake us.

 

If you remain bound by your plan, you may miss the success of His. Man sets the plan, but the Lord extracts it from his heart, though it may not seem logical at the moment. Yes, it is somewhat embarrassing to change course for the umpteenth time, however it is better to make a midcourse correction and suffer a little shame, than to wait too long and be humiliated by stubbornness. God’s best, often, is not a direct linear path. He is most creative in leading us on a trail of trust, as this walk with God is based on faith and the working of our faith which is displayed in our obedience to His word and the promptings of His Spirit.

 

The plan of God requires ongoing prayer that asks Him to purify your motives and to clarify His plan to you. Ask Christ to confirm your coordinates to His destination. Whatever path you are blazing, He has been there before. It is typically harder to discern God’s best when you are encountering someone or something for the very first time. There are many unknowns and so many opportunities to pursue.

 

So over-apply due diligence by not rushing into first-time experiences with blind optimism. If you do, you might regret it. Trying to rush God’s will is frustrating and will cause you to fret. God’s will, reflected upon and clarified, is encouraging and will cause you to rest. It is okay to change today if He has amended what you thought He told you yesterday. Just make sure the Holy Spirit is guiding your steps.

 

Lastly, it is not unusual to discover His best over a period of time. If you make His minor adjustments daily, your course correction does not seem as radical. If you refuse to discern His plan daily, then one day you will wake up in need of a revolutionary reaction. So much so, perhaps, that you scare people away.

 

So, be wise to let God lead you down what may be the unconventional road of His will. Inform others along the way so they are not surprised by any sudden change. Humility is willing to allow the Lord to lead you in a different direction. Wisdom is being able to get it done while leading others to do the same. Expect your plans to need adjustment, and trust God with the outcome. Adjustable plans are the best laid plans. Hold your plan with an open hand, which rests in the hand of the Lord.

A growing faith

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.     2 Peter 1:8

 

The life of the believer is not designed for maintenance or meant for maintaining. The believer who is vibrant and alive is a maturing disciple. As a growing believer in Christ, you are in the process of adding to and developing your character. Your faith is not static; rather, it is dynamic and nimble. You are building a life of character that can stand against the winds of adversity and enjoy the blessings of prosperity in Christ.

 

As a character builder, you are to possess these qualities of Christ in an ever-increasing measure: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (See 2 Peter 1:5-7)

 

Your process of character development is a conscious effort. It starts with faith and ends with love. These are the bookends of God’s expectations for your character. He may start with faith because it is the doorway to Him. Faith is how you approach God and how you appropriate His virtue into your life. Faith allows you to find your Heavenly Father and learn from Him. Faith gives you ears to hear and a heart for change. Love, on the other hand, deals with motive. Everything you do needs to be inspired by love for God and people. The greatest from the trilogy of faith, hope, and love, is love. 

 

Start by asking God to increase your faith. An expanded capacity for faith and trust opens the door to other opportunities for life transformation. Faith is first base; so do not run past it. Faith taken for granted is not faith; so do not disguise shallow or flippant religious-speak as faith. Faith is focused on God, and there is a relentless resolve to understand Him and His word.

 

The Bible is a treasure of truth that leads to understanding the character of God; faith is bolstered through the Bible. The Scripture ignites your faith. That faith becomes radically robust as you feast and learn of God through his Holy Word. Do not underestimate the potential of increasing your measure of faith by knowing and applying God’s Word daily.

 

Lastly, use love as warm oil to massage truth into your life and into the life of others. Like a sore muscle, life needs the soothing effect of love. Love understands honoring a relationship over being right. Love motivates faith and is motivated by faith. Your love gives you admission into the life of a person, to influence their life. If they know they are loved, then your influence is trusted. Let love lace your life like garlic flavors a delicious Italian meal. You can smell its appetizing aroma that precedes its amazing taste.

 

With an ever-increasing measure the aromatic effect of your love will precede your presence. People want what you have when they are unconditionally loved. So, make sure what you are offering them is authentic. Be a love doctor, who graciously administers the love of God. Do not settle for the maturation of your past character. Seek Him even more humbly and aggressively now to increase your measure of character. Keep adding His character to yours; this is effective and productive. Keep your life book between the bookends of God’s character. Your life then becomes an attractive read.

His peace my life.

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:18 (NRSV)

 

Everyone longs to see peace in the world and in their lives. We long for safety and security, to know that everything will be alright. And yet, at every level of society, from intimate family relationships to complex political and economic systems, we live in a chronically anxious world. Rarely do we engage the world around us with the courage and security that comes from our place within the Kingdom of God. Instead, we have allowed this chronic fear and anxiety to live and flourish within our hearts and lives in countless ways affecting our ability to live a Kingdom lifestyle of peace.

 

When I think of the life of Jesus, I think often of his remarkable ability to maintain a state of peace, even in the midst of extreme chaos, fear, and uncertainty. From the vulnerability of the stable, to the raging storm at sea, all the way to the pain and suffering of the cross, we see the Lord embody perfect peace in every situation.

 

In "The Imitation of Christ", Thomas Kempis offers this prayer for peace that says, “Grant me, above all else, to rest in You, that my heart may find its peace in You alone; for You are the heart's true peace, its sole abiding place, and outside Yourself all is hard and restless. In this true peace that is in You, the sole, supreme, and eternal Good, I will dwell and take my rest.” Thomas reminds us that our hope for secure dwellings and quiet resting places is when we place our desire for peace in Christ alone and being known by Him.

 

Just as Jesus found His peace in His intimacy with the Father (see John 14), so too are we able to find peace in any trial when we find our life and rest in Him alone. Though we search far and wide, anything other than Christ will leave us restless and unable to navigate the storms of life that come our way. In His earthly ministry, Jesus lived a life of peace in times of trial, a life of security in times of great uncertainty, and a life of rest in a restless world. As we find our life in Him we are able to do just like our Lord.