“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.]” John 14:27
One truth that jumps out at you as you read the above passage is that just as it applies to every other blessing and spiritual provision, God holds us individually responsible for enjoying the peace that Jesus Christ bequeathed to us as His children. This means that genuine peace is not what we have to seek for, but that which is already within us as a result of the outworking of God’s Spirit within and which we can tap into when required to enable us live and prosper in a world that is characterised by its constant turmoil. This peace however comes into its own in the time of upheaval as opposed to the peace the world gives, which is characterised by the absence of turmoil.
So how can we enjoy peace when all about us is in chaos? Well, since Jesus said that He bequeathed His peace to us, let us see what kind of peace He was talking about. A good example is the story of how Jesus somehow managed to sleep in a boat during a tempestuous storm. His disciples were bewildered that He could manage this feat and annoyed at His perceived lack of care for their welfare. So, they woke Him up and confronted Him with their grievance. So how did Jesus’ respond? He simply stood up and commanded the storm to cease, which was what happened as peace was restored to the amazement of the now doubly bewildered disciples. They could only blurt out “What kind of man is this that even the storm obeys Him? The answer to that question was that Jesus was operating from a position of strength – the pedestal of peace. In other words, peace in operation often translates into pure power to determine your own destiny. The peace of God transforms you into a victor over life’s circumstances. It enables you to keep a cool head and respond, not react, to difficult situations. God’s peace keeps you in control and enables you find the right answers and thus tackle whatever question might be being asked of you. You will never again be a victim.
While it is natural for chaos and turmoil to reign in the world, it is equally natural for us as Christians to impose God’s peace on our situation and command all storms, whatever their magnitude to cease. This is because peace enables us to stay connected to God and to consequently walk in the supernatural. The good news for us is that turmoil – be they physical, political, social, spiritual, psychological, need not move us for God has promised us in His word that great peace have they that love the Lord; nothing shall move them. So, whatever the world throws at us, we know that we have the solution in the word of God, which serves as our source and guarantor of peace. So, like your model and master Jesus, we too can refuse to be perturbed by storms, but simply respond in faith and speak the solution –Peace be still.
Prayer:
Father, your word says of the world – “The way of peace they know not.” Thank you Lord for revealing yourself to me as the Prince of peace. I receive that peace today and declare your peace over my circumstances. I command the turmoil in my life to bow to the power of your peace as I also resist Satan’s attempts to steal my peace. Let your peace reign in me. I declare that I shall eat the fruit of peace and live in peace in Jesus name. Amen.