What is peace? Peace is a location.
I would have laughed had it not been so ridiculous. There I stood in the middle of a darkened room with a large cardboard box over my head. A feeling of emptiness and futility pervaded the scene. I looked in the box for something that clearly wasn’t there.
“Can you mold it? Create it? Put it in a box and use it when you need it?
No, my peace I give to you.”
“You can dwell in peace, concentrate on it, and be present in your life.
You cannot manufacture it.”
Peace is a location you can live from and I am the Prince of Peace. If you know Me, then you know peace. You don’t have to leave it, you can live there and make life decisions in peace. Give no man or situation your peace.
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This vision and His teaching have me questioning my old beliefs about peace. Was I trying to manufacture it and make everything okay in a world of chaos? And was He now telling me I can be within chaos and yet still dwell in peace? I’m still struggling with how to reconcile this truth with my life. Letting go of my old mindset that peace is something you have to struggle and strive for. How can I begin to live out the knowledge peace is found in the Living God Christ Jesus? Peace is a location in Christ.
What does that look like? I know what it doesn’t look like (cue the laughter while we jest at me looking in a cardboard box).
Have you ever experienced supernatural peace amid impossible life circumstances? I’d love to hear about it.
Let’s look at scripture.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah, 9:6)
If Christ is the Prince of Peace, then it stands to reason He rules over this location called peace. Where is the Kingdom? I believe it is the Kingdom of God that He calls us to bring to earth as it is in heaven. Do our acts of peace and agreement with God bring a slice of heaven into our chaotic world?
“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)
This peace He gives us can’t be taken away. We can only give it up. To maintain peace within us, we must maintain a relationship with the Prince of Peace. There is no other way. Yet. why do I try?
Prayer for you and me: Prince of Peace, we submit our hearts to you. Transform our mindsets from one of lack and desire to control our lives into submission and flowing in the peace You freely give. Remind us it is foolish when we lay down our peace and pick up retaliation or anger. We repent of the times we’ve acted in anger instead of forgiveness. Teach us we are listening. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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