The other day, I happened to see a Christian friend I haven’t seen in a while. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, “I can’t complain, because I keep my mind on God’s peace all the time.” I thought this was one of the best responses I’ve ever heard. Often when you ask people how they’re doing, they have a list of complaints a mile long. When I heard his response, I couldn’t help but think of Isaiah 26:3 (NLT). The prophet tells us about the peace of God. He said, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” We need to ask ourselves if we really believe this verse, because many of us are walking around without the peace Heavenly Father offers us.
Many of us look to people, situations, and material things to bring us peace, and doing this will ultimately end in disappointment. Heavenly Father wants us to enjoy His blessings. He wants us to have abundance, good health, family unity, and spiritual strength. The way to really enjoy these blessings is to make a choice to let God’s peace into our hearts. Colossians 3:15(NLT) says, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
Again, this is a choice that each of us must make, but instead of creating a landing strip for God’s peace and blessings, some of us speak and act in a way that draws negative outcomes.
Words are very meaningful. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. The confessions we make and the conversations we have with others are very impactful. By speaking and confessing the positives of God’s Word, our words have the potential to add life and promote peace. Speaking negativity will do the exact opposite; it will cause things to become worse, even unto death. A lot of our trouble begins and continues because we refuse or neglect to humble ourselves before God by being disciplined in the things we speak and confess.
Philippians 2:5 tells us that we must have the same attitude that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ had. He humbled himself in obedience to God, even to the point of allowing evil and sinful people to nail him to the cross. He refused to disobey God, and God rewarded his obedience and elevated him to the place of highest honor. (Phil 2:9)
Psalm 29:11(NLT) states, “The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” God is our everything, and everything we possess comes from Him. He gives us strength to get up every morning and see another day. His mercies are new every morning, and we should have faith that He has told us the right way to live. Our faith in Him demonstrates our gratitude for all He has done. He is worthy of our positive and praise-filled confessions and conversations. It’s these life-affirming words we speak that open the door to His peace.
Job 22:21 (ESV) tells us, “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.” To agree with God is to make the choice to speak only what He says. It is to think the thoughts our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ would think, and to have a good attitude, like he had. If we’ll submit to God in this way, He will keep us in His perfect peace, and good things will come to us. ■
English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Agree with God and Be at Peace”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.