By Mark Maher
For shoes, PUT ON PEACE that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared” (Ephesians 6:15 NLT)
Peace is not easy. You have to work at it and PUT IT ON everyday. You have to get into the Word. Draw into His presence and be very, very, very intentional. You have to want peace. You have to choose peace. And when you start your day, you have to put it on.
“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)
What are some of the things I can do to gain peace? Turn the TV off and start doing all the things I’ve been procrastinating. Get into the Word of God early in the morning. Refrain from engaging in social media. Listen to some Worship music.
Remove all the stuff that’s taking up my time that does not matter. Don’t engage with toxic people. Surround myself with faith-filled friends, who are searching for and sharing the Word of God.
Learn to say no. Do the things that matter, like exercise and gain personal health. Get the necessary rest. I can’t get caught chasing the peripheral. Teach me Lord what matters. This will protect my peace.
“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14) Seems so simple, but amazingly hard. I once heard someone say that the greatest commodity on planet earth is peace. You have to pursue it and you have to put it on every single minute of the day.
“Be anxious for nothing.” (Philippians 4:6) Be anxious for no thing. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) What is the atmosphere of your heart?
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) He puts in us a “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) The problems are always in my life, so Christ doesn’t remove problems, no, He teaches me how to rise above it, to elevate above it and “let my heart not be troubled. Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” (John 4:1)
God doesn’t use fear. 365 times in the Bible says “fear not.” “He has not given you a spirit of fear.” (2 Timothy 1:7) So through Christ, we can choose “to put on peace,” despite whatever we go through. We must guard our heart. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Choose to give it to God. “Cast all your anxiety onto God.” (1 Peter 5:7) Choose to cast off the weariness and the weight and choose to put on peace.
A strong spirit of gratefulness will greatly increase your peace. Start with you’re alive. You have the promise of eternal life.
