No God, No Peace…Know God, Know Peace.

I have always loved this saying! …That’s what the bumper sticker read on the car in front of me at the stoplight many years ago. Amazing…after all these years it has still stuck in my head!

Peace of mind…something everyone wants in their life…don’t they? Don’t you?

We all want to be able to rest…not worry…enjoy life. We all want to be able to enjoy ourselves and not be burdened down with worries that can rob us of our vigor, joy, and purpose in life.

It comes as no surprise that as Christians we can know peace…because we know God. Like the bumper sticker…right?

But how many Christians…how many of us…still struggle with peace and specifically with peace in the day to day details of our lives?

“Peace” comes from the Greek word eirene, the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of “wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul” that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. The word eirene strongly suggests the rule of order in place of chaos.

Sounds good to me! I certainly want to have peace…tranquility that is not affected by outward circumstances or pressures. And I certainly like order over chaos! Don’t you?

We may face various circumstances in life…we may make many decisions in life (some harder than others) …we may experience busy days full of commitments and pressures in our lives… all seeming to push peace so far out of reach.

So if we are Christians and have a relationship with Jesus and God gives us peace…then why do we still lack peace?

I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. John 14:27 NLT

If our Father is the Prince of Peace…if our Father is Jehovah Shalom…then what robs us of our peace?

Some of the things that can rob us of our peace are worries in life, difficult circumstances, discontentment, and busyness of life. (FYI…a great acronym for BUSY is Being Under Satan’s Yolk.)

So how can we experience peace of mind on a daily basis and in our lives?

Right Focus

Having our focus on God helps us experience peace of mind. Many times we may dwell on our circumstances and problems which rob us of our peace. We can become so consumed with our problems that we can lose focus of our problem-solver…our Prince of Peace…our all-knowing, all-powerful God!

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace Romans 8:6 NASB

Right Perspective

Having an eternal perspective will help us have peace of mind. Understanding that our time on earth is short compared to eternity will help us not get caught up in the unimportant details of our daily lives. Having an eternal perspective will also help us push through our difficult seasons knowing that our trials here on earth are temporary.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT

Right Attitude

Having a thankful attitude will help us have peace of mind. Thankfulness demonstrates that we are content with what we have. Many times we are robbed of our peace when we become discontent and begin to focus on what others have and what we don’t have in life. Having a thankful attitude will eliminate a comparing attitude.

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. Colossians 3:15 NLT

Rejoice always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Right Thoughts

Having right thoughts will help us have peace of mind.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Think on these things – Esteem them highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently. Clarke’s Commentary

Think on these things; or take account of. Let these be the considerations which guide your thoughts and direct your motives. The apostle implies that we have the power of governing our thoughts, and so are responsible for them. If the thoughts are ordered well, the outward life will follow. Pulpit Commentary

Right Heart

The key to having peace of mind is having a heart that fully trusts God…no matter what. Because our understanding is so limited…and God’s is not…we are not to depend on our own understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

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 NLT

And because our hearts determine our actions, a right heart will lead to right actions.

Right Actions

Growing in our relationship with God through prayer and reading His Word will help us have peace of mind. This is how we will actually know God and consequently know peace!

Through prayer we can come to Jesus and cast our worries and burdens upon Him. Through reading God’s word we will grow in our hope, faith and trust in Him…and then we will experience rest and peace.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165 NASB

Our thoughts will ultimately determine what is truly in our hearts. And our hearts will ultimately determine our actions.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT

As Christians, we can Know God…Know Peace.

We have the power to control our thoughts and what we choose to focus on. We can choose to have the right focus… right perspective…right attitude…right thoughts…right heart…and right actions…helping us have peace of mind in our daily lives as well as life in general…no matter what circumstances we face…no matter what decisions we face…no matter what may try to rob our peace.

Reflection Points:

1) Do you struggle with peace of mind in your daily life? Or life in general?

2) What seems to rob you of your peace?

3) Do you have the right focus… right perspective…right attitude…right thoughts…right heart…and right actions?

4) What areas do you need to work on to help you bring peace of mind in your life?

Action Points:

1) Review and put to action the 6 points above in order to experience peace of mind in your life.