Peace Like A River
Everyone wants peace, but few people understand peace and know where to find it. However, God is very clear about peace in His Word.(Isaiah 48:17,18) Peace is the tangible blessing of God on those who live righteously by obeying His commands and laws. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict. We can have peace from the Lord when things are going very badly. It all depends on how we are following His way.
When we sin, we do not have peace. The Holy Spirit makes sure that we feel convicted and uncomfortable when we are doing the wrong things, no matter how fun they may be. We do not have peace just because we get our way and people act like we want them to act. They may resent us, so that they are only doing what we want because they feel they must. That coercion does not bring peace. Money does not bring peace, in fact, it brings more stress if we do not use it according to God's laws. I can assure you that the unrighteous do not have peace. They may be prosperous, powerful, and pretty, but they lack peace.
Those who are righteous have peace, because doing the right thing brings peace in our hearts. Treating others in God's way leads to peace. The main thing is that when we trust God and do His will, He gives us His peace to guard our hearts and minds.(Philippians 4:6,7) Therefore, peace comes from forsaking our ways and doing things God's way. Then, if people hate us, persecute us, and kill us, we have peace as God walks with us through it all. If things go well, we have peace with others, because God's love flowing from us draws others to us, and we treat them with respect and love, so that there is peace. Peace is from the Lord. Any other kind of peace is not real peace.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 50-52.
When we sin, we do not have peace. The Holy Spirit makes sure that we feel convicted and uncomfortable when we are doing the wrong things, no matter how fun they may be. We do not have peace just because we get our way and people act like we want them to act. They may resent us, so that they are only doing what we want because they feel they must. That coercion does not bring peace. Money does not bring peace, in fact, it brings more stress if we do not use it according to God's laws. I can assure you that the unrighteous do not have peace. They may be prosperous, powerful, and pretty, but they lack peace.
Those who are righteous have peace, because doing the right thing brings peace in our hearts. Treating others in God's way leads to peace. The main thing is that when we trust God and do His will, He gives us His peace to guard our hearts and minds.(Philippians 4:6,7) Therefore, peace comes from forsaking our ways and doing things God's way. Then, if people hate us, persecute us, and kill us, we have peace as God walks with us through it all. If things go well, we have peace with others, because God's love flowing from us draws others to us, and we treat them with respect and love, so that there is peace. Peace is from the Lord. Any other kind of peace is not real peace.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 50-52.