Everyone wants peace, the only thing holding them back is they do not want to do what is necessary to get real peace. Jesus tells us in Luke 12, do you think I have come to bring peace? You are wrong, I came to bring division. What do you mean Jesus, telling us you are leaving us with a gift of peace of mind and heart then you tell us you came to bring division. Sounds like one of those contradictions everyone talks about, right? It is not a contradiction it is stone cold fact. In Isaiah 26:3 Gods word tells us He will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him! Look at those words very carefully. Does the whole world trust Him? No! Is every heart and mind being fixed or set on Him? No! So the only way to attain real peace is to trust Jesus and no matter what, Keep your eyes on Him.
Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. (7) 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.
Do you ever find it hard to pray? I know I do sometimes and usually it is because I set my mind on problems that I am praying for and not on the one I am praying to. God is our solution to everything. We need to tell The Father, in Jesus name, and begin to thank Him for all of the great things He has done. This is so simple that everyone should be doing it all the time but instead we worry. It seems the simpler it is the harder we make it. The first part of verse 6 tells us not to worry about anything. Is this some kind of fairy tale or is it Gods truth? Isn't worry the opposite of peace? Psalm 16:6 gives us confidence in our prayer life when David talks to God in a very simple manner. He says, Dad, bend down here and listen to me please,because I know you will answer me. This is my translation of what he said but still it is very basic. We talk to God He listens and answers. David knew He would answer him and we need to know that too! It is called confidence, trust, certainty. It is called faith! It is trusting your Father to answer when you pray and receiving the answer that God gives you with praise and thanksgiving even though it isn't the answer you want. Then that peace of God that exceeds anything we can understand floods your life with the warmth of His sweet Holy Spirit who guards your heart and mind keeping you in peace.
Psalm 34:14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
Christ did come to bring division. There are the one's who have peace and the ones who don't. The first step in having peace is to make peace with God by believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord. The next step is to keep your mind fixed on Him. This is the hard part, this is where the division comes in from all different directions. Your flesh creeps up, Satan jumps in with his digs, the whole world collapses at one time, you know what I mean. Life can get to you. Paul and Silas in prison, Daniel in the lions den, Joshua and his army marching around the walls of Jericho, these are all examples of keeping your mind on God. Paul said fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me, everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4: 8-9) It is a fight to maintain peace. The Psalmist says to search for it and work to maintain it. I would be willing to work for this kind of peace. There are no marches, no banners to fly, no picket signs, no works like we saw back in the 60's and 70's. Only trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for everything. His peace, His peace is His gift to us. We just have to unwrap it and put it on.
Luke 12:28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (29) "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. (30) These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. (31) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. (32) "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. (33) "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. (34) Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
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