Make yourself aware of the presence of the Lord.
Today, we are going to talk about peace. Specifically, being a person who brings peace.
Bringing peace is a big topic. For our purposes today, we are not going to focus on the broad application of peace—resisting war or the violence done between nations. Rather, we will focus on bringing peace to the lives we live every day.
A person of love is one who brings peace to the world and not anxiety. God is love. God is never anxious. Therefore, anxiety is not of God. And, anxiety is not of love.
Now, before we continue, I must seek to alleviate your shame. There is a TON of anxiety in our world, and some have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders. I am not suggesting that you’re not a person of love if that is you. But, I am suggesting that anxiety—worry—compulsion—frenzy are not in the family of loving postures.
Our upbringings, the stress and pace of our world, all conspire against us being people of peace. Duh, Isaac, so what? Well, Jesus envisions that our flourishing comes not just when we are at peace, but when the peace in us makes peace.
9 Flourishing are the peacemakers because they will be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
Dallas Willard gave advice to John Ortberg for his spiritual growth: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry.” Hurry is in the way of our flourishing life. We must eliminate it. Now, don’t worry, we are going to come back to this quite a bit in the year to come. Not one thought or devotional is going to fix such a massive challenge in our world. But, today, I really want to encourage you that your peacemaking will come from the peace you experience in your heart first.
You’re doing a good thing by tuning into this devotional. Only time with the Lord can take us to peace.
This week, begin to notice the small and large eruptions of anxiety, anger, worry and doubt that come about in your life. Pay attention to how your peace (or lack of peace) affects the people around you.
Read:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
To become a peacemaker is to become a person of influence. God is bringing peace to the world through you.
If you struggle with peace, you’re not alone. Take heart. As we follow the way of Jesus, we will grow in peace.