Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Let’s talk about God’s peace. Remember that regardless of your circumstances you have perfect peace. You may be dealing with difficulties in your life, whatever it is that you are going through or dealing with you must remember through Christ you have perfect peace. You must realize that you cannot be moved by your circumstances, Christ is your firm foundation. You cannot control what happens to you or around you, but you can control how you react. You see God’s Word says that He gives us self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 says;
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
God gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. There are times when you may get into a situation that may cause you to get out of character, we may want to cuss folks out. But you must remember that as a follower of Christ you are different now. You are a new creation in Christ, and you cannot react the way the world reacts. We are in this world, but we are not of it.
It is easy to cuss folks out, its easy to lose control, its easy to fight back, that’s easy. But to be meek and under control that’s hard. You see we are not fighting flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Remember that the next time you are dealing with difficult people.
Galatians 5:22-23 says;
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
I always say that you are either a vessel for God or for the enemy. So, choose wisely. The same way God uses his children to further His Kingdom the enemy uses people to further his kingdom as well. So, the next time you’re frustrated, the next time you feel like you’re about to lose your temper, or get out of character remember, “Beloved never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.”
There are people who are meant to be in your life for a season and it is important for you to distinguish the difference between people who you are meant to work things out with and work on relationships with and those who you need to move on from.
The Word of God says that you will know them by the fruit that they bare.
You see a good tree produces good fruits, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them. We must be careful what company we are around because bad company corrupts good morals. If you want to experience God’s peace you have to be able to discern when to walk away and end relationships that are not good for you. If it is not bringing you closer to God don’t compromise, God is way more important.
There are people in my life personally that I felt the Lord put it in my heart to minister to. And I have seen the Lord at work in their lives. But what I have learned is that you plant the seed and it is up to that person whether they want to pursue a relationship with God. Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We cannot make anyone follow Christ.
The other day I was talking to the Lord because my heart was grieved over a situation in my life where I was asking God whether I should walk away from this relationship or if I should continue trying to work at. I was like Lord do you want to use me to minister to this individual what are you wanting me to do here Lord?
And immediately the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, which says;
“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.”
And as I am reading this scripture, I see on the next chapter I have some verses highlighted. So I start reading them and it was Chapter 3 verse 14-18 and when I tell you I was balling crying. I felt the presence of the Lord and I could not stop sobbing.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 says;
“But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So, all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord- who is the Spirit- makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
That was God confirming to me that ultimately it is up to the person to turn to the Lord, only then will the veil be taken away. So as the Lord has confirmed to me time and time again all I can do is plant the seed, someone else may water it and the Holy Spirit will do what He does. I am not the Holy Spirit, so I just plant the seed maybe I water it, but the rest is between that person and God.
My point is that your peace is also determined by the relationships you choose to have. There are some relationships that are not healthy that need to be reevaluated. I know that since I found Christ a lot of people, I thought were my friends are no longer my friends, family that I loved, we are no longer in communication but I know it has been God at work in my life, and I feel at peace. God removes people from your life to protect you and in my case a lot of people removed themselves from my life but it’s God’s protection.
This Christian walk is not easy, and it may seem like a lonely one at times. That’s why the word of God says that wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. And I am ok with that, I am ok with being on the narrow road that’s leads to life. I want to be amongst the few that find it.
The Word of God says, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility “(Ephesians 2:14). We must also do our part and we have to pick and choose our battles. We must be slow to anger.
His word says in James 1:19; “Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
I’ll end this by saying that our Lord gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. And I have been able to experience this peace. All glory to God.
Hebrews 13:20-21 says;
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Shalom!
