It's a search that drives men and nations to great extremes -- the search for peace.
So much of our time, energy and resources are consumed with trying to find and keep peace with family members, friends and neighbors.
But often, no matter how hard we try, peace eludes us. The war in our minds and hearts rages on and on. Where can we find peace?
The War Within
If you are having trouble finding peace in your life, you must first understand the source of the conflict that is troubling you. This war within has little to do with your surroundings and has everything to do with your soul.
The Bible says that, apart from Christ, we are "far from God." We are actually His enemies (Colossians 1:21
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
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Since mankind was originally created for fellowship with God (Genesis 3:8
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man* and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.
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, Genesis 5:1
This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings,* he made them to be like himself.
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), this separation from Him robs us of peace. Our own sinful actions leave us "without hope and without God" (Ephesians 2:12
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
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The Prince of Peace
But God did not abandon us as if we were strangers. Because of His great love, God sent His only Son to restore peace between Himself and man and to die on the cross for our sins, enabling all men to come to God the Father through Him (John 3:16-18
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.
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The Bible calls Jesus the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor,* Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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). He came to earth to bridge the gap between sinful man and a Holy god. "For He Himself is our peace." The Apostle Paul said, "and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall" (Ephesians 2:14
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
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You can end your own separation from God by yielding your life to the Prince of Peace. Only then can you have perfect peace in the midst of troubled times in this world (John 14:27
"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
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; Philippians 4:6-7
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.
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If you have never known real peace, then turn to Jesus right now in prayer. It's very simple. In fact, it's your right! The Bible says, "Some people accepted Him and put their faith in Him. So He gave them the right to be the children of God" (John 1:12
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
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). Become His child today!
The Promise of Peace
Every day will bring new challenges to your peace. But every day also holds a new promise of peace from God that is totally unlike the peace the world offers.
Jesus said, "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It is not like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid" (John 14:27
"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
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As we learn to walk each day in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to experience the peace that is promised as part of the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
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; Isaiah 32:17
And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.
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). Every time anxiety creeps into our lives, we can turn to the Lord and "God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand" (Philippians 4:7
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.
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Enemies of Peace
But just as the devil tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, so, too, he tempts Christians to forsake God's promise of peace. In his warfare against our souls (1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
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), Satan uses every strategy at his disposal to sidetrack us and rob us of our peace (John 10:10
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
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). This is one of the primary missions that he and his demonic host have (1 Peter 5:8
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
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The enemy fights us every day through the situations and people we encounter. Satan also battles us in our internal thoughts and feelings (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:22-26; 1 John 3:7-15
Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life* is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers* does not belong to God. This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters,* if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters,* it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister* is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them.
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Despite these fierce battles for our peace, we can be assured that God delights in His children and helps us maintain our peace. Through Christ, we can come to God as our "Abba," or "Daddy," knowing that His love and His peace are perfect.
Ensuring Your Peace
If you are struggling to find peace, you are not alone. Consider the following scriptural advice to help you find, or regain, that missing peace:
1. Change your focus. The Bible instructs us to fix "our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete" (Hebrews 12:2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.
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). As we change our focus -- off of our problems and onto the Lord -- His peace will fill our lives.
2. Change your circumstances. Sometimes it is necessary to take a break from the things that trouble us, even for brief periods of time. Even great men and women of God have at times experienced times of devastating discouragement (1 Kings 19:3-5
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died." Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!"
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; 2 Cor. 4:7-10). Try altering your physical setting for a short time. Also, take a close look at your lifestyle. You may be lacking peace simply because you are not following God's pattern for rest.
3. Change your attitude. Are you facing a difficult situation? The Bible says, "Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do" (1 Thes. 5:18). Begin to thank God right now and soon you will experience His peace in the midst of the storm.
As You Pray
"Dear Lord Jesus, I am lacking Your perfect peace. Please help me to turn my heart and mind toward You. I know that I am involved in a spiritual battle and that the enemy seeks to destroy the peace I can have with God. Forgive me, Lord, for seeking peace apart from You and strengthen me according to Your Word. Amen."
God's Word on Peace
"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel" (Philippians 4:6-7
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.
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Scriptures for Study
Psalms 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley,*I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
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-- A portrait of peace
John 14:1-27
"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home.* If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?* When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.* From now on, you do know him and have seen him!" Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! "If you love me, obey* my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,* who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.* No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?" Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
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; Ephesians 2:14-22
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
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-- Establishing peace in Jesus
Romans 8:6
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
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; Ephesians 4:1-3
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
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-- Peace in the Holy Spirit
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