Achieving Present, Perfect and Permanent Peace now and ever

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26 vs 3

God loves mankind. He made us and created us to enjoy his goodness and blessings. After the fall of man in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced for the first time lack of peace in their human life . 

True peace is not external but internal. Peace comes when we are in good relationship with God our maker. Man cannot live and enjoy his human life without peace. Living without the inner peace is one of the heavy burden to bear. 

In search of peace, many have tried different techniques, medicine, counseling etc. Some worked for a while and most failed. But how can I achieve peace? I will like to share with you scriptural principles and practices that can make living in and with peace a total reality in your life. While I do not have any training in human psychology, I have experienced lack of peace and I want to share with you what I discovered and how I possessed peace within. Please read on.

My Two Perspectives of Peace 

In my discovery, there are two major type of peace we can experience namely peace through ignorance of danger (common, popular) and peace in believing (few, unpopular).  

Peace Through Ignorance:  let me use this illustration. Imagine you are seated comfortably on a chair and you never knew there is a very poisonous snake right underneath the chair. Because you don't know there is venomous snake close to you, you feel comfortable. As far as you are concern all is well. Then suddenly, someone approach you and alert you that there is a snake right underneath the chair. Like most people afraid of snakes, you jump up and run or fight. The point is this, a few moments ago you thought all is well. You thought you had peace. Really? That is the peace many people have. They are peacefully ignorant. They are ignorant of the danger of sin, bad decisions and the damnation in hell. Is that the kind of peace you currently possess? 

Peace in Believing:  this is the true peace God wants to give you and me. This is the peace that unburdens the soul of guilt and frees from the heavy loads of accusations and self condemnation. In this peace, you are aware of what you have done, agreed to your shortcoming and willing to make amends where necessary. Can I quickly add that the law court cannot give you this peace. You may win a court case in a lawsuit. That is not enough to set you free from the guilt and consequences of your sins.  Peace in believing comes not by human efforts to cleanse your records and amends your ways only but by accepting God 's offer of salvation and freedom from sin which is through Jesus our Lord.  True peace does not comes by comparing yourself and/or contradicting others. It is not external. It is internal.

How to achieve true peace? 

Acknowledge Yourself

True peace comes when you agree and align with your Creator. I know for some people, this is not what you want to hear. There is no peace as long as you reject, contradict and fight against your maker. 

There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. Isaiah 48 vs 22 (KJV)

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isaiah 57 vs 20, 21 (KJV)

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13 vs 2,3 (KJV)

True peace is that reassurance that God has forgiven you of your sins and you no longer stand rejected or in conflict with His plans and purpose for your life. Sin is the default cause of internal unrest. When the soul is troubled, there is no medicine that can calm the soul.  Taking sometimes to sleep, having fun, doing some exercises, listening to music etc. are weak efforts that helps the physical body to function well but cannot give lasting internal peace.  

Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Job 22 vs 21 (NKJV)

True peace also cannot come just by doing good, attending religious services, lending a helping hand etc. obviously these activities are good and comes in handy only after you settle with God.

Accept His Peace

Peace is a gift, accept and receive it. Peace is a gift that Jesus gives to everyone who accepts His offer of salvation.  

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14 vs 27 (KJV)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16 vs 33 (KJV)

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Ephesians 2 vs 14 (KJV)

Amend Human Relationships: Make your Restitutions

One of the core teachings of the bible which has been silently disobeyed and conflicted is the doctrine of Restitution. Restitution is restoring stolen, misplaced, lost items in our custody to the rightful owners,  apologizing to those we have offended or slandered, amending broken relationships with our fellow men and making amends towards men. Restitution is after repentance towards God. 

I once heard the story of a christian brother who once stoled a shirt from someone and after giving his life to Christ did not return the shirt or make amend. He was out preaching one day when he encountered the man whose shirt he stole and share the gospel with the person. The listener having looked critically at the shirt the preacher was wearing asked, Is this not my shirt? Then, it occurred to the preacher that sometimes ago he stole the shirt from the same person's house and he was back to the same house preaching the gospel. How embarrassing can that be? 

Many believers today have stolen items and money in their custody. If you want the peace of God to continue and increase, you need to locate the people whose properties you have unjustly taken and restore back to them. You may say but God has forgiven me. Yes, after true repentance but God expects you amend your ways with fellow men and women.  

This principle seals your peace both with God and man and his undoubtedly, the uniform teaching of the scripture both in Old and New Testament. 

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. Genesis 20 vs 3 - 7

If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep Exodus 22 vs 1

If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. Exodus 22 vs 4

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. Leviticus 6 vs 4,5 

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24 vs 16

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: I Timothy 1 vs 19

Are you divorced? Seek restoration. Are you quarreling with someone? Seek peace. Often times we are the one to make sacrifices for peace. God has a way of increasing our peace  through obedience. 

Lastly, Follow Peace

No one enjoys a turbulent flight. As long as there is turmoil in your relationships with your bosses, co-workers, wife, husbands, etc. you may not experience complete peace except if the cause of the unrest is due to conflict of faith but be rest assured in Jesus, our peace is sure and very soon Jesus will appear and all will be over. In the mean time, pursue peace with God and man. Learn to understand others. Seek to understand and less to be understood. Be selfless. Look into what other wants. Love your neighbor as yourself. Don't be judgmental and harsh.  Hold your opinion except if it is necessary and be ready to lend a helping hand and a listening ear to others.  

Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. Proverbs 13 vs 15 

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12 vs 14

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another. Mark 9 vs 50 (NKJV)

It is my hope that with this few tips I have shared you, you will obtain peace with God, peace with your soul and peace with everyone around you in Jesus name. God's promises are sure for you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus is our peace. Shalom.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send a mail to readers@devotionalbible.com.ng. I will be glad to discuss with you. 

Thank you for taking time to read through this article and if you like it, please share.  

*Banner Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash

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