PEACE    

 

There is a beautiful theme in the scriptures that follow.  As we are E N G A G E D in the battle of life is when the Lord is near; is when He is our stronghold.  The key descriptive words of an engaged life include: trust, listen, seek, pursue, and pray.  As we develop our minds in these areas, fruit is born in our spirits.  This growth process naturally drives us further into engagement.  In the heart of the battle is where we find righteousness, peace and joy.  We are designed by our Master to live spirit-led lives.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Matthew 11: 28-30

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Philippians 4: 6-7

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

~~ It is good to practice surrendering your mind to the Lord.  Yield your thoughts to Him.  Live in humility.  Seek Him and submit all that you are, your thoughts and your actions, to your King that His glory will result in righteous living and that your prayer life will be powerful and effective. 

Pray and be convicted in your spirit, “Lord, I submit my ways, my emotions, my steps all to You.  I desire and hunger to know Your ways. Equip me to bear fruit.” Pray and continually die to your flesh so that Christ may live in you.  Simply follow Him, know Him and enjoy His presence.  Be transformed.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose trust is the Lord.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield fruit.

James 1: 2-4

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Psalm 9: 9-10

The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Matthew 6: 25-26

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Romans 14: 17-19

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Psalm 34: 17-19

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are [d]crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Jeremiah 32: 26-27

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Isaiah 41:10

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Prayer of Peace

Father, thank you for the truth in John 16:33 that I have peace in Jesus even in the midst of tribulation.  I stand against fear as John 14:27 equips me with the wonderful gift of Your peace.  I choose to walk and work with You in accordance with Matthew 11:28-30 for I know that the path you have planned for me will not weigh me down.  In fact, I praise you because it is just the opposite as I enjoy Your light hearted nature and the freedom I have in You.  I will live according to the wisdom of Philippians 4:6-7 in replacing worry with prayer and praises.  I invite your Holy Comforter to soothe my soul and quiet my thoughts so that I may be a holy example in the midst of any trial that comes my way.  Thank you Lord for directing my steps as stated in Proverbs 16:9.  My desire is to slow down, listen for Your leading and let my soul and spirit be in perfect union in accordance with your plans.

Jesus, I want to be like you.  Jeremiah 17:7-8 paints a beautiful picture of Your life in the Father.  I trust You and rest in the place You have prepared.  May my spiritual roots extend deep and drink of Your nature so that what is in You may also be in me.  I will produce the fruit of Your Kingdom at all times as Your peace reigns in me.

Lord, a deep desire of my heart is that my character may stand strong in the midst of tests and challenges that come into my life.  James 1: 2-4 says that I should consider the pressures of life as a gift.  Right now I invite You to redefine what I consider to be a gift.  When the difficult times come my way, I fix my eyes upon You instead of on the exit and choose to learn in peace what You have planned so that I may reach full maturity as a citizen of Your Kingdom.  May the true colors of my life be a brilliant testimony of Your greatness.

I will listen for your voice in everything I do and everywhere I go in accordance with Proverbs 3: 5-6.  May Your Holy Spirit direct and condition my soul and spirit to hear and know when You speak.  ---AMEN---

Prayer of Peace

(for others)

Father, thank you for the truth in John 16:33 that _____ has (have) peace in Jesus even in the midst of tribulation.  May _____ stand against fear as John 14:27 equips _____ with the wonderful gift of Your peace.  May _____ choose to walk and work with You in accordance with Matthew 11:28-30 and to walk the path you have planned.  May _____ praise you and rejoice in Your light hearted nature and the freedom _____ (has) have in You.  May _____ live according to the wisdom of Philippians 4:6-7 in replacing worry with prayer and praises.  I invite your Holy Comforter to soothe _____ soul(s) and quiet _____ thoughts so that _____ may be a holy example in the midst of any trial that comes _____ way.  Thank you Lord for directing _____ steps as stated in Proverbs 16:9.  May _____  desire be to slow down, listen for Your leading and let _____ soul and spirit be in perfect union in accordance with your plans.

Jesus, we want to be like you.  Jeremiah 17:7-8 paints a beautiful picture of Your life in the Father.  May _____ trust You and rest in the place You have prepared.  May _____ spiritual roots extend deep and drink of Your nature so that what is in You may also be in _____.  May _____ desire be to produce the fruit of Your Kingdom at all times as Your peace reigns in _____.

Lord, I pray that a deep desire of _____ heart would be stirred for a character that may stand strong in the midst of tests and challenges in life.  James 1: 2-4 says that we should consider the pressures of life as a gift.  Right now may _____ invite You to redefine what _____ may consider to be a gift.  When the difficult times come, I pray _____ eyes will be fixed upon You instead of on the exit and choose to learn in peace what You have planned so that _____ may reach full maturity as a citizen of Your Kingdom.  May the true colors of _____ life be a brilliant testimony of Your greatness.

May _____ listen for your voice in everything _____ does (do) and everywhere _____ goes (go) in accordance with Proverbs 3: 5-6.  May Your Holy Spirit direct and condition _____ soul and spirit to hear and know when You speak.  ---AMEN---