Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Sorry for the lateness in my post on peace for this week. Inspiration was at the tip of my fingertips, so to speak, but just wouldn't make it's way out. Hope you've had a peaceful week. 


I don't know about you, but when I take a glance at the world around me, peace is not the first word that comes to my mind.

Chaos
Turmoil
Injustice
Hate
Anger
Bitterness
Unforgiveness
Worry
Anxiety
Rage
Oh, how I could go on and on.

Peace doesn't seem to come easily for most folks, even for many who consider themselves Christians.  Focusing on what's directly in front of them is easier than looking deeper to find the peace they long for. Philippians 4 reminds us not to worry - but to pray, asking God, thankfully for what we need, and He will give us peace.  Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, we already have it. We just need to grab hold of it.

Jesus left us His peace. That "I'm-going-to-be-okay-because-I-know-the-Father-is-with-me" kind of peace that is beyond our comprehension. When the world is saying "WHY AREN'T YOU FREAKING OUT?!?!?", we can confidently say it's because God loves us enough to give us what we need to get through what we need to get through, even if it doesn't look how we think it should.

"I'm leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly." ~ John 14:27

But wait... where does this peace come from? Jesus said these words, so we know they are true. But he's leaving (did you catch that in the first part?). He's not going to be around to calm the seas in the midst of the storm. If we look back a verse...

"The helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you." ~John 14:26

So, this peace that Jesus is leaving for us, it comes with Holy Spirit. Because He is in us, we have access to the peace that Jesus offers.

Embrace peace - don't let it get away! ~ Psalm 34:14

Once you grab on to peace, hold on to it! Don't let it slip away in a sea of anxiety and worry. Don't lose it in the midst of an argument. Don't misplace it when the storm winds come. When you have a hold of something loosely, it can easily slip away. When you embrace something, you hold on for dear life, as if letting go would let it fall out of reach forever. Embrace peace - don't let it get away!

‎"at the core of worry, we actually make ourselves our own god."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out the other bloggers in the series:

there is beauty in letting go ~ the rabbit hole chronicles ~ a joyful journal ~ the ever-changing thought ~ broken rubies ~ by feet or heart ~ apopipto lepis