Friday Fight 151: 'Pass' the Peace

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF151.

How often have we been sitting around a dinner table, at family gatherings, or work meetings when suddenly arguing begins? There we sit, contemplating our exit plan, hoping the noise and chaos will cease with our wishful thinking of tranquility. Our immediate response is escape, which can be a precursor to isolation when doing so becomes a habit through repeated removal. However, does being alone or removing ourselves mentally truly bring us peace?

'Pass' the Peace:

Too often, people view peace as the absence of noise, but this is not the case. True peace can only be found through a relationship with God. Rather than trying to remove ourselves from every disorderly situation, let's rely on the presence of God instilled in us through prayer and spending time in His word. We know what happens when we choose prayer, which is explained in Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As Christians, spending time with God means being spiritually fed. As we are continually nurtured, our responsibility as Christians is to be a source of spiritual food to those in need, essentially those starving. People are looking for tranquility, and we can share our hearts until those who are lost find solitude in the mercy of Christ. True peace is never felt outside the power of God. True peace is attained in the prayers of believers gathered with hearts for Christ and willing to intercede for the heaviness of lost souls. Rather than trying to avoid all confusion, let's look for opportunities to 'pass the peace' instead.

There will always be turmoil and noise. Even though it can be difficult, trying to remove ourselves or hiding from it is only a temporary fix. Instead, let's be available and willing to pray for those who need healing, love those who need His love, and teach those eager to learn. The grace of God instilled within us reaches those God sends to us who are walking in bondage. Life from Christ is always the essence, the direction, and the nature of New Life. We are watered by the gentle streams of the Holy Spirit. Then, we become a spring that carries those gentle streams as we serve God and love people. We reveal Christ to others through our actions until they can taste and see that the Lord is good! When we live our lives fully for God and open our souls to the floodgates of true meaning and true purpose to every endeavor that we attempt, there is no segment of our lives God will not bless, fill, or restore with the fullness of His presence. His love and everlasting holiness draw us to Him, and His grace is abundant.

Photo Credit: Michele LaSala

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert