Peace

Peace is a condition of the transformed soul. God offers us this condition. We accept it or invite it into our lives in a similar way that we accept grace into our lives when we first believe. These are such good gifts from God. I never again want to live a day or a minute without this "awareness of God's abundant goodness."

On www.biblegateway.com I searched for the word peace. It produced 247 occurrences in the Old and New Testaments. I have been reading them slowly during moments when I have to wait somewhere and have a few minutes to spare. I have committed some to memory and have used others as prayer in the car. I am hoping that as I do this, these scriptures and the reality that they speak of will grow in my mind and heart so that I may increasingly live in the condition of peace.

An interesting things is happening as I have been trying this: I have become more aware of the "armies that encamp against" (Psalm 27:3) my peace. I am more aware of my weak spots. It is pretty obvious that there are a lot of spots where the condition of peace has not been invited.

Among the many scriptures on peace, here are a few that caught my attention.

Psalm 4:8 "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 29:11 "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."

Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 32:17 "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effects of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."

Isaiah 54:10 "The the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 20:21 "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Ephesians 2:17 "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near."

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Jude 1:2 "Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance."

Revelation 1:5 "Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before the throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth."

Happy meditating, my friends!