Where is your place of peace? Where do you go to wind down and shed all of the stresses of the world? For most people, it is definitely not out in the world. Every day that we are out there, whether we are experiencing them or not, we are surrounded by challenges, setbacks, and worries. I don’t have to look for my place of peace, my place of peace is home, either in the recliner by the fireplace or in the middle of my big old bed. Those places have always been my place of refuge, the place where I find peace.
I heard something today that kind of made me think. What they said was, “What if peace is already present, even when it doesn’t feel calm?” What it actually made me think is that I have felt that myself quite recently. Going through the last days with my momma, I was so emotional yet at the same time I had a deep seated sense of peace that I knew was coming from my God.
In Romans 5:1-2, the apostle Paul assured the believers in Rome that through the faith that they had in Christ Jesus, they were justified, and they had peace with God.
Paul told them that as they put their faith in Christ, God also gave them access to the grace that covered them as they rejoiced in the hope and glory of God.
God gives us peace. We have to be willing to accept it.
What is the challenge for Christ followers from these verses? Peace is not something that is easily achieved in this world. There is so much movement and so much activity all around us that it’s hard to live out our God given status in a way that allows us to feel the peace God has already given us. The challenge could possibly be for us to slow down enough to soak in the peace that God has given us, so that the world will see and we will be able to tell them how they can have this peace.
How can we apply this to our lives? Applying these verses to our lives could look like us truly comprehending the access that we already have to God’s grace and the hope that it brings us. Through the personal relationship that we have with Christ Jesus we can experience this peace in our lives daily and share it with others.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened as I realize that this peace is peace with God, not necessarily peace from God. It’s a permanent peace that will never go away. That sounds confusing, but really it is not. The peace that we have with God is the peace that he grants us automatically when we come to Christ as believers. Peace from God is peace that we can accept from God on a daily basis that can help us stay calm during stressful days and live a tranquil life.
Lord, I am in awe through the times that I feel Your peace when situations are not peaceful. I know this is only possible because of the grace You have gifted me with. I do desire Your peace through the stressful days and earthly problems I face each day. Either way, I love to see the results of Your peace in my life.
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Scripture Reference:
“1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 (KJV)
Cross-Reference Scripture(s):
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 (KJV)
“Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about Jesus Christ and hope He can change your eternity: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 