True peace – something we all desire yet is so hard to find! Ask yourself today, where does your peace come from? By reading these devotions you will learn where true peace can be found, that we can experience peace in the wildest of storms, and also how to live peaceably with those around us. Don’t let your heart be discouraged – true peace is available to you!
Hope Media
Day 1
Scriptures: Psalms 4:8, Galatians 5:22, Mark 4:35-41
Peace – Asleep in the Storm
Where do you find peace? A walk in the bush? On a bike ride? Reading? Worship? On the water? Time with your pet? A friend recently tried to convince me he finds peace when he runs… this one I’m not so sure about. Here’s another question for you: is peace something you find, something you experience, something we are called to cultivate within ourselves… or perhaps even all the above?
Galatians 5:22 (AMP) tells us “The fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness…” etc.
Through this season, I’m learning that peace is an internal state that may manifest in my external world – and even if my external world remains in a state of chaos, that does not need to determine my internal world.
Consider Jesus in Mark 4:35–41 (NLT) “… a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion… “. He knew His source of peace, He knew whose He was, and He knew the authority He carried as a child of God. This supernatural ‘asleep in the storm’ type of peace won’t always change your external world. It will, however, give you the internal strength to lay down and sleep, to rest, trusting the LORD. And it will see you through the rough seas you’re in.
So, consider again today, where does your peace come from?
Day 2
Scriptures: John 14:27, Philippians 4:7, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 13:5
Seek God, Find Peace
‘Peace that passes all understanding’ is a phrase that originates from the Bible, specifically from Philippians 4:7. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (NKJV).
We can know a profound sense of peace that only comes from knowing and trusting in God, even during difficult circumstances. This peace is not something that can be fully explained or comprehended by our reasoning or understanding, but it’s a gift that God gives to those who have faith in Him.
This peace is not the absence of conflict or difficulties, but the knowing that God is in control and that He is working all things for good. Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) promised His disciples peace, saying, “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 14:27).
How can we experience this peace? Pray and meditate on God’s Word, trust in His promises, seek His presence through worship, and be in community with other believers. God is with you, and He will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
This peace that passes all understanding is a gift from God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. As you trust in God and seek His presence, you can experience the peace that surpasses all understanding, which guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Day 3
Scripture: Matthew 5:9
Being a Peacemaker
It is sadly possible for one disruptive, insensitive, insecure person to disturb the peace and harmony of a group. It could be a sporting team, a workplace, a social committee, or a church. Just one person can leave a trail of damage in their wake. And so, we need a steady supply of peacemakers: those who will help maintain healthy relationships and do not let their own egos get in the way.
However, we need to understand that a peacemaker is not one who is merely a nice person who sweeps the not-so-nice things under the carpet. They are not some walking, talking, fire blanket smothering the oxygen of disagreement. After all, God makes peace with people not by ignoring their sin, but by having them face it and deal with it. Peacemakers don’t just urge people to get along with one another. They squarely face what the issues are and recognize that peace usually doesn’t come cheaply or easily.
This means that peacemakers are deeply aware of human imperfection. They are not starry-eyed idealists; they are not naïve. They don’t so much believe in the essential goodness of human beings, but in the power of God to transform fallible human beings. They are both brutally realistic about human limitations, and boldly confident of God’s ability to transcend them. They can see the potential in humans while also seeing the dangers in them.
Is the legacy we leave behind one of chaos, trouble, and wounded individuals? Or is it peace? When a certain young man died, one of his friends made the comment, “When he was around, it was easier to be good”. How good it would be if that were our epitaph.
Day 4
Scripture: Romans 12:18
Live Peaceably
Peace is something we all desire, yet too often we’re not sure how to be at peace with ourselves, God, or others. This verse hints that making peace takes work and also that full reconciliation may not be possible. This is true where a relationship is abusive, and it is unsafe or unwise to try to reconcile. However, where hurt has occurred and both people involved are wanting to focus on restoring the relationship, peacemaking can be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and bring depth to the friendship.
When seeking peace with friends, it helps to first consider our own contribution in the conflict. Most disagreements happen because we haven’t listened well to the other person’s concerns. Pride often gets in the way, and we are drawn to the very human responses of trying to pretend it’s all OK, when it clearly isn’t, or we fight back in words and actions. Neither helps with the work of peace.
What I’ve found helpful is to PAUSE – a principle I learned during a PeaceWise course:
• Pray for God’s help.
• Affirm the relationship, letting the other person know why you appreciate them, and be specific.
• Understand, by taking time to listen deeply to the other person’s concerns and experience.
• Seek to come up with a solution together.
• Evaluate how it’s going after you’ve both tried to relate in the new way you both have chosen.
This acronym is not meant to minimize the work of peacemaking, but it’s helped me take time to try to fully understand the other person’s perspective. I hope it helps you too.
Day 5
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Cushions
I often wonder at what point the disciples decided that it might be a good idea to wake their Messiah up. Were there are few ‘ahems’ in the hope that He may stir? Perhaps a light tap on one shoulder or even a polite shake of the shoulders. Maybe at first. But as things got worse, I tend to think they woke Jesus from His peaceful slumber with loud urgency.
There’s a small detail in the story that’s so interesting. Jesus was sleeping with His head on a cushion. This minor and seemingly insignificant detail tells us two things. Firstly, Jesus was tired and needed rest because, just like us, He was human. We can forget this sometimes and see Him as a Godlike figure who only looked human gliding across the earth, not having to sleep, eat, drink, bathe, or even go to the bathroom. It almost seems disrespectful to think of Jesus having to do some of these very human things, but He did. He was fully God and fully human.
Secondly, He had utter peace within the storm. He trusted His Father so completely that He was in a deep sleep in the midst of the howling winds and crashing waves around Him. Peace flows from a heart that trusts in a good Father who is always there for us.
Speaking of cushions and the sea. There is a submariners’ term: ‘Cushion of the Sea’. Submarines will cruise deep within the ocean finding the perfect depth for the best results. Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds up above, the deep waters are calm and peaceful. Like Jesus during the storm, we need to go deep and find our ‘Cushion of the Sea’.
Day 6
Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:2, John 14:27, Luke 2:1-19
Grace and Peace
On Christmas Eve in the year 1914, an amazing thing happened. Cold and wet and covered in mud, there was little hope in the trenches. Then the British troops realized the Germans were singing Christmas carols. A voice sounded out from the German side, “Come, meet us halfway…”.
For a time on that Christmas Eve, war and hate were put aside. There were handshakes, soldiers traded tobacco and wine, and they sang songs together celebrating the birth of Christ. At least for a time, there was no place for anything other than peace.
Peace is defined as an absence of conflict. That peace did not last, and the soldiers went back to fighting the war. But God’s peace is eternal. We can find His peace by knowing who He is and what He has done. We can find His peace through living in His Word, by opening our hearts to the presence of Jesus, singing songs, and praising Him just as the soldiers did in World War I.
In Luke 2, we read that the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Christ. In this baby was the promise of lasting peace. At the end of the song, A Gaelic Blessing written by John Rutter, we read the words: “Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you / Deep peace of Christ to you”.
It is this deep, lasting peace we long for; peace that works against the insecurities and turmoil of life. “My peace, I leave with you”, Jesus tells us in John 14:27. This is the absolute peace of knowing the God who holds us safe and never changes.
Day 7
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7
In Pursuit of Peace
What is this profound peace that transcends Your Story and human comprehension? In the context of the passage, the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Philippi while imprisoned. He encourages them to rejoice in the Lord always and to not be anxious about anything. Instead, he instructs them to pray and present their requests to God with thanksgiving. Paul assures them that when they do this, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace is not dependent on circumstances or human reasoning. It goes beyond logical comprehension and surpasses what the world can offer. It is a deep inner peace that is firmly grounded in trust and faith in God, regardless of the challenges and uncertainties we may face. This peace is a gift from God, and we can experience this when we surrender our worries and fears to Him. No matter how hard we might try, this peace that passes all understanding is not something that can be achieved through our own effort or intellectual understanding. It is a supernatural peace that comes from knowing and experiencing the presence of God in our life. It brings a sense of calm, contentment and confidence, even in the midst of turmoil and adversity.
Ultimately, the peace that passes all understanding is a testament to the transformative power of a relationship with God. It’s an invitation to us all to surrender our anxieties to Him and to find solace in His unfailing love and care. Through faith, prayer, and trust in God’s sovereignty, cast your anxieties upon Him, and know this peace today.