“Wherever
You Go”
Finding God’s
PEACE
in Your Life
Comes When
You Learn to Trust
God Is Sovereign
7 Steps to Experiencing
The Peace Of
God
Which Passeth
All Understanding
When Trust
Goes Up...............Peace Comes Down
*********************************************************************************
SUMMARY OF
STEPS:
Step One –
Understanding Why We Do Not Have Peace……..…
Step Two –
Believing God is Sovereign…….…..………...….…
Step Three –
Defining God’s Peace
Experiencing “The River”…….…………………...
Step Four –
Identifying and Conquering
The Wars in our Soul……..……..……….…….....…
Step Five –
God’s Plan for Giving Us Peace.……………….…...
Step Six –
Re-Centering on “The Tree of Life”
How Experiencing God’s Faithfulness
Gives Us Peace..………………....
Step Seven –
Being a Peace Maker……………….…..….…...…....
To Summarize -
Actions List………………………………..………
Receiving the Miracle of God’s
Peace
How God’s Peace Glorifies Christ……......……..….
Resting in God’s Perfect
Peace
The
Results of God’s Peace ………………………...
**********************************************************************
Step One is Understanding Why We Do Not Have Peace
#1) Realizing Our Sin Nature Brings Fear and Insecurity
As we reflect to the beginning, when Adam and Eve fell into
sin, the world was forever changed. As man fell from God’s grace our punishment also brought a human condition which
embedded a sense of fear and insecurity. The sins of fear and insecurity which lead to other sins, are now a reality, for
all generations.
Before the fall, man lived in peace with God. After the
fall,
man was no longer in peace. Enmity was now in place.
Praise God, His plan was revealed from the beginning for
our
reconciliation of peace with our “maker”, as
the provision of
Christ, our Saviour, was prophesized in Genesis. (VERSE
#1).
While living in our “corruptible” bodies, our flesh is in a constant battle
with the Spirit (VERSE #2). Often the “core” of our struggles is a deep
sense of fear and insecurity.
Yet, God does not want us to have a “spirit of fear”
(VERSE #3) and
He wants us to feel “secure” in Him. He wants
us to KNOW
we can trust Him and His Word. (VERSE #4)
Understanding our “sinful condition” is the
first step to learning how God wants to take away our spirit of fear and insecurity by giving us His Peace.
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 1- Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between her seed and thy seed: it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal”
# 2- Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye
cannot do the things that ye would”
# 3- II
Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of a sound mind”
# 4- I John 5:13 “These things have
I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step Two is Believing God
is Sovereign
#2) Confirming God is in Control
During times of turmoil we always ask the inevitable question,
“Why?” Why does God allow bad things, cold hearts, evil doings,
lack of love, etc? This list goes on and is all encompassing as we
experience the “injustices” of life.
While struggling with my list of whys?, I remember reading the
verses in Exodus describing the account of Moses and Pharoh.
When I read the phrase “I (being God) will harden Pharoh’s heart”
my insight to God’s sovereignty began to unfold. (VERSE #5)
No matter where you are in life at this given moment, ask yourself
“IS GOD SOVEREIGN?” In other words, has God allowed the things in
your life for a reason? Romans 8:28 says “All things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
His purpose”. This is a well known verse, but a very challenging
truth to face. Believing this verse requires a huge leap of faith and trust.
We all have a choice to accept or reject God’s will in our lives, as
believers we know we should trust God. When we accept God is
sovereign in ALL things, not just the things we agree with, our soul
begins to settle.
As we grow in grace, trust, and faith we must also confirm…………..
God is Holy, God is good, and God is SOVEREIGN.
While meditating on God’s sovereignty, I reflected on Jesus,
as He hung on the cross on Calvary, at the moment of great pain,
asked His Heavenly Father,
“My God, My God, WHY has Thou forsaken me?” (VERSE #6)
I realized it is not a sin to ask “why” but we must trust God’s answers.
Our sin is often not trusting God’s answer.
When we truly accept God is sovereign, we can start to experience
His provision for peace in our lives.
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 5 – Exodus 4:21 “And the
Lord said unto Moses, When thou goes to return unto Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharoh, which I have
put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go”
# 6 – Mark 15:34 “And at
the ninth-hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, E-lo’, E-lo’, la ma sa-bach’-tha-ni? Which is, being
interpreted, My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step Three is Defining God’s
Peace
#3) Experiencing the “River”
of God’s Peace
As we think about Peace we often reflect on our experiences that
made us “feel” calm, relaxed, and assured. No worries, no sadness, no anger, just a peaceful feeling. In our human
form, our circumstances define our peace.
As we learn to understand God’s sovereign reign in our lives,
we begin to trust and build our faith on knowing His plans towards us are not evil (VERSE #7).
Remember, God’s definition of Peace is not our definition
of Peace, just as God’s definition of Joy is not our definition of Joy. God’s peace is not like anything we can
experience through the world but rather only through Him.
(VERSE #8)
God’s peace is not defined by outward circumstances, but
rather by who He is. This is why the peace God gives us is a supernatural peace which “passeth all understanding”.
(VERSE #9)
Our God is the author of peace and He wants His peace to rule
in out hearts
I Corinthians 14:33“For
our God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts”
No wonder God defines His Peace as a “river and His righteousness
as “waves”. Isaiah 48:17-18.
”Thus saith the Lord, Thy Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord
thy God which teacheth thee by the way thou shouldest go.
O that thou hast harkened to my commandments!
then had thy peace been
as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”.
Yes, our God’s peace is like a river as it flows through
us.
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 7 – Jeremiah
29:11 “For I know the thoughts I have toward you,
saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”
# 8 – John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace
I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.
# 9 – Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus"
______________________________________________________________________
Step Four is Identifying
and Conquering the Wars in Our Soul
#4) Learning How to Keep Inner Peace by Avoiding the Lust of the Flesh
God tells us to “be ye holy”. (VERSE
#10) We cannot love God AND
love the things of this world. It is our love for Christ
that should motivate our obedience to His Word.(VERSE #11)
Yes, many times we will fail, yet our merciful God gives
us a way to maintain His righteousness by confessing.(VERSE #12).
The Bible clearly tells us HOW to avoid many of our inner
“wars” in
I Peter
2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from “fleshly
lusts, which war against your soul”
When we are faced with choices, we should turn to God and
ask Him
what to do. We can have the victory over many sins because
God is greater! (VERSE #13)
Remember it was for our sins Jesus Christ was sacrificed.
As we become partakers of His great salvation, God wants
us to work for His kingdom while we remain here on earth. Our desire should be to please The God of our Redemption, who loves
us and gave Himself for us. Power over sin comes when you focus on the cross (the sacrifice and resurrection) and join in
humbleness with the God of the universe, the King of Kings!
When I find myself at the cross of Calvary,
I am thankful and full of love for God’s mercy. This keeps our perspective on obedience to what God requires in Micah
6:8 “He hath showed thee O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love mercy , and to walk humbly with thy God”
Through God’s strength and our love for His mercy in our lives we have
the power to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against our souls.
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 10 – I Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye Holy; for I am Holy”
# 11 – Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart, that
form or doctrine which was delivered you”
# 12 – I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness”
# 13 – I John 4:4 “Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than
he that is in the world”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Step Five is Understanding
God’s Plan for Giving Us Peace
#6) God’s Peace Which Passeth
ALL Understanding Comes
When We Dwell With Christ
Our God wants us to have a sense of peace through all our tribulations
and to trust Him because He has the victory over this world. (VERSE # 17)
The Bible also teaches us how in Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength.”
God wants us to surrender our will to Him, and to completely trust in His
care. Can our lives be any more secure than to know we are in the Creator
of this universe’s hand? (VERSE #18)
He is King of kings, Lord of lords……
YES, God’s plan IS perfect. He tells us exactly what to expect in this
world, He explains what we need to do, He blesses us with gifts and power,
and He graciously tells us how to partake in His peace.
God knows we need to see His Sprit in others, so He gives us special gifts
amongst the saints who are empowered with the gift of “faith”.
(VERSE #19) This gift is used here on earth to audibly remind us
“God is
in control”. God also tells us when we communicate His goodness in our
lives with other Christians, our faith becomes powerful! (VERSE #20)
When we fellowship with other believers it confirms His presence.
Our role is to meditate on our sovereign God’s promises
through His word,
to hide His word in our hearts, and to fully Trust Him.
No matter our circumstances, when we learn to “dwell with Christ”,
a miracle
happens, God gives us His peace.
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 17 – John
16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that
in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”
# 18 – John
10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life: and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”
# 19 – I
Corinthians 12:4 & 9 “Now there are diversities
of gifts, but the same spirit…..to another faith, by the same spirit”
# 20 – Philemon
6 “That the communication of thy faith may become
effectual (powerful) by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Step Six is Re-Centering
On the “Tree of Life”
#6)
Experiencing God’s Faithfulness and Recovering from Deferred Hope
Sometimes when we loose our focus on God, our hearts can
become
saddened, angered or even indifferent. When things of this
world hurt us, we put up our guard and to protect ourselves we harden our hearts. There is a conflict of facing ungodliness
when trying to live for a Holy God. Even sorting out “Christian” behavior can bring a distorted and discouraging
view which builds turmoil in our mind. Our hearts cannot find peace, and become “sick”.
The Bible says in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but WHEN the desire cometh,
it is the tree of life”.
This verse says when we do loose our focus, or we place
our hope in others who fail us, our hope is “deferred” and we become “sick”.
YET, the verse also says the “desire” WILL come
again.
What is the “desire” referred to as the tree of life? It is our Jesus!
So WHEN the desire returns (after our sickness of deferred
hope passes) we will find the only One we can hope in, the Lord Jesus.
God’s provision for our “sick heart” and
confusion is Jesus.
Later in Proverbs 13:19, the Bible confirms “the desire accomplished
is sweet to the soul”.
When Jesus becomes our center again, as our only hope, it is HIM that is sweet to our soul. The things of God, Jesus, and
His Word are true. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!”
Psalms 34:8 says “O
taste and see that the Lord is good!”
When the Holy Spirit ministers to our soul through His Word,
it tastes like honey. (VERSE #14) This is why our expectation (hope) should only
be in him! (VERSE #15)
It is by God’s grace that He forgives us even when
we fail.
Thank you Lord for Your sweet Holy Spirit and Your faithfulness
during the times we fail and “believe not”! (VERSE #16)
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 14 – Psalms 119:103 “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste,! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth”
# 15 – Psalms 62:5-6 “My soul, wait thou only upon God: for my expectation is from Him. He is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defense: I shall not be moved”
# 16 – II Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not (are faithless), yet He abideth faithful:
He cannot deny Himself.”
________________________________________________________________________________
Step Seven is Becoming a
Peace Maker With Others
#7)
Faithfully Abiding in God’s Outline for Peace
As we experience the challenges of our daily lives, God tells us to keep a
conscience void of offence (VERSE # 21), and to keep a pure
heart and clean hands so that we may experience God’s blessings.
(VERSE # 22) Conflicting situations will arise, but God tells us exactly
what we need to do: - keep a conscience void of
offence
-
keep a pure heart and clean hands
-
live peaceably with all men (VERSE # 23)
Using God’s Plan takes courage and confidence in Him. As we do our part
we must trust God to do His part. Especially when conflict arises between
believers. In II Timothy 2: 24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not
strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. In meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give
them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; that they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil”
God wants us to love one another fervently, to be gracious towards one
another, and to forgive one another as a reflection of Christ living in us.
Displaying forgiveness is an important behavior of a Christian’s testimony.
The Bible warns of the dangerous consequences when we do not forgive.
Not only are we to forgive, but we are to reconfirm our love back to those
who have offended, so they may be saved from the “snare of the devil”.
(VERSE #24) Forgiveness gives us and others a portion of peace.
Yes, God wants us to be “peacemakers”. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are
the
Peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God”
Peacemakers help others trust God.
# 21 – Acts
24:16 “And herein I do exercise myself to have always
a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men”
# 22 – Psalms
24:4-5 “He that hath clean hands and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his souls unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness
from the God of his salvation”
# 23 – Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men”
# 24 – II
Corinthians 2:5-11 “But if any man have caused you
grief, he hath not grieved me , but in part: that I may not overcharge you. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which
was afflicted of many. So that contrawise ye ought rather to forgive him, lest perhaps one should be swallowed up with much
sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him, that I might know the proof of you, whether
you be obedient in all things…lest Satan should get an advantage of us”
**********************************************************************************
To summarize:
Remember – life is but a vapor
Trust in God’s plan for you.
Meditate -daily on the things of God:
His goodness and grace, and love his mercy
Move toward Christ -through prayer and study
Magnify God - with a spirit of Praise and Worship
Keep your heart -in God’s care
Sit by God’s “River”
Guard against fleshly lusts
Hope only in Christ
Trust in God’s Promises
***********************************************************
Things to AVOID:
-
Titus 3:9
- foolish questions
- geneologies
- contentions
-striving about the law
-
I Timothy 6:20
-profane and vain babblings
-oppositions of science
(which some professing have erred concerning the faith)
These actions will help allow God’s peace to flow through
you,
and give you rest as you wait for Him. .
Psalms 37:5
“ Rest in the Lord, and
wait patiently for Him”
***************************************************************************
The
Miracle of Receiving God’s PEACE
How God’s Peace Glorifies Christ…..
Ultimately God’s Peace Is Given To Bring Glory to Christ……..
God’s provision for gifting us with exactly what we need
is evidence of His goodness in our lives. He gives us Peace which can only reflect a Heavenly Father’s care.
This is one way God shows His power in our lives because the natural
man cannot understand this peace. Not only does our faithful and sovereign God provide peace to his children He also uses
our testimony of peace to show others His goodness in our lives. His comfort, His joy, and His peace are to radiate through
us to others, so they may seek to know our God.
Most importantly, we should all be in the ministry of reconciling
sinners
with Christ, so they too may be saved from eternal damnation and experience true peace with their maker. (VERSE # 25)
When looking at the
lost world, I always love to remember how each soul, no matter how hardened on the outside, has an inherent knowledge of God’s
goodness. Psalms 139:14 “I will praise Thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well”
WHEN TRUST GOES UP-------------PEACE COMES DOWN
# 25 – II Corinthians 5:18 “And
all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation”
There’s
a peace down inside of me that passeth all understanding
There’s
a joy my Lord gives to me, as He overflows my soul
For
He is King, He’s God Almighty
He’s
the keeper of my soul.
I’ve
know my God compassion, as I’ve knelt down before Him
I’ve
known of His faithfulness, as I’ve called upon His name
For
He is King, He’s God Almighty
He’s
the keeper of my soul.
I’ve
seen my God’s miracles, as He’s healed a young baby
I’ve
seen the Holy Spirit stir, within a cold man’s heart
For
He is King, He’s God Almighty
He’s
the keeper of my soul.
*******************************************************************
Resting in God’s Peace
The 23rd Psalm is a favorite
Chapter in the Bible for so many people.
I remember when I was meditating on
these verses and the most simplistic view of God’s peace reached my soul with this one statement:
“The
Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He MAKETH
me to lay down in green pastures”……
WHY, I asked, does God have to MAKE
us lay down in a beautiful, green pasture? You would think we would welcome the opportunity just to lay there and relax with
Him.
I remembered back to being a child
and how when I felt out of control at times. My mom would sit and hold me down, constrained in her arms, as I would fight
and squirm to break away out of her control. Because she was bigger and stronger, she was able to hold me until my spirit
settled and the trouble within subsided.
I have found, sometimes our God will
hold us firmly in a spot, until our spirit breaks and we realize how much He loves and cares for us. He wants us to know His
Peace, His provision, His green pasture, His still waters, His healing, His righteousness, to fear Him only, to experience
His comfort, His goodness and His Mercy, as we dwell with Him all the days of our lives.
“Wherever You Go”
“No
matter the picture God makes no mistakes
Mountains
or valleys, He does what it takes
Wherever
you go, whatever you do
He’s
always standing beside you”
May our Faithful God be close
to you and whenever your hope is deferred may you soon find yourself with Jesus, who is sweet to you soul.
