HOW
WOULD YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION:
What’s keeping you from having or experiencing peace? Can you name any one
thing in particular that’s hanging you up? What are the obstacles in your way?
Is it a person, a situation, an
event from your past? Are you grinding away in a daily work environment that’s
more caustic and toxic than uplifting? Are you in a relationship that’s
draining the peace right out you?
Let's uncover the basics and then see what we can do to change our peace meter.
UNDERLYING CONFLICT
As we return to studying and
pursuing peace, the first we must do is to determine the conflict or reason
that makes it difficult to enjoy peace. And in identifying the underlying
conflict, be extra, EXTRA careful
about pointing the fingers at others, or your circumstances. Quite often it is
not so much the circumstance but your attitude about it that’s hanging you up
and poking a hole in your peace balloon. Assess yourself and the situation, and
do it honestly, not with an attitude screaming, “It’s his fault!”
THE FOUNDATION OF PERFECT PEACE
As I’ve pointed out before, and I
will again, the only way you can have true and lasting peace is through a
relationship with the author of peace—the Prince of Peace himself. If you’re
struggling with having peace, ask yourself:
1. What kind of
relationship do I have with Jesus?
2. Do I even
know Him?
3. How can I get
to know Him better?”
4. Am I trying
to pursue this peace thing alone, under my own power? Or am I including Him in the equation and
seeking His guidance on it.
KNOWING YOUR ENEMIES
There is one big enemy all of us
face everyday, and that is the source of all evil and discord: Satan. If you
don’t believe he exists, then achieving peace is going to be an impossible task
for you. In order to concur your enemy, you must know what he’s doing, where
he’s going, and how he’s planning to dismantle you.
And knowing your enemies and how
they fight allows you to put on the right armor, avoid the circumstances and
situations that need to be avoided, and stand firm against them. You must not
be naïve when you enter the battle (which all of us face); and you cannot be
underprepared of ill informed. Jesus warns us to be as wise as serpents but as
harmless as doves. And he tells us that we need to know how the world
functions—we can’t be ignorant about reality.
Still not convinced Satan actually
exists? Then go to the Bible and find out what Jesus has to say about him.
Jesus was obviously convinced that he was a real being. That alone is good
enough for me. If you don’t believe he was, then you’re implying that Jesus
didn’t know what He was talking about, or that Jesus was a little insane
believing the way He did, or does.
HAVING PEACE
There are several things you can do
right now, and on a daily basis, that will help you have the kind of peace that
surpasses all human understanding. But they can take practice and perseverance
on your part. How much time and effort you devote to these things often depends
upon how badly you want that peace you say you don’t have.
1. Change your focus.
Are you focusing more on the event,
your pain, anxiety and fear, another person or on the One who can provide the
peace you seek? This isn’t always as clear or as easy as it may seem. Often, if
we’re honest, we latch onto the hurts we’ve been dealt because we don’t want to
let go of them. We’d rather complain about them or get attention through them.
Do some soul digging to peel back the layers to uncover the root cause of your
anxiety.
2. Change your circumstances.
Sometimes we do need a change of
scenery, a new environment, a new job or new friends. We simply need an
emotional or physical break. Sometimes we need to put physical distance between
ourselves and the anxiety source. If this is the case, do it without
apologizing, or expecting everyone to fall in line with it or understand.
Or try examining your lifestyle. It
could be something as simple as getting more rest, saying no to activities,
saying yes to some activities, getting more fresh air and exercise, or altering
your nutrition so it nurtures and heals your body. Scientists are just starting
to uncover just how important sleep, nutrition, and exercise are to brain
function, peace, and happiness.
3. Change your attitude.
Scientists are also learning how
attitude can affect your peace, health and happiness. And there’s an
organization—Greater Good Science Center—devoted to finding out what works and
what doesn’t to improve peace, happiness, and contentment.
Wanna know what one of the biggest
factors is to having peace?
Thankfulness.
Yes, thankfulness. So grab a
journal, label it your “Thankfulness Journal” and start cataloging all of the
good things that happen to you during a day or week and make an ever-growing
list of all the things you’re thankful for.
4. Pray for Peace
Always be seeking it and praying for
it. And learn to walk each day in the power of the Holy Spirit.
For those of you
who want more tools to pursue peace and happiness, go this link at the Greater
Good Science Center. It’s run through University of California—Berkley. Their purpose
is to provide science-based insights for a meaningful life.
Next week we’ll
continue the hunt for peace, regardless of the turmoil going on around us!
Until then, make
it a great week, for you and someone else!
Blessings,
Andrea
May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers (3 John 2).
Photos courtesy of Google Images
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