Peace of God

By Shirley Mitchell

“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

           

The Gospel of John records the intimate details of the disciples’ last night with Jesus.  Jesus told them that one of the disciples would betray Him.  The charge of treachery stunned them.  They questioned their own hearts, “Surely, not I, Lord.”  Then, Jesus told them that they would be ashamed of Him.  They all would fall away.  Even Peter, the rock, would fall away.  Peter’s ego made him agree that satan would desire to defeat him.  However, he was insulted that he could be easily defeated by the evil one. 

Previously, Jesus had told them to go without purse, bag, sandals (Luke 22:35), gold, silver, tunic, or staff (Matthew 10:9-10).  Now He told them to carry money and weapons.  He said He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.  Did this mean He would establish His kingdom on earth very soon?  Then, why did He say He was going away?  Why did He talk of betrayal?  Confused!  Yes, it was confusion they felt.  The Holy Spirit did not indwell them yet to teach the deep things of God.  No wonder they did not get it!

           

So Jesus gave them assuring words to cling to during the upcoming dark hours.  Jesus said repeatedly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1, John 14:27, and John 16:33).  Jesus begins and ends John 14-16, a three chapter segment of teaching, with the same message.  He had told them that they would be sifted as wheat by satan.  So of course, they were troubled!  Jesus understood that.  Jesus could read their hearts so He encouraged them with these last truths.  He knew their circumstances would be plenty of reason to lose their peace and trouble their hearts.

So Jesus left them peace.  He did not leave them a little peace.  He left them HIS peace.  Jesus gives peace that does not come from the world.  He gives peace that does not come from a drug.  When we pray, we are setting up a  military guard around our hearts and minds…Not just wimpy prayers but prayers where we recount who our God is, prayers where we praise Him for all His mighty deeds and His character, and prayers where we confess our fear but still trust Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  We are called to guard our hearts and minds in Jesus.  I find it interesting that the opposite of “guard” is “to give little time or attention.”  If you have lost your peace garrison around your heart and mind, then ask yourself these questions:

• Have I given God little time or attention?
• Have I not prayed?
• Have I not had a thankful attitude?  Have I not praised Him?
• Is my imagination running away with me?
• Have I forgotten all that God has done for me?  (Psalm 42:6)
• Is my hope gone, or did I misplace it in something else besides God?
• Am I consumed by my flesh and not filled with the Spirit?  (Gal 2:20)
• Did I disobey God? 
• Did I make a decision that was not God’s will for my life?
• Is God giving me a burden for something?  Does God want me to intercede in prayer for something that touches His heart?

The last question is imperative.  Sometimes the loss of peace is not because of our own doing.  God may be calling us to be a prayer warrior for a situation.  When my friend Terri told me one of her closest relationships had worsened the other day, I realized God had allowed this crisis to burden her.  No one would pray for this person like she would pray.  She loved this person too much.  She got it and increased her prayers.

For whatever reason you and I should ever lose our peace guard, when we seek God, He will reveal His heart on the matter.  He does not want our hearts to be troubled or for us to be afraid.  He longs to give us peace.  Sometimes, He won’t give it until we seek Him.  We can’t have His peace until we get right with Him.   Oh, precious one, do you have this peace that comes from heaven today?

Pray with me:  Oh, Prince of Peace, thank You for giving us Your peace.  Your peace is nothing like the world’s.  It is true!  It has power!  We seek Your peace for the things that trouble our hearts and weigh on our minds.  We release our burdens to You and ask for You to carry them.  We ask for Your peace to flood our souls and guard our hearts and minds.  It’s in the Name above all names that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study