Do You Have Peace?

In a world where everything is in turmoil most of the time, peace often eludes us.

Turn on the evening news and you see countries at war with others and even themselves. The divorce rate is over 50% in America. Couples that do stay together often fight out of selfishness – and the children take the brunt of the stress.

Jobs are scarce. Work is hard. Needless activities run people all over town night after night. Even church can keep people so busy that there is no time to relax.

So in a world filled with stress and struggle, how does one have peace?

Paul in his letter to the Philippians offers an antidote to the stresses of life

One of the most prolific writers of the New Testament penned these words while sitting in jail.

These words – spoken from the Holy Spirit through Paul’s pen – offer guidance to help us find peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Apostle Paul is very clear that three things will offer peace.

The first antidote for peace is prayer.

The Greek word used here is a general term for prayer. Often when difficulties arise, people retreat into themselves, yet God wants His people to open their hearts to him.

Next, the writer explains that to have peace one must have supplication.

The impression here is not that man is to get on his knees and ask for things, but to show his position before God. A supplicant is lowly and humble, hoping the one before him will have mercy.

This is the position we must have before God.

Finally, Paul says that man should have a thankful heart.

Many of us have trouble being grateful because we are thinking about the new phone we want or the next “must-have” on our list. Because we have so much, we forget that what fills us with contentment is not the stuff around us, but the peace of God.

Being thankful is the foundation of the Christian life, and that’s most likely why few are at peace.

So, if peace has eluded you, look at your life and examine it. If prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving are lacking, stop what you are doing and change your goal. Until you remove your focus from yourself, it will be impossible to find peace.

-James