THE LAST REUNION I ATTENDED WAS MY 20 year. I’ve since been out of high school 32 years. Where does the time go? Geez, I’m one of those old people I used to talk about. Back to my story, there were only about 4 people who recognized me. One guy was so shocked his response was, “That was YOU! You should be voted most changed!”
Well after 20 years, I hope we’ve all changed somewhat. For me, I was a Lita Ford wanna be. I’ll let your mind wander on that. I had big hair, lots of makeup, spandex and a fake smile covering my deep wounds. I still like my big TX hair and makeup, traded in my spandex for spanx, but the smile is now genuine. I am at peace with God and peace with my past.
Sweet, glorious peace! You can’t pay me enough to lose my peace. The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom” and its basic meaning is the presence of harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being and success in all areas of life. It refers to one’s personal sense of wholeness, free from anxiety and fear, at peace with one’s soul and with God. PEACE! Through Jesus you, too, can have the perfect peace that passes all understanding in every and all areas of your life. It is possible and all things, all anxiety, all depression, all storms can be overcome.
Psalm 34:14 “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it”.
Did you get that? Let me say it again for those in the back, “SEEK peace and pursue it”. This means that you have a job to do- seek and pursue the things that make for peace. Merely knowing Jesus is the Prince of Peace does not ensure that you will have peace, you must be united with Him in an active faith. To “seek” requires an active and always present vigilance in keeping the Lord and His Word at the forefront of your mind and in your heart.
“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” Psalms 105:4
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
And again this theme returns: You must control your thought life. Take every thought captive. You will never experience His peace while you let your thoughts control you. Peace requires that you keep your focus on the Lord and not on your circumstances. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will walk on water, but look at the storm brewing around you and you will sink. Along with trust in Him, you must walk in obedience in order to live in peace.
You must be led by the Holy Spirit who produces the fruit of peace. There’s no peace in rebellion or sin. There’s no peace in doing things your own way. The peace you are seeking for is only found in living within the laws and boundaries the Lord has set for you. There’s no peace in worldly pursuits, this will only produce more anxiety and worry. We don’t live like the world, we don’t think like the world. It is not our home. You might just have to put some boundaries around your relationships. Bad company corrupts your peace.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34
Do you need peace today? Rid yourself of those things that are stealing your peace. Seek peace and pursue it with all your heart and you will soar above the storm!
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
