Peace has come…

So what does your soul do with all the warring?  Because let’s be real and honest…the world is a broken, bleeding, messy place.  There is a foul stinking hate, fermenting in our hearts and we are in denial.  No one wants to own it—understandably so—but if we don’t deal with it there will be an eruption, as if the violent explosions spewing in rapid succession all around us isn’t enough. How?  How do we hope for Peace with all this anger running amuck?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we HOPE.

We fix our eyes on God and we remember the promise. (Deep Sigh) 

It occurs to me that we are no different from the ones the Prophet Isaiah describes: “The people who walk in darkness…” (Isaiah 9) We are all the same—every single one of us—desperate hope filled souls waiting for peace.

 

(Spoiler Alert!!!!)  Peace has come, His name is Jesus.

 

 

“For a child is born to us,

A son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice

from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. 

The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s armies will make this happen.”

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

 

 

The expectation of HOPE leads right to Jesus—God, the Son—who took on flesh and the Sin of humanity.  Jesus, lived, died, and rose again, conquering sin and death once and for all.  That’s him!  He IS Peace, but there is more.

 

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. 

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 

So I live in this earthy body by trusting in the son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

(Gal. 2:22)

 

 

Read that scripture again.

 

Do you see it? Do you see what it says?  It says, “…Christ lives in me.”  Go ahead and let yourself absorb that. Take a minute to put it all together, because this is so powerful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace happens from the inside out.  Peace resides in those who belong to Christ.  Peace isn’t something to find, it is in us and it is something we get to release. Are you still with me?  I know, this is a whole new way to think about peace.  Imagine not being a victim to circumstances?  What’s that like?

 

I keep thinking about that verse from 2 Cor. 10:5, we talked about in the last post. I am almost giddy with the wild idea that we can take captive any thought that comes against the truth of God. Because of the finished work of the cross, all lies–any thought or idea that contradicts the promises of God–can be taken captive and forced to submit to the authority of Christ.  Picture that for a minute. Can you imagine if we actually did that instead of bowing to the lies of stress and fear?  We need to practice this because it is a powerful tool.  We’ve been given the keys to the shackles that bind.  Come on, it’s time to walk free!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I be honest with you? 

I really battled yesterday.  It’s been a hard week and we’re only two days in!  I learned on Monday that a dear friend went home to be with Jesus after a long, ugly battle with Cancer.  I have another friend whose father is battling brain cancer and when we talk my heart breaks.  Ryan has been sick with a virus that he just can’t shake so all chemo treatments are on hold—and that messes with you.  Fear camps out and waits for the perfect moment to push in.  Cancer is ugly and messy, but God is bigger.  The LORD reminded me this morning that my choice to hope and believe has to be relentless. Taking captive the thoughts of fear and telling them to bow to Jesus is never once and done—NEVER. 

 

So I battled with feelings of irritation and frustration.  But with my eyes fixed on Jesus I was able to hear the voice of the Spirit reminding me that I have the authority to tell fear where to go.  Darkness is always overcome by Light. 

 

 

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So Breathe…

 

Fix eyes and heart

on God and remember the promise. 

(Deep Sigh)

…and then miracle of miracles, hope gives way to PEACE. 

 

Hope enables us to ascend above the busy of life to give a clear, pure view of peace himself.  Jesus, the Prince of Peace, walks in this powerful anointing creating a wake of healing…if we will only hope, if only we will believe. 

 

Lean in friends because hope doesn’t disappoint! 

 

This week’s invitational challenge is to practice peace.  Look deep into your heart and ask the hard questions that are birthed out of the warring, bloody mess.  What are the arguments of this world that arise and come against the promises of God?  What thoughts need to be captured and placed before the throne?  What would it look like if you let the Prince of Peace touch it and bring healing to the inner war? 

Ask yourself:  is it really possible that we can simple release peace into the atmosphere as we hope and believe? 

Let’s do it!  Let’s actually try it and see, because God loves it when we take him at His word.