1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (KJV)

Isaiah 26:3 He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him. (KJV)

Do you really want peace?

Have you ever said, “I just want some peace.”? Sometimes life can be really hectic. You have problems to solve. You have children to attend to. You have church services to attend. You have ministries to lead. You have to go to work. The world has equated peace to “me time”. When you get your “me time”; do you really have peace? Or do you spend your “me time” thinking about the things you are not getting done or will have to do when this “me time” is over.

John 16:33 “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” (The Passion Translation TPT)

How do you access and maintain the peace that God provides? How do you keep your mind on the Father continually? Though it may seem like it, it’s not easier said than done. You just have to do it.

There is no set formula or 5, 10, or 15 step process  to seeking peace. You have to find what works for you. Here are some things you can do:

• Define peace.
  The first thought that may come to you is peace is where there is no fighting, all is quiet and there is nothing you have to do.
  John 14:27 “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous! (The Passion Translation TPT)

• Separate lies from the truth.
  Often when you are going through you allow the enemy to whisper in your ears. The worst-case scenario is what he brings. Destructive self-talk adds to the fears and rules your heart.
  2 Corinthians 10:5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy[a] that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought[b] and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. (The Passion Translation TPT)

• Stop trying to control everything, surrender control to the Lord.
  Are you preventing your peace because you are trying to control the situation? You being in control is an illusion created by the enemy. You cannot and will not ever be in control, only God is.
  Philippians 4:6-7 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

You have to run hard after peace.

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (KJV)

Decide you are going to keep your mind on God and do it. Evaluate your words and your deeds all day, every day. Peace is available for you because you live in continually prayer and you praise Jehovah Shalom [ja-hō-va sha-lōm ]   (The LORD our Peace).

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I want peace; I never thought I had to pursue it. I just thought, if I asked for peace, You would give it to me. The reality is You’ve already given it to me. Now I have to get rid of the things in my life keeping me from accepting it. This is where the battle is, in my actions, words, deeds, and thoughts. I repent for allowing the enemy to keep me from running hard after the peace You provided for me. I repent for thinking if I did not have peace; it was someone else’s fault. Thank You for teaching me I have to pursue Your peace by rejecting thoughts that don’t speak of Your peace. I have to cast down the imaginations, of the enemy and my own, trying to exalt themselves above the knowledge of You. I have to praise You and always speak of Your goodness and Your glory. You know what’s best. I have to rest in You and look for Your hand in every situation. I have to stop trying to figure things out, work things out and make things happen without You. Then I will have the peace that has always been available to me. I accept Your peace and I praise Your Holy Name…

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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.