Devotional

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”  —Eleanor Roosevelt 

On top of all the bad news that tries to chip away at our peace, there is just constant noise and movement! Phones ringing. Email notifications buzzing. Music playing. Voices reverberating. Constant reminders of all there is to do … 

 And we wonder why we can’t slow our minds down, rest peacefully at night, be still. Everything about our lives programs us to keep moving at a rapid pace! 

 In the midst of it all, God’s Word brings calm: 

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). 

 As we attempt to live in a way contrary to the world, here are a few steps you can take daily to experience God’s gift of peace.  

 Step 1: Choose time with Jesus. You’re busy. Probably overloaded. But choose to start your day with Jesus, in prayer, reading and meditating on Scripture.  

 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you … Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). 

 Step 2: Focus your thoughts on Christ. There are a million places your thoughts can go. Keep your mind on Him! Doing this becomes easier as you forsake the things of this world and pursue Christ. See Step 1. 

 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). 

 Step 3: Choose peace over chaos. You can’t control your circumstances, but you can control the way you respond to difficult situations. Make peace your default! How? See Steps 1 and 2.  

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything … let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God … will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). 

 My prayer this week: Father, thank you for the gift of your peace. Help me seek after it by leaning into you and your Word, protecting my mind from the ungodly influences of this world, and choosing peace over worry and dismay. And help me share your peace with others in my responses, attitudes, and actions.