PROVISION of PEACE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Blessed are the peacemakers…Matthew 5:9

Despite the promised blessings, in our culture this is a lost art; peacemaking.  Media doesn’t practice it. Often our leaders don’t practice it.

Why?

It is not easy. But it should be.

You might say how can we…

Keep the peace when the pressures and pain of the past continue to creep into our present? Wouldn’t a good lash out work better?

Keep the peace when our culture rewards the snarky and vulgar even with someone just a few feet away?

Keep the peace when we have been hurt or when our enemies are levying their best shots?

But friends, bitterness and offense rob us of OUR PEACE and without it how are we to fulfil the request of our Master Jesus of being a peacemaker?

MLK Jr. said this,

“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”

Dr King was right on the money.

We are to take the latter course in our responses to “less than peaceful” situations. 

We are to keep the peace. 

We are to levy the peace.

Jesus said, “pray for those who persecute you – Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

It can be transformative!

Yet often the question is, “How do I become a peace-maker and a peace keeper?”

By first recognizing that as FOLLOWERS of CHRIST we have been given the gift of PEACE from CHRIST HIMSELF!

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (CEB)

And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds. Philippians 4:7 (ERV)

That means HIS PEACE is our peace my friends.

That means it is HIS PEACE that is ours to extend. 

HIS PEACE is now ours to distribute! 

We don’t have to manufacture it to share it!

We just need to EXERCISE IT!

Jesus has done the hard part!

Jesus modeled it.  Now that is our example to follow!

That is wonderful news!

Yet to do our part we must lay down our grievances and pettiness, so we CAN extend this great gift to others.

We must constantly remember that it is HIS peace that transcends our human minds and gives us the ability to BREATHE peace into situations and circumstances that would otherwise remain broken and tarnished in bitterness.  

For it is HIS peace that allows us to pray for those who persecute us and to “be at peace with all men” whenever possible as we are asked to do.

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

- Romans 12:18 (AMP)

So, can be peace makers and keepers today?

YES!

It is possible thanks to Jesus.

Extend HIS peace today. 

JESUS will bless you!

He promised!

” Peace Isn’t The Destination, Peace Is The Way ”

 – Author Unknown

Love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE