Recently a precious believer asked me to pray with her for peace, and as we prayed, His peace came to her. Afterward, I told her I would prepare some Scripture references on the subject and get them to her so she could read them, study them, and hopefully memorize many of them. I know that the word of God is key to our living the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

As I prepared these for her, I thought about you. I share these Scriptures with you in the hope that this compilation will be a help to your life also. Regardless of your experience level with Jesus, I believe it will do you good to read and meditate on these promises concerning the peace of God.

Most think that peace just means freedom from disturbance, the absence of strife or a place of quiet. These qualities alone are great, but the Biblical concept is far more significant. The Old Testament word is Shalom which means: to be whole, safe, sound, secure, complete, finished, to prosper.  Wow! The most literal meaning of Shalom is – nothing missing, nothing broken.  This is how God wants His children to live, and He makes it possible through Jesus Christ!

The foundation is a right relationship with God through Jesus:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

When you know that you are in right relationship with Almighty God, you need not sweat over the small things. Everything else is tiny compared to being in right relationship with the Lord.

God desires that each of His children live life in the peace.

Almost every New Testament letter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, begins with this expression:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:3

Notice that by faith we have peace with God, and we receive it from God.

Then read:

John 14:27 where Jesus says to us, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Did you catch it? Jesus promised to give us HIS peace! The very same peace He possessed while He lived on earth and overcame temptation, self, sickness, sin, and satan. We have HIS very own.

So we have peace with God, from God and it is the very peace of God!

So the Holy Spirit instructs us to:

“Let the peace of God…rule in your hearts…” Colossians 3:15

How do we let this peace rule (take the lead place) in our life?

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6

Again we see that this is a gift from God to His children. And He doesn’t give a cheapened version. But we must choose to follow the lead of God’s peace by praying believing prayers instead of worrying.

We must consistently choose to set our thoughts on the promises of God.

And on the ONE who promised!

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

Thinking God’s way results in God’s life and peace released into our lives.

Learning to train our thought life means we choose to think about God’s words and promises instead of our own and/or the words of family and friends. This is key to living in real peace.

“To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  Romans 8:6

Peace exponentially increases as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus:

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2

As we must choose to pursue more understanding of the truth found in the word of God and the presence of Jesus we can live a life filled with the “nothing missing, nothing broken” shalom of God.

Faith is the key!

To live this way isn’t possible without faith. And to live in strong faith, God’s word must become the first priority and final authority of our lives.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Believing produces lives that are full:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

You can be filled in believing!  So choose to let God’s word give you a new way of thinking and bring you to a new dimension of faith where you learn to live in the power of His peace! And don’t forget that peace is also a fruit of the Spirit. [See Galatians 5:22] The spirit of Jesus in you is working to produce His fruit inside you – all you need to do is learn to let Him take the rule, and you can rest in confidence that He has you!

I pray this helps you. You can help us and others by taking the time to comment on other verses and practical practices that strengthen you in His peace.

SHALOM, Y’ALL!

KEITHNIX.ORG

Keith Nix is the founding lead pastor of a thriving congregation, The Lift Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. [Visit www.TheLiftChurch.tv] He has traveled internationally since 1993 carrying a unique prophetic message of awakening to this generation. He and his wife, Margie, have one daughter, Isabella.