Most people believe the path to peace and joy is created by experiencing “ideal” circumstances, and we all have different ideas and thoughts of what “ideal” looks like. Some believe they would be at peace if they had an understanding partner, more money, a better job, flawless children, and a bigger house, or maybe we need to downsize. Others proclaim that they could find peace if they could just move to another city, the beach, or mountains, maybe some semblance of peace and contentment could be found there!
Although it is tempting to believe that our momentary, outward, “ideal” circumstance has the power to bring us the peace that passes understanding, it is far from the truth because perfect, continual, peace must come from within us not our circumstances. The Holy Spirit has the power to draw us, comfort us, and soothe our souls, when circumstances feel hurtful, hard, or disappointing. God promises and desires that His children live an abundant life filled with inner peace regardless of our outward circumstances! Inner peace is not just a happy feeling- inner peace is a condition of the heart and mind that has a settled focus on God, while understanding Lord Yahweh can be trusted when we commit ourselves to Him.
This path to peace always starts with surrender at the foot of the cross of Jesus. At this point we enter into covenant with God, as we receive His gracious forgiveness for our past, present and future shortcomings. As we enter into this new relationship with the Almighty, we begin to personally experience His goodness, blessed faithfulness, and unconditional love. Then the Holy Spirit will draw us, and begin to create a oneness in our heart and mind, with the heart and mind of Christ. We will be able to discern the truth of what is really in our hearts. Whatever this revelation- light exposes, it will also help correct, remember our lives are His workmanship, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul. This is why the Scripture says, “Arise, you sleeper! Rise up from the dead and the Anointed One will shine his light into you!” He will make us spiritually alive! This is not a condemning light, but a light that will enable us to realize and overcome the negative patterns and strongholds in our hearts and minds that steal our peace and contentment. As we continue to turn toward the Lord, our faith partnered with His grace will create a yearning desire in our heart, mind, and soul to know, follow, and please the Lord. When we totally commit our lives to Him daily, we will gradually move forward spiritually and become more familiar with His way. We will continue walking on the path of life, as we lean on Him, and confidently trust in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances may be.
While on this surrendered, spiritual path, God pledges to help guard our hearts and minds from the internal foe -Satan. The Enemy understands that our mind is the front line battleground in which to defeat and rob us of the perfect, constant peace that Christ has promised. His strategy is to take our attention off the Lord, and bombard us with fear, hopelessness, negativity, distractions, and lies which will fill our lives with uproar, confusion and war. The scripture say, “Resist the devil and he will flee”. To abide in, and experience God’s promise of peace, let us continue to surrender to His extravagant love, and stay with Him by keeping our heart and mind filled with His positive truths, and promises. Then the Holy Spirit will help us progressively transform into His likeness, as we lean on, confidently hope, and trust in the Rock of Ages – Only the Lord God has the power to guard and keep us in perfect and constant peace.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3-4
