A Peaceful Voice
What is peace? Can you describe it? I know when I have felt it, but more often, I know when I have not felt it. Life is very busy and the sense of peace seems to be a very illusive quality, but something that we all whine that we wish we had. So how do you get it?
According to Psalm 34:14, we are to “…seek peace and pursue it.” Did you catch that? Seek and pursue…those are action verbs. This tells me that peace is not this warm and fuzzy feeling that settles over us but something that we have to go after.
As Christians, our goal should be to continually try to become more like God and exhibit His attributes. Galatians 5:22 tells us what those attributes are: love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we continue to spend time listening to His voice, we become familiar with His character and that character becomes engrafted into who we are and we begin to exhibit these qualities in our own lives.
Peace has its benefits too. According to Proverbs 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body…” See that? It’s healthy for us to be at peace. We can look around us and see that peace is sorely lacking. We are a society hooked on blood pressure medicines, anxiety medications, therapists, and many other stress related fixes, These things may help with the symptoms that we are experiencing, but they don’t take care of the root problem…lack of peace.
How do we “go after” peace? If you look in I Corinthians 14:33 you will see; “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” This tells me that I need to have order and balance to my life so that I can attain peace. There are dozens of television shows where a host comes into a household of chaos, whether it is with children, dogs or personal belongings and the host will help them bring order. The Super Nanny will discipline the kids, the Pet Whisperer will train the dogs, the Organizational Guru will organize the files and clutter and suddenly the family can breathe and learn to enjoy life again. If we are living in a chaotic state, we cannot walk with the peace that God desires for us and we certainly cannot settle our spirits to hear Him talking to us.
Chaos is not how God intended for us to live. Sure things will get hectic at times and we will have days, weeks, even years that will be difficult, but according to Colossians 3:15, we are to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Peace is supposed to rule in our hearts – it is meant to be the norm.
James 3:17 also exhorts us by saying, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.” We all have Christmas shopping to get done in the next month’s time. Will you be willing to “yield to others” at Best Buy or Toys R Us? How about that family member that drives you crazy and you know that you have to see at Christmas? Can you lay down the hurt that they caused you in the past or just deal with their general annoying existence? If you don’t, you will be the one to miss out on the peace that God offers us. Learn to lay down your rights; your right to be angry, your right to feel overwhelmed, your right to receive what you think you deserve, your right to be comfortable. Extend yourself on another’s behalf this season and see how God rewards you. And walk in the peace of knowing that you are doing God’s Will.
As we begin the holiday season now, we have a dangerous opportunity to let peace slip away. We can get caught up in all the planning, shopping, baking, traveling and whatnot that we don’t allow ourselves a chance to celebrate Christ’s birth and the peace that He has brought to our lives. I encourage you to pursue peace, seek it out! Make sure you spend time with God at this time and listen for His guidance during this time of celebration, and I will guarantee that you family and friends will benefit more from your peaceful spirit than any present you could wrap up for them.
Your Assignment:
Make a plan now, before the chaos begins, and decide what you can do to bring more peace to your holidays. What frivolous thing can you cut out to allow yourself more time with those you love? Christmas cards? An obligatory family event? A now-hated tradition? What things can you plan that will bring peace to your time? Christmas cookie baking with your kids? A shopping date with your husband to buy gifts for the kids?
Share with the group your ideas. We can all use new ideas so please share what has worked for you or what you plan on trying this year.
For Further Study:
It just so happens that the Sunday messages for the holiday season goes right along with what we are studying. You will not want to miss church because Pastor Brandon will be preaching on how we can get so caught up in the consumerism of Christmas, that we miss out on the good stuff that God has to offer.
According to Psalm 34:14, we are to “…seek peace and pursue it.” Did you catch that? Seek and pursue…those are action verbs. This tells me that peace is not this warm and fuzzy feeling that settles over us but something that we have to go after.
As Christians, our goal should be to continually try to become more like God and exhibit His attributes. Galatians 5:22 tells us what those attributes are: love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we continue to spend time listening to His voice, we become familiar with His character and that character becomes engrafted into who we are and we begin to exhibit these qualities in our own lives.
Peace has its benefits too. According to Proverbs 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body…” See that? It’s healthy for us to be at peace. We can look around us and see that peace is sorely lacking. We are a society hooked on blood pressure medicines, anxiety medications, therapists, and many other stress related fixes, These things may help with the symptoms that we are experiencing, but they don’t take care of the root problem…lack of peace.
How do we “go after” peace? If you look in I Corinthians 14:33 you will see; “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” This tells me that I need to have order and balance to my life so that I can attain peace. There are dozens of television shows where a host comes into a household of chaos, whether it is with children, dogs or personal belongings and the host will help them bring order. The Super Nanny will discipline the kids, the Pet Whisperer will train the dogs, the Organizational Guru will organize the files and clutter and suddenly the family can breathe and learn to enjoy life again. If we are living in a chaotic state, we cannot walk with the peace that God desires for us and we certainly cannot settle our spirits to hear Him talking to us.
Chaos is not how God intended for us to live. Sure things will get hectic at times and we will have days, weeks, even years that will be difficult, but according to Colossians 3:15, we are to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Peace is supposed to rule in our hearts – it is meant to be the norm.
James 3:17 also exhorts us by saying, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.” We all have Christmas shopping to get done in the next month’s time. Will you be willing to “yield to others” at Best Buy or Toys R Us? How about that family member that drives you crazy and you know that you have to see at Christmas? Can you lay down the hurt that they caused you in the past or just deal with their general annoying existence? If you don’t, you will be the one to miss out on the peace that God offers us. Learn to lay down your rights; your right to be angry, your right to feel overwhelmed, your right to receive what you think you deserve, your right to be comfortable. Extend yourself on another’s behalf this season and see how God rewards you. And walk in the peace of knowing that you are doing God’s Will.
As we begin the holiday season now, we have a dangerous opportunity to let peace slip away. We can get caught up in all the planning, shopping, baking, traveling and whatnot that we don’t allow ourselves a chance to celebrate Christ’s birth and the peace that He has brought to our lives. I encourage you to pursue peace, seek it out! Make sure you spend time with God at this time and listen for His guidance during this time of celebration, and I will guarantee that you family and friends will benefit more from your peaceful spirit than any present you could wrap up for them.
Your Assignment:
Make a plan now, before the chaos begins, and decide what you can do to bring more peace to your holidays. What frivolous thing can you cut out to allow yourself more time with those you love? Christmas cards? An obligatory family event? A now-hated tradition? What things can you plan that will bring peace to your time? Christmas cookie baking with your kids? A shopping date with your husband to buy gifts for the kids?
Share with the group your ideas. We can all use new ideas so please share what has worked for you or what you plan on trying this year.
For Further Study:
It just so happens that the Sunday messages for the holiday season goes right along with what we are studying. You will not want to miss church because Pastor Brandon will be preaching on how we can get so caught up in the consumerism of Christmas, that we miss out on the good stuff that God has to offer.
Labels: A Peaceful Voice - Bible Study
posted by Heather Taylor | 1:19 PM
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