"PEACE OF GOD!"

Philippians 4:4-9                                  (ESV)
"4 Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The LORD is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication 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 your minds in CHRIST JESUS.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the GOD OF PEACE will be with you."



A few years ago I recall writing about a man who had seemingly everything "this world" had to offer.  Comedian Richard Pryor said in an interview "There was a time in my life when I thought I had everything - millions of dollars, mansions, cars, nice clothes, beautiful women, and every other materialistic thing you can imagine. Now I struggle for PEACE!"  Recently I observed a meme that relayed a similar message, ""Stress comes from trying to do it all on our own.  PEACE comes from putting it ALL in GOD's hands"!  It seems the "PEACE OF GOD" is being placed in my spirit to be written about again, and what better thing is there to discuss in today's rat race society?

Occasionally I have to be reminded by the Spirit of GOD that even my thoughts are in better hands when I just let GOD be GOD!  When I try to "figure out a way" to make GOD's PLAN work out in my life, I become frustrated, confused, and generally STRESSED OUT trying to "assist" GOD in making HIS PLAN occur on MY timetable!

The letter to the church at Philippi is not as long as other New Testament correspondence, but it is SO rich in content!  The six verses above, written by the Apostle Paul and Timothy, are drenched in the "PEACE OF GOD"!  We allow what we SEE as the pressures and schedules of "this world" to dictate the pace of our lives, when the LIFE we have should be centered on "things that are above" (Colossians 3:2)!  When we slow down long enough to SEE the "PEACE OF GOD", we are SEEing "things that are above"!  JESUS said in Luke 17:21 "the Kingdom of GOD is in the midst of you", yet we want to HURRY past it to get to the next item on the agenda!!

The "PEACE OF GOD" can only be realized by acknowledging HE is first and foremost in everything we say and do!  Colossians 1:16 says rather boldly "For by HIM all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through HIM and for HIM".  Don't let "this world" determine how your time is spent or whether or not you have time to acknowledge and praise the Creator of the Universes!  Purposefully set aside some time to adore and worship HIM, and be grateful that HE allows us to experience the "PEACE OF GOD" in our lives!!!