But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

~Galatians 5:22-23a CEB

The shadows danced across the mountainside as I sat on the wide porch of my favorite mountain inn.

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Sitting in the red Adirondack chair, I enjoyed the quiet of my surroundings, my heart and soul overflowing with a peace I have felt only when resting in the presence of the Holy Spirit. And there was no doubt He was there. Looking around at the beautiful flowers and trees that graced the grounds of this rustic mountain inn, I thanked God for His loving creation.

From the time the vehicle begins the climb to the inn on its winding, narrow road, to the moment the inn comes into view, to the friendly welcome of the proprietor, I feel as if I have come home. The peace of this special place fills my soul.

Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

~John 14:27a NIV 

Our Heavenly Father is a God of peace. According to the above verse, God gives true peace. As a fruit of the Spirit, peace is evident in the lives of believers who make it a priority to maintain a close relationship with Jesus Christ. When we walk daily with Him, we grow in our faith. As a result, we experience His peace.

Jesus knew before He went to the cross that His disciples would desert Him. He also knew they would begin to understand, on the other side of the resurrection, what He had taught them. Jesus knew they eventually would become strong in their faith and would serve Him the rest of their lives. Their trust in Him and their faith would provide the peace that would carry them through the suffering and hardships they would face.

In the middle of persecution, oppression, and hardship, we can have peace. Peace is found in our hearts as we trust God. It is not found in the world. The world looks at peace as the absence of war. It is unlike what we experience when we rest in the kind of peace the Holy Spirit gives.

The following Scriptures may be familiar since they are some of the better-known verses which we find in both the Old and New Testaments concerning peace. As you set aside time to study God’s Word this week, I suggest taking one of the verses each day and using it for reflection and study. You may find it helpful to memorize them or to write them on a sticky note to look at during the day for a reminder of how important it is for us to have peace in Him.

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 NIV)
• Let the Lord give strength to his people! Let the Lord bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29:11 (CEB)
• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 NIV)
• For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT)
• Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33 KJV)
• Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 NIV)
• The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9 NASB)

 

Our Heavenly Father will bless us when we live peacefully with those around us. Sometimes we find it hard to do when we encounter those who seem to thrive on strife. Instead of focusing on their contention, we can trust God to provide us strength when we need it and to help us show them kindness and grace. He asks us to practice the things we have learned from Him. In doing so, the God of peace will be glorified.

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and His Holy Spirit is the source of true peace. The way we react to challenging circumstances can bring peace to others. We do not have to buy into the negative mindset of the world. We can reflect His peace, thus bringing calmness to chaotic circumstances and situations.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) tells us, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Without Him, it is impossible to experience the peace that passes all understanding. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, I invite you to do so today. It would be an honor for you to share your decision to follow Him with me.

Choose one of the peace scriptures listed above. Write it on an index card to carry or display.

Father God, reveal to me Your great love. Show me how to share this love with others as Jesus did when He lived on the earth. For Your glory.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: The Fruit of Peace: Evelyn Mason Wells: All Rights Reserved