As I taught on prayer in Luke 11, God kept whispering to me ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. Do not stop! Walk by faith in me. So I found myself on repeat. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK.
I then heard this short phrase, "Peace is your protector" on a prayer video. This sent me on a search. I spent a couple of days just looking up peace verses.
Sometimes, I feel like peace is elusive like I know I am supposed to have it but at times I catch myself lacking it. But here is the deal. Peace is a gift. It has already been given to us. Peace is always with us if we are in Christ because He is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). He promised the disciples, "Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:12).
Essentially, I am a peace walking person. By this I mean my heart, mind, soul, and spirit carry peace within them because I am His.
So what am I to do when I realize that I am not walking in peace or giving peace as I walk about my day?
A few verses showed me that I have a part in being peace as a protector.
I must choose to focus my heart and mind upon Jesus. We are promised that "He will keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are kept on Him" (Is. 26:3). Perfect peace is "Shalom, shalom" in Hebrew. I love the repetition because it feels like a double portion of peace. But it literally means that we remain steadfast and calm despite the storm or circumstances we are going through. Our focus and trust is on Him and Him alone. It is His work and not our own moving in and through it all.
Peace.
This is when we experience and know the peace of God, which transcends all understanding as it guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). Do you see the word guard? This is active, continous, on going like a soldier standing watch at the city gate, but in this case it is God being vigilant as our heart and mind guard.
Peace.
A simple conversation will fly from my lips in these moments when I realize I am not a peace protector. "Hey, God! I know You are there! I am anxious. I don't know why. Help me to see Your perfect peace and know the mystery of its protection."
In practice, I am trying to live out Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you, and shall hold your peace."
Say this next line nice and slow.
God, Almighty, will fight for you.
Now repeat it again.
This literally means that He will devour, eat, prevail, war, do battle, and consume what is against you. Oh my!
Peace.
Now here is the grip or hold that we must take. Be still. Let go. Be quiet. Yes, silent. We do not have to fight it. The LORD will fight for us as we stay silent.
I don't know about you, but I am a fighter. I have words. So many words. But, here I am reminded the battle is not mine. It is His. It is about letting go and letting God do His thing. I just need to surrender to the mystery and gift of peace as my protector.
Peace guards our hearts and minds. It is our mental armor and heart guard.
We are promised that God will fight for us or atleast that is a promise He made to Israel as they fled Egypt and if God will do this for one group, He will do it for another. This type of fighting for you is considered all consuming.
Our role is to just be silent. Be still. Or to say it another way, we are to cut and engrave Him in our heart and mind as our focus. Not all that other stuff we are thinking on. It is about trust that God has got you!
Let go of that stinking thinking!
Open the gift of peace. It is quite simple: look to the Prince of Peace. Call upon Him to save you or speak into the situation. Then rest as you watch and are amazed at how His peace surprises you with a mystery that cannot be explained, and soon it will be experienced with certainty.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you" (2 Cor. 13:1).
Peace is our Protector!
Shalom, Shalom!
