HOW TO HAVE PEACE

If you Google ‘How to have peace’ you will find a lot of good information. Everything from exercising to practicing mindfulness; acceptance and willpower. There are two kinds of peace I want to share about today.

The first is God’s Peace. In Philippians, chapter 4, Paul tells us how to have God’s peace. 

6 “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” New King James Version

From The Christian Standard Bible:

We can have His peace.

I’ve read many testimonies of people who have experienced this peace from God. This year, God’s peace surrounded me during this entire cancer journey. I know it’s Him because I’m a worrier. What did I do? I asked others to pray for me, listened to worship music, and listened to the Bible, especially Psalms. In other words, redirected my thoughts. I don’t understand how it works, but just know that it does because God promises.

The other peace I want to mention is one that we can help ourselves with. We have options. Pay attention to what angers you, or frustrates you. If it’s watching the news, then limit the time you watch or don’t watch it. If you get frustrated a lot with how others drive, find ways to avoid this or pray for that person who cut you off. As you scroll through Facebook, reading comments and posts, do you find yourself feeling irritable or even angry? I have. That’s when it’s time to unplug. 

It’s not worth our health to get all worked up about someone else’s do’s and don’t’s; beliefs or unbeliefs. 

I Googled “does stress cause disease” and found out it can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. I don’t want disease so I need to learn to control stress better.

Earlier this year I started taking breaks from social media, deleted Twitter, Instagram, and a few others, and cleaned up my Facebook. I didn’t feel guilty because I knew what I had to do for my well-being. There can be too many voices, some are toxic. I also wanted more time to hear God personally and not through others.

I share some of what I did to give you ideas to have a more peaceful life. I’m sure you can find other ways too.  Don’t feel guilty when you unfollow someone or a page. Take care of yourself. 

Let’s try harder to have peace. Continuing in Philippians 4, starting in verse 8, Paul has some good words here:

8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” New International Version

from The Christian Standard Bible:

These are perfect words to live by, to post by, to think about, and talk about.

My prayer is for anyone reading this to be encouraged to live their best self by controlling the stress. Trust in God’s peace and pray for it when times are hard. He is faithful.

Shalom (Hebrew for Peace),

Barbara