We need to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power – Eph 6:10; When there is no peace on earth, people slay one another – Rev 6:4 ; Peace be within your walls and security within your towers – Ps 122:7; … He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him – Prov 16:7;
Where there is peace there is no division – Luk 12:51; And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever, my people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isa 32:17-18;
Through God we learn that one of the gifts He bestow on us as His children is peace. Not only within our self, but God will also ensure that we are surrounded by peace. Even our enemies will be at peace with us..
Isaiah 32:17-18 gives us a key towards this kind of peace…’the result of righteousness.’ What is righteousness? If you look up the meaning of righteousness, words like goodness, uprightness, decency, morality, innocence, guiltless and blameless comes up. So how do you receive righteousness? Through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us to ensure that we are innocent, guiltless and blameless. Ps32:5 says, when I confessed my sin, You forgave me my iniquity and my sin. This in turn makes me good, upright, innocent, guiltless and blameless = Righteousness.
Another key in this verse refers to ‘quietness’. It is more than, not making a sound, it is to be quiet in your spirit. To be at ease in your spirit. And it includes ‘trust forever’. To trust is to not always have the full picture or answer, but to recognise that ‘I am save or OK. The situation will be OK. Because God has a plan. And He promised that He has a good plan for me (Jer29:11) and all will work for good (Rom8:28).
Peter was able to sleep when he was thrown in jail. (Acts12) I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep so soundly that the Angel would need to struck me to wake me up. I would be too scared to even fall asleep. But Peter was sleeping..how, why? Because he understood what is Godly peace. The knowing that God is in control, He has a plan and trusting God to have a good plan and accepting the gift of peace which surpasses all understanding. (Phil4:7)
May you accept the gift of peace God wants to give you and have made available to you. May you learn to trust Him with all your heart and may Isa32:17-18 be present in your life.