It may seem incongruous to say that I have to battle for peace. But I do.
Oblivion Is Not Peace
The absence of stress or chaos is not the same as peace. Neither is “zoning out” or settling for oblivion.
There are some obvious forms of oblivion, such as drugs or alcohol or other substances.
But there are more pernicious forms of oblivion. Finding nirvana in financial security that blinds a person to the needs of others, or unhealthy dependence on friends and loved ones are just two examples. Even reading too much or watching too much TV can be harmful if the rest of life is ignored.
When I settle for oblivion, I stop waging the battle to have real peace in my spirit.
Don’t get me wrong. If you ask me what I want, one of the first statements out of my mouth would be “a problem-free life”.
But because a life free of problems isn’t realistic, I have to fight for what I know is the only way to really live:
Which is to accept whatever is going on in my life, and keep my mind focused on God and His promises.
Isaiah 26:3 is a go-to scripture for this one. God will keep me in perfect peace if my mind is steadfastly focused on Him, because I trust Him. No matter what, and regardless of external circumstances.
My part in the battle is to stay focused on what God says about me, about who He is, and what He says in His Word.
To stay on track (or get back on track when I get distracted), I need to:
— Consistently read my Bible: God’s Words to me.
— Speak His Words out loud and remember John 15:7: If I abide in Him, and His Words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be done for me. Oh, sometimes I still ask for things that don’t matter for “eternity”. But abiding in His Word helps me want to ask for things that really matter. And one of the most important is to ask that everyone will realize who God is and follow Him in the way He wants.
— Roll His Words over in my head again and again. Dwell on them even more than I dwell on what is going on in the world or in my life. Joshua 1:8: Tells me not to let God’s Word depart from my mouth. Dwell on them day and night so I can be careful to do everything written in them. Then I will be prosperous and successful.
Because to me, there is no real prosperity or success if I don’t have peace in my spirit.
What helps you win the battle for peace?
The Battle for Peace – What helps you win the battle for peace? Share on XJoni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.
May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.
This post was very encouraging to me. I’m learning to have peace in certain areas of my life by having no expectations… just accepting what God gives me and expecting no more than that.
Thank you, Jane. Knowing that God loves and will turn all things for my good and His glory helps me. Can’t wait for heaven! 🙂
I agree, Joni, that winning the battle for peace is dependent on reading and dwelling on God’s word. His promises keep me focused on His power and love and give me the assurance I daily need. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for reading and sharing, Kim. I appreciate your support. 🙂
Great post. Thank you, Joni.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Tim. Praying you and your family are doing well.