The God of peace gives divine peace through Jesus the Prince of peace, expressed in the Gospel of peace. Christ is our peace. Through the forgiveness of sins, we can find peace with God and enter a life of grace by faith (Romans 5:1–2). Jesus the Saviour has overcome the world and its suffering for us (John 16:33). He gives us His divine peace (John 14:27). We can find true rest in Him and learn the ways of God from Him (Matthew 11:28–30). Only by carrying peace in our hearts from Heaven, can we be children of peace on earth. We can pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122) and the world to have peace on earth (Luke 2:14). Prayer works!
Peace and Prayer
Life on earth will continue to have its many challenges, and keeping peace of heart, mind and soul is not always easy. All too often we are shaken by circumstances (Matthew 7:24–27) or ‘winds of doctrines’ (Ephesians 4:14) and might at times lose peace of mind or peace in our soul. Anxiety, doubt or fear can make difficult circumstances unbearable. But here’s the good news on how to live in peace by prayer and a lifestyle in God’s will in order to be stable no matter what life might throw at us. Consider this.
‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6–7
The God of peace gives us divine peace, one that ‘surpasses all comprehension’ and a peace that ‘will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ In a world of confusion and strife, peace is so important. It comes by prayer to the God of peace who gives us His divine peace. The peace of God can guard our hearts and minds and keep them at peace even when things are uncertain, difficult or seemingly impossible. God can make a way where there seems no way (Exodus 14:14-15; Isaiah 43:18–21). As you trust Him and pour out your heart before Him, for God is your refuge (Psalm 62:8), He will guard you and strengthen you. His peace can guard us in all sorts of circumstances.
‘Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!’ 2 Thessalonians 3:16
God’s peace will guard us within any kind of circumstances, so that we can act from a place of peace and clarity, not from fear, worry, or confusion. We won’t make wrong decisions based on reactions to circumstances, often short-sighted decisions, but will be able to make right decisions based on God’s word and will, such that are good in the long-term. When we are at peace, we can hear and understand God properly. Pray to God and trust Him—and be at peace.
Don’t worry if you can’t figure it all out in your mind. Trust God, even if you don’t have all the answers (see Proverbs 3:5–6). Pray with gratitude of heart and express your thanksgiving to God even when things are not all good or all problems solved yet. Always keep an attitude of gratitude. The peace that comes from prayerful trust in God makes anxiety and worry to vanish. We can trust God to work it out for us. We can trust Him, take refuge in Him and be at peace, as we trust Him to work out His peace for us (Isaiah 26:3–4, 12).
Prayer also helps us to focus on that which is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence, and anything worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). We must guard our minds through prayer and by focusing on what is good, beautiful and divine. It’s no good to pray and be full of negative thoughts, worries or anxieties. God will keep you in perfect peace as you keep your thoughts steadfast on Him in a trustful manner. Negative thoughts will bring negative emotions to the soul and confusion to the mind, but Paul wanted the believers to be joyful instead (Philippians 4:4). We can’t ‘pray without ceasing’ unless we can also learn to ‘rejoice always’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16–17). Both peace and joy are fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and go together. Rightoueness, peace and joy are the expression of the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17), and we are to pursue peace (v 19). Prayer isn’t always easy, but the joy of the Lord gives strength! Keep your heart steadfast on God and praise Him (Psalm 57:7). The God of peace guards us with His divine peace in the storms of life. God made the psalmist lay down in peace as God made him dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).
Peace and Lifestyle
And then there is one more thing Paul wrote to the Philippians regarding peace.
‘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
It’s not just prayer; it’s also the right lifestyle that ensures that we can live in peace. In order for the ‘God of peace’ to be with us, we need to make sure we live a life according to His will. Living in sin will separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1–2) and our conscience will condemn us; peace can quickly vanish. He won’t remove His love from us, but experiencing His presence requires humility and holiness—a life dedicated to His will. Not a perfect, sinless lifestyle, but living with an honest, genuine and humble heart before God. We are instructed not to sin, but if it does happen, Jesus as Saviour is also our Advocate (1 John 1:5—2:2). He intercedes before God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25) so we can have confidence and be cleansed from a guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:19–23). This will ensure that our hearts won’t condemn us and we can live in peace before God and have confidence in prayer (see 1 John 3:19–24).
The context of having ‘the Lord of peace’ with us to continually grant us His peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16) also speaks of not living in a disorderly manner, but having our hearts directed towards God’s love and steadfastness (v 5), knowing He will strengthen and protect us from all kinds of evil (v 3). Paul had given them a good example of a godly lifestyle to follow.
So what was it that the believers ‘learned and received and heard’ from Paul ‘and seen’ in him? Paul delivered the Gospel to the believers, of which they became participants of (Philippians 1:5, 7). Paul was confident that God would finish the good work He had started in them (v 6), as God would work out His will and work in them (2:13). The believers would have to live worthy of the Gospel of salvation (1:27), in response to the amazing grace they had received through the Messiah by faith, even in times of hardship and suffering (vv 29–30). His peace guards us even when people oppose us (v 28).
Paul had also given them his own example of selfless and pure service to God (1:12–21). The believers were to follow the truth of the Gospel, keep spiritual unity and follow the apostle’s good example which was in line with the Gospel. This is the lifestyle that will assure us of the God of peace being with us. Jesus was their greatest example to follow (2:5–11). Having His attitude will empower us to handle the difficulties of life and enable us to trust God even when things go wrong temporarily. We won’t be dependent on our circumstances, but on the God of peace who is with us in all circumstances—to continually grant us His peace. Life with the God of peace is, therefore, no longer dependent on circumstances, but on the peace He supplies in the circumstances.
Even if you find yourself in bad, difficult or unfair situations, God can guard you through His peace. When I went through the painful experiences of betrayal and rejection, having faith in a God who hears and sees everything, gave me reassurance of justice and inner peace that one day things will be well again—the God of peace will set things right, if not in this life, then in the next. Trust Him.
The God of peace is powerful, strong, and faithful. We can live in divine peace that guards our minds and hearts as we live to please Him. He guards our hearts and minds so confusion can’t mislead us, but so that the God of peace can guide us in His will for us. As you pray in His Name according to His will, He hears and acts (1 John 5:14–15). As you learn to trust Him, your faith in God will even ‘move mountains,’ meaning, seemingly immovable circumstances and insurmountable problems can change! Have faith in God and pray to Him by faith (see Mark 11:22–24).
Pray to the God of peace and He will give you His peace!
Excellent! Thank you.