Peace of God
ICS Daily Devotions
Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV) 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
The devil uses schemes like temptation, accusation, affliction, oppression, and deception to try and steal, kill, and destroy everything, including our peace. He takes advantage of unrenewed areas of our minds to turn them into emotional “roller coaster ride”. The fluidity of life will cause us to feel like we are continually being tossed to and fro. Therefore, we must put on the armour of God, in particular, the shoes of peace, to experience peace with God and the peace of God amid the storm.
Ephesians (6:15 AMP) and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].
Roman soldiers’ sandals were studded with spikes to help them maintain a firm grip and navigate different terrain in war zones. Similarly, we need to walk firmly in rocky and thorny situations and be protected by peace. In Ephesians 6:15, the original word for “preparation” implies a firm and solid understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what causes us to dig in. When the devil comes with his deception, if we understand the gospel, we are rooted and firmly founded upon it. Therefore, when flaming arrows are being shot against us, we must keep the peace of God—which He has given us—in our hearts and minds by meditating on the truth. The peace of God resembles having a garrison of Roman soldiers standing guard around it.
The peace of God is a peace present in all circumstances! It is God’s plan and will for us to have this supernatural, inexplicable peace that surpasses all understanding. Peace comes when we are aware that God is with us. The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, Helper and Comforter, lives in us and is always there for us, giving us peace from God. He, being our Counsellor, will help us in times of need by bringing Scriptures into our remembrance to maintain the peace that can otherwise be stolen if we choose to look, think, and worry because the peace of God is proportionate to how much we allow circumstances to affect us.
Therefore, start praying and casting our cares, anxieties, and concerns to the Lord and thereafter begin to praise and thank Him. Knowing who we are in Christ will drive out fear, and the peace of God will belong to us.
Sermon Series: The Weapon of Our Spiritual Warfare
