Peace I Leave With You

Peace is mentioned in the New King James Version of the Word 397 times! Of those, 299 are found in the Old Testament and the remaining 98 are found in the New Testament.

In Hebraic culture, numbers often have a biblical significance. For instance, the number three can be connected to increase, but can also be connected to God. The number nine is often connected to judgment and justice—both of which are God’s territory. Seven, perfection, and so on…

Yet, why would the meaning of numbers be important here? Well, just as with the ‘law of first mention’—the special importance given to things mentioned for the first time—the number of times something is mentioned is important because God is giving us themes through repetition. So, if we were to look at the word ‘peace’ in this light and see that it is mentioned 397 times, we would find that there is an increase of Godly judgment and justice—that it is perfect and brought forth by peace.

It says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

God’s peace is perfect, just as His love is perfect. When we know the Father’s love, fear flees, and peace resides.

Benefits of Peace:

Considering that the word ‘peace’ is mentioned hundreds of times, God must surely deem it important. There are many reasons for this importance that we may explore, but it is through the benefits that we might perhaps understand it best…

A few benefits of peace are:

• The ability to make decisions calmly—not based on emotions such as fear, anxiety and worry
• The ability to find rest in God—from prayer, to worship, to simply soaking in His Word
• The ability to understand the Father’s heart—when we are at peace, we can listen and understand; yet further than that, since love casts out fear and fear is at enmity with peace, we become more like our Father when we are resting in His peace
• The bringing of new perspectives—when we are at peace, we not only take in what God imparts to us more fully, but we can see things through our Father’s eyes, broadening our scope
• Easing our mind—when we are at peace, worry, fear, and anxieties cannot eat at our thoughts
• Restoring the body—worry, fear, and anxieties will stress and tax the body, but when we rest in God’s peace the taxation is taken away and we are restored physically and mentally
• Relationships are made easier—when we are not at peace, we can become angry, distracted, short, judgmental, and more… but once restored in God’s perfect peace, we lose these to find their opposites—allowing us to live at peace not only with God, but also with man

While this is not a comprehensive list of the benefits that we receive by living in God’s perfect peace, each benefit shown allows us to—at a glance—understand that peace is vital for fullness of life. 

God is always at peace and ready to give of it if we are but willing to accept. He does not keep it from us, for He created us to live in His peace.

“I will hear what God the Lord will speak,

for He will speak peace

to His people and to His saints;

but let them not turn back to folly.”—Psalm 85:8

How Peace and Being a Peacemaker Connect:

When we accept God’s peace, many of the cares of the world leave us. Any that may remain no longer feel so heavy, but simply become as stepping-stones we are meant to overcome. 

Peace is one of the first steps toward living in God’s presence here on earth. It is one of the first steps toward finding our true selves—our heavenly selves. It is where we find rest. Yet, we are meant to do more than simply use that peace for our own benefit… we are meant to become peacemakers.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”—Matthew 5:9

Most of us understand that we are the children of God, yet, how many of us have considered that we are meant to be peacemakers—that this is part of our calling as His children? As Matthew 5:9 states, we are blessed when we are peacemakers because peacemakers are called His children. That is not to say we are not His children if we fail to do this—particularly as we all sin, we all fall short, and we have all lost our tempers or made things difficult for those around us. But we become more like our Father when we are peacemakers—preparing the Kingdom. 

How do I find God’s Peace? How do I become a Peacemaker?

Except but through Jesus Christ as our Savior, there is no one single way to find God’s peace, nor one single way to become a peacemaker. Further, it is something we have to ‘practice’—something we aim for every day we awaken.

Still, one of the best ways in which to find God’s peace is to go to Him. To seek Him and His peace. To seek forgiveness for those things which are contrary to Him and lay them down, along with every worry, every idol that hinders us from knowing His peace. Lay them down—every day, every moment—so that God might replace them with His good things; do good and seek His peace.

“Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”—Psalm 34:14

Now, laying everything down at God’s feet and not trying to pick them up again can be challenging. Our spirit is willing, our flesh is weak, and we often try to dig up the old man… The old habits, thoughts, and patterns that have gotten us into trouble in the past. This is where we have to allow God, through Jesus, to step in, because we are not strong enough without Him to crucify our sin, our worry, our doubt, our unbelief, our habits and patterns, our thoughts, our indulgences and ‘need fillers’—those things we use to try to fill a void, but provide no long lasting healing.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you…”—John 14:27

As we daily die to our flesh and follow after God, peace fills our hearts—the love of Christ fills our hearts—the voids are filled and we find ourselves having more patience, more love and understanding toward our fellow man. We begin to see things and people as Jesus sees them, and in turn, we begin to act more like our Father. Instead of stirring things up, we begin to find the words to heal and sooth the anger and turmoil around us. We find God’s light shining within us and use it to bring peace. 

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”─Philippians 4:7

We can be peacemakers as we draw those around us to our Father and to the love of Christ… Because once the world sees true peace—peace of the heart, emotions, and mind—they are drawn to Him. They desire that Perfect Peace they see in us.

When we seek God’s peace daily, we are forever transformed.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33