A Word to Live Into

“Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts.” Col 3:15

Hopes. Dreams. Goals. Resolutions. Ideals. Plans. Projects. Habits. Change. Possibilities.

Have you been hearing about it? Thinking about it? Do you already have a plan? A word? A goal?

I am entering the new year gently - peacefully. I have been hosting out-of-town guests and enjoying our college-aged kids home from break. I have been trying to be in the moment. I have been taking it all in. It is not easy to live gently, but it’s something I am working on.

I was with a group of people earlier this week, and they reminded me of something. Whatever was happening in the old year comes with you into the new year. I heard a woman share some pretty big challenges that she was facing with no easy solutions. Whatever your circumstances are, whatever you are bringing into the new year, there is a way to face them. We may even be able to do it gently, with peace.

Paul tells us how he faces his circumstances. He says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Notice that it is something he has learned. It did not come naturally. He had to work at it. What is the secret? Peace.

Paul tells us that we do not have to be anxious about anything because the Lord is near. Anxiety is the opposite of peace. Someone once said, “Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles; it takes away today’s peace.” Rather than worry, Paul tells us that we can go to the Lord and share everything with Him, with thanksgiving, trusting that He will guard our hearts and minds with His peace. We will find inner calm and a sense of security as we are under God's care and in His peace. Paul also tells us that with God, we will have the strength we need to face our circumstances. The peace of God will guard us - make us secure. The peace of God will be with us.

We can practice peace. What would that look like?

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift from God. “Peace is rest of soul rooted in the goodness of God,” said Dallas Willard. Peace is relaxed, calm, being at ease - secure. Peace is a sense of well-being and wholeness.

We learn peace from Jesus, our Prince of Peace. He tells us that he is gentle and humble of heart. He shows us that he is not in a hurry. As Leslie Weatherhead observed, “Jesus could go anywhere, and His presence would not make [people] uncomfortable, and his second visit would be eagerly looked for…when people were with Jesus, they felt their inner, better selves revived within them.”(2) Jesus was relaxed. Jesus was at peace because he trusted the Father. He was connected to another reality. He lived in union with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

What if we carried a quiet, peaceful heart with us this year?

What if we remained close to our Prince of Peace?

What if we entered each day with a calm heart at rest in God?

What if, like St. Francis of Assisi, we asked God to help us become an instrument of peace?

Paul told us that he learned to be content. He learned to be a person who knew and experienced peace. He learned to trust God in all things. We can learn it too. “As our trust becomes more rooted and solid,” writes Alan Fadling, “ our peace increasingly becomes the norm of our way of living.” (3)

How to live into the word peace…

1.Peace is an inner calm. It is gentle and secure. Practice living with peace.

Notice when you are not calm but anxious. Notice when you are troubled, hurried, or not at peace. Acknowledge what is going on with you. Turn to Jesus. Remind yourself that he is with you. He is peace. He is trustworthy. He can give you strength and rest. He can refresh you and encourage you.

2. Slow down to the pace of peace. Take time to pause and be still each day. Take a moment in the morning. Take a moment midday. Take a moment at the end of the day. Take a breath. Remind yourself that Jesus is with you, your peace. He is relaxed. He is gentle. He is not worried about you or whatever you are facing.

3. Find a short prayer that moves you to peace. Here are some ideas:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

“My peace I give you,” said Jesus

The Lord is near. Be at peace.

Peace, be still. Quiet my mind. Quiet my heart. Peace, be still.

_________________________

1. Phil 4: 4-13

2. Leslie Weatherhead, The Transforming Friendship

3. Alan Fadling, A Non-Anxious Life: Experiencing the Peace of God’s Presence