"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
Galations 5:22&23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
Romans 5: 1
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Proverbs 12:20 "Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy."
Psalms 4:8"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."
James 4:1-3 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war
in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,
because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
One of the things I think James 4:1-3 could be talking about - the lusts that war in
your members - is the desire for new things. The drugs and the cults that take people over. People are looking for
something different or something that will make them feel good. Many times they hide these feelings behind the
idea that they are looking for peace. Only Jesus holds true peace.
If we have faith in God and in the blood of Jesus Christ, we can have peace. When we lay
down at night, we can go to sleep knowing that if we do not wake up in this body we will awake in
a better world. That is true peace! (Ps. 4:8) Countries and people are fighting all around us.
Jeremiah said, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when
there is no peace." (6:14 & 8:11)
We may not have peace around us, but we can always have peace in our hearts if we have God
because He is our peace! To me this is one of the best fruits of the Spirit! Maybe the
reason for that is because I didn't grow up surrounded by peace. My home life wasn't very
peaceful so I guess I value my peace more now that I'm older. I don't allow any fighting or
strenuous arguing in my home now. An occasional debate is alright and even welcome but no
heated arguments are allowed. We all get along or someone gets out. Romans 12:18 says, if it's
at all possible, as much as lieth in us, we should live peaceably with all men. But, you're
thinking, sometimes that just isn't possible. And, I agree with you, sometimes it isn't. But,
we're supposed to really try. So, how do you go about having peace in your family, church or
work place?
1 Corinthians 16:11 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 26:3
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
The first place to start to attain God's peace is with God. When we have our hearts and minds
focused on God we can more easily tune into the peace of God. So, first thing every morning,
ask God to make you a peacemaker just for that day. (I never ask for beyond one day. God has
His hands full granting me one day's worth of control.)
Did you ever stop to think that if you
wouldn't argue with others you would never be in an argument? And if you refuse to fight with
anyone you would never be in another fight? When you give someone a piece of your mind,
you give away your peace of mind. There are some things in life that you cannot control
but there are many things that you can control. Your tongue, your actions toward others
and your reactions to others are three of the things you can control that can help
bring peace into your life. I recently had a fight or flight experience and I chose flight. In
most instances, flight is best. It gives you a chance to cool off. Otherwise, you may say or do
something you will be sorry for later. You may be thinking that it isn't fair that you have to
always be the peacemaker in the family or in the work place. Which is more important to you -
fair or peace?
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is dispair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
![[GOD BLESS]](images/Godbless.gif)
![[LONGSUFFERING]](images/2004D/FruitSet/longsuffering.gif)
![[GENTLENESS]](images/2004D/FruitSet/gentleness.gif)
![[GOODNESS]](images/2004D/FruitSet/goodness.gif)
