Did you know that no matter what, the peace of God is available to you at any time? God’s sacred peace is a gift, and it’s already yours. You just need to reach out and grab it to have it and to enjoy the gift of God’s peace. “I ha peaceful” Biblical affirmation and devotional for women will share how I have peace of God no matter my circumstances.

A Steadfast Mind

I am writing this Biblical devotional in December of 2020. The United States of America, where I live, is in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis caused by the necessary worldwide shutdown, the presidential warfare caused by Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated baseless false claims of election fraud, the racial conflict due to the various unjustifiable killings of black people that took place this year and the black lives matter movement, the Georgia runoff election that is going to define the future of our entire country, and the list of crises goes on. You can read more about the chaos in America in my blog post called “Praying for America.” Chaos is everywhere.

Yet, I am peaceful. How can this be?

It is not in my own power. This peace cannot be understood. Why? Because it passes all understanding. It’s beyond comprehension. It’s sacred, not of this world, it’s divine. My source of peace is sovereign, everlasting, all-knowing, loving, kind, gracious God and not cruel, consciousness-lacking, narcissistic Donald Trump, or politics, or healthcare, or vaccines, or anything else in the world.

My faith in God fuels my peace.

Sometimes, I worry, and when I do, I remind myself of God’s history with me, how He delivered me from adversity, and how much He loves me. I trust in God. I have kept in perfect peace this entire year because I trust in God. My mind is steadfast.

That’s why I’ve been focused and productive no matter the circumstances of the outside world. God is the one who ensures my peace, protects me, and provides for me. In 2020, I’ve practiced my skills of maintaining perfect peace, even during the massive chaos we all have seen around the globe. Because I trust God, I’m peaceful.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

This doesn’t mean that fears don’t attack me. They do. And when they do, I conquer them with my faith. I am fully human, so I don’t reject any of my emotions or feelings. Sometimes, I get caught up in and too preoccupied with my emotions. I may start feeling in turmoil or even experience a panic attack. But the episodes of intense fear and anxiety are rare and not lasting for long. It’s because, in moments of panic and terror, I reach out for God’s sacred peace and enjoy His divine gift. Of course, my life is stilled filled with normal daily trials and tribulations. Like all normal human beings, I, too, have troubles in this world.

Trouble In This World

Why as Christians don’t we just have a peaceful life all the time? Why can’t we just have a drama-free existence? Why do we need troubles, to begin with? God wants us to have faith, hope, joy, peace, and intimacy with Christ. God wants us to be Christ-like. But how can we possibly develop His virtues if we have everything we want and don’t have to work hard for anything? How could we possibly stretch and grow beyond our comfort zone if we were kept in the comfort zone all the time? How would we develop our perspective, grow in faith, change our ways, and glorify God by the results of our transformation if we didn’t have challenges to overcome? If the world, life, people, and circumstances were ideal, we’d never need God. We would be robbed of the opportunity to know God and to be in a relationship with Him. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Jesus has overcome the world. He conquered death. Christ was sacrificed so that we could trust God. Peace comes from a steadfast faith in God’s good plan. It’s a gift. We just need to accept it. Let me explain the gift of God’s sacred peace. This breakthrough I’m about to share literally saved my life when panic and terror were practically suffocating me every day and ultimately led to depression.

Where Peace Comes From

Peace is God’s gift. When we give our lives to Christ, we inherit His perfect peace. But if we don’t accept the gift of this royal inheritance, though it is ours, we won’t have it, we won’t experience its benefits, we won’t enjoy it. Let me illustrate this with a simple example. Have you ever walked into a room and under a beautiful Christmas tree there was a gift, wrapped beautifully and marked with your name? 

And then you got distracted and left, forgetting the gift…

The gift was already yours. It had your name on it. It belonged to you. It was assigned to you so you can have it. Its purpose was for you to enjoy it. The only reason why you still didn’t have the gift is that you didn’t accept it. You didn’t take the gift that was yours, so you couldn’t enjoy your gift. If you can imagine this simple situation, that’s the best illustration of what God’s divine peace is and how it plays out in your life. It does truly belong to you but you must accept the gift of God’s peace.

I found out from studying the Bible that the perfect peace of Christ was already mine because when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I was given the gift of peace. God’s divine peace is my royal inheritance. The only reason why I had not yet had the peace was that I never reached out for the gift to take it and have it. That resulted in my suicidal depression in the past. Once I understood where peace was supposed to come from and how to accept it into my heart, I reached out for the gift that was already mine and begun to enjoy Good’s peace. 

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

If we know the source of peace and if we accept the gift from God, we can have peace at all times and in every way because the Lord of peace Himself gives it to us. Lord’s peace is available to us on-demand, like Netflix. We just need to switch to the right mode intentionally. Sometimes, I am consumed by anxiety. When I realize it, I switch to gratitude, prayer, contemplation of God’s promises, and His love for me. This practice helps guard my mind and heart, no matter the global crisis.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Peace as a Gift from God

I regularly talk to God. Often, it happens through poetry. I want to share with you a poem about peace, which I wrote during a difficult and scary season of turmoil and despair. My spiritual poem reflects the tough but rewarding journey I’ve traveled from having an almost always turmoil-filled inner world to becoming more peaceful. You’ll often hear me say: “I love my life!” I really do, though my life isn’t perfect. I have sacred peace, which is a gift from God, and I enjoy having it, thanks to the realization that the gift was already mine.

"God's Peace" 
 
Your peace rules now in my heart,
With love and joy and full devotion.
I don't pursue or seek it hard -
From abiding in you comes this sacred emotion. 

I make every effort to live at peace
With everyone, but I fail often.
From condemnation with mercy me you release.
Through the humbling journey my heart you soften.

You bless me with your peace in every situation,
And I'm not overcome by evil but by good.
My Everlasting Father, you gave me my salvation
And covenant of peace for earthly livelihood.  

I cast my anxieties on you in prayer,
Because you care and your son for me you sacrificed.
I don't do wrong for wrong and evade every naysayer,
Your peace guards my mind and heart in Jesus Christ.  

8/10/17 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA

Have you reached out for the gift of God’s peace? If you have, memorize the Biblical affirmation below and practice it often to remember where your peace comes from and that you are responsible for switching from fears, anxieties, and terror to gratitude and sacred serenity that comes from knowing God personally and trusting His promises unconditionally. Here’s my affirmation called “I am peaceful.”

I Am Peaceful 

I am Peaceful #52Devotionals

I have peace in every way. 
It is perfect. It is sacred. 
All the time my Lord is near, 
And by Him my life's directed.