Acquiring Perfect Peace

There are a lot of women who face unhappy relationships each day. These women are depriving themselves of spiritual freedom by believing that they can only be happy if they are in a relationship with a man, any man! It doesn't matter if the man has little time to spend with them either through the advent of having another woman or his job keeps him away. These women have not come to the realization that to be truly happy, you have to be at peace with yourself and that peace comes from God.

The Psalmist David tells us that “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Are you the recipient of God’s peace? Or have you allowed situations, circumstances, or people to deprive you of one of the most important blessings God gives His people: peace? Just say the word: peace. It conjures up all kinds of thoughts of restful environments, calm seas, quiet moments, and the list goes on.

What if you could spend at least 15 minutes each day at peace? Lay aside work, problems, children, spouses or significant others, friends, activities, and anything else that requires your participation or attention and be at peace. This indeed can be done if you understand how to do it. It just takes your imagination to doing it.

Let’s start with an exercise in relaxation! Start with just closing your eyes. (If you are not at home or on break you can practice this later.) It is more effective if you have a partner to assist in completing this exercise. When one is available, have them read this information

“Now imagine a beautiful red rose. Now change the color of the rose to blue, now change the color of the rose to pink. Now change the color of the rose to white. Now imagine yourself walking toward the rose. Pick up the rose and imagine that there is a table in front of you. On that table is a vase. Next to that vase is an alabaster box. Place the rose in the vase. Now open up the alabaster box next to the vase. In the box, put in all your problems, worries, concerns, disappointments, and negative thoughts. Close the alabaster box and walk away from it. The feeling that you have from putting all of your problems in that box is called PEACE. Enjoy it! Now count back from 20 to 1. Open your eyes.”

Repeat this exercise anytime you are feeling stressed and need a “quick fix.” Once you have this information memorized, you will no longer need a partner!

Again, we turn to the Psalmist for information regarding peace. He tells us to “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” The characteristic of a perfect woman is one who is at peace with herself. Have you ever met such a woman? Nothing really seems to upset this woman for very long and she is always looking at the bright side and full of encouragement. A woman at peace is a woman who is truly walking in her liberty.

You are at liberty (free) to assume a life of tranquility. A harmonious life is a life that can be enjoyed without placing too much emphasis on the trials and oppositions faced each day. Yes, they are a part of life, but they don’t have to be a dominant part of your life! Seek peace!

In the Book of Proverbs we are told: “Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace is joy.”Joy is another attribute of a life that is at peace. Joy is feelings of great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind according to Encarta Dictionary. Those who experience peace will definitely experience joy. God brings about both peace and joy. Let’s do another little exercise.

Think about a time when you really wanted something positive to happen. You may not have been sure that this was going to work out, but when it finally did, you were excited beyond expectations. Remember how that felt. Take a minute to relive that thought. Now, whenever life brings about negative situations call to remembrance what it felt like when you had that positive experience and it will help you get through the negative times.

When Jesus was in the Upper Room with His followers, He wanted to prepare them for the events that would culminate in His crucifixion. He wanted His disciples to realize that true peace comes from within and only God can give that to you. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Remember I just said that peace comes from God. Jesus gives us a special peace that transcends worldly problems; a peace that can wash over you like a gentle ocean breeze. Always carry in the back of your mind the loving relationship that you have with God. Think about a caring savior that loves you so much that He died for you just so you could walk in liberty. Isn’t that a peaceful thought?

Paul tells us to “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” If you are going to be bound by anything; let it be in peace. Allow peace to envelope you and not only you, but others will see the difference in your life. Yes, in the beginning people will try to test your peace and wish to disrupt your spirit because you are seeking to possess something they have never been able to obtain. There are few peaceful women. However those that possess this trait are rich beyond monetary gain.

The author of the Book of Hebrews states “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Follow peace! Isn’t that an interesting concept? And, how do you follow peace, you ask? By not letting the irritating things that people do annoy you or affect you in any way. Remember, the only person that you have control over is yourself. Your children have to be obedient to you; however, you have no control over what they do when they are not in your presence. You can only trust them and hope that what you have taught them will remain with them. Strive for a life with peace as its focus and you will be living a godly life and you will be living a liberated life as well.

Paul writing to the Church at Roman says: “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.” There it is again, joy and peace! They are as much a pair as envy and jealousy. However the former is desirable and the latter is not. There can be no peace or joy in a life that is filled with envy and jealousy. Allow God to fill your life with joy and peace. Remember that His peace is not temporal as the world gives it. It is a lasting peace; a peace that you must be filled with by God. What God gives who can take away?

Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is NOTphysical; but it is of a spiritual nature—righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. I believe it is important to bombard your mind with constant thoughts of peace. As I stated at the beginning of this section, being in a relationship is NOT the answer to all your problems; not any type of relationship with a man. If you display a peaceful spirit then you will draw to you another who possesses a like spirit. However, it is up to you to discover your level of peace and not others!

Finally, James the brother of John says that “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Be a peacemaker and not a peace breaker. Until you are able to keep “liberty robbers” at bay and embrace spiritual enhancers such as peace and joy, you will experience a rough journey on the road to spiritual freedom.

Your sister and you are very close. She wants to get her hair cut into a cute new style but her husband is firmly against it. Your sister Barbara and her husband Joe have just gotten into a heated argument about this very problem while you were in their house as a guest. Barbara turns to you for support. When you refuse to get involved in the dispute, Barbara becomes very upset and calls you a traitor. You are disturbed and hurt by the sudden outburst by your sister. How do you defend your position and maintain the peaceful relationship you once shared with your sister?