Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. John 14:27 HCSB
True peace is a gift from God. Peace is not something that can be obtained through our own self will or discipline, it comes through a place of relationship in prayer. An intimate, secret place relationship with God is what cultivates and develops our identity in Him. Knowing who we are in Christ allows us to mature through the process of trusting Him in all circumstances. The longer we walk and talk with Him, the more we should be growing in our ability to trust Him in any situation. Trust permits peace to reign in our heart constantly.
As intercessors, it is vital that we are able to pray from a place of peace. When we lack peace, we lose focus and have a tendency to react to circumstance rather than respond to the voice of God.
And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Colossians 3:15 HCSB
The peace that Christ imparts allows us to pray with purpose and intentionality, keeping us on point and not distracted by the devices of the enemy. The things that we allow to inform us and feed us spiritually are the things that will either reinforce and strengthen our peace or distract and erode our peace. It is very important to guard our hearts from the subtle and pervasive influences of the enemy that are continually assaulting our senses. Informing our mind and heart with what the Word of God says and what the Spirit of God is speaking is far more important than staying up to date on the latest headlines and trends in our culture. Holy Spirit directed and led intercession can pray directly into the circumstances of current events even if the person praying has no knowledge of them.
Many of the ways in which we inform ourselves come through a medium that is pushing a narrative or agenda that runs directly counter to the peace of God in our lives. The enemy loves to keep believers distracted, discouraged and distraught. If Satan can steal our peace, he can shake our faith and ultimately lead us to a place of unbelief. Satan fears our prayers, not because he fears us, but because he fears the One who hears us. Sometimes the enemy has more confidence in our prayers being answered than we do.
One of the best ways to keep our peace is to simply shut ourselves away with God in prayer. Allowing Him to inform us and shape our thinking brings us into a position of trust in who He is and reveals to us who we are in Him. Jesus received His peace from the Father through the affirmation He received publicly and the relationship He received privately in fasting and prayer.
Learning to trust God is not always an easy process, often it comes through circumstances that appear to run counter to how our natural mind thinks a situation should be resolved. Often discouragement and frustration cause us to curse our circumstances and delay an answer to prayer when many times the circumstances God is allowing us to go through are designed to press us into a place of trust. It is alright to let God know that you are frustrated or irritated by circumstances as long as you will lay those circumstances at His feet and say “Father, I don’t understand this. I don’t like it and I really am frustrated in my spirit right now, but I trust you and know that you have my best interest in mind.” Simply placing your trust in Him gives Him the opening to impart His peace into your life.
Praying from a place of peace makes us dangerous to the enemy and effective in the Kingdom of God. Shut out the voices of culture and distraction and open up to the Word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Heaven waits in eager anticipation of your prayers.
