Building Community of Peace in Prayer

We continue Wednesday nights praying for the Fruit of the Spirit, Love, which is Joy, Peace, and more….This past Wednesday Lo Richards led in prayer for the Peace, with special emphasis that the true peace if given by God. 

Being careless and worry free is not peace.  The Biblical concept of peace, shalom, is the wholeness, completeness, integrity, balance - to sum it up: nothing is amiss, resulting in harmony.  Psalmist says “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” (Ps. 119:165)

On Wednesday I got a number of unusual text messages, informing me that it was a mental health emphasis day.  My first reaction was “are you hinting something?”  J  “do I need to go and seek help?”  Then one text message explained that Bell will donate five cents toward mental health in Canada.  I got prompts to mention to the church the importance of mental health, then I checked the calendar and learned that Mental Health emphasis month is in May, and it has been so designated since 1949.  So, I am loosing my peace and will communicate more on this by May J  However, as I got thinking, peace and soul prosperity is of utmost importance for total health. 

3^rd John 2 apostle is saying that we prosper and are in health as our soul is well.  How well is your soul?  We sing:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,^a
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Is your soul well?  How is your mental and emotional health?

Peace is not something we can persuade ourselves of, or manufacture, or enforce.  True Peace is above our understanding, it comes from God and guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7).  That’s why we pray for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Defender, the Peace Maker to come, to abide, to dwell in us.  When the Love of God is poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5) we experience peace of being reconciled with God.  Being reconciled to God we become ambassadors of reconciliation. (2^nd Corinthians 5:18-20)  Being at peace we carry peace with us into lives of others, peacemakers, peacekeepers of God.  We pursue peace with all people, which is true holiness without which we cannot see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).  The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18)

Pray for peace in hearts of people you know, and your own, and claim this promise for your own mental health: “ You (GOD!) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)