Peace through surrender . . .

Question: How do I find peace?

Answer: Peaceful relationships should be a top priority in each of our spiritual journeys. Each of us must first, however, come to peace with our inner-self before we can be at peace with others. It stands to reason, also, that since we are made in God's image, peace within is only possible when we are at peace with God. In short, we must change. However, to know and to do—that is, to actually change, is practically impossible for many of us.

To change in that case requires surrender. For it is only through surrender that God can construct us moment by moment into the fullness of Christ—which, as mentioned on prior occasions, is God’s intention (Romans 8:28-29). The good news is that God is both the author and finisher of our salvation (Hebrews 12:2); thus, His intention becomes our potential—He will perfect us, and thereby sanctify us (1 Corinthians 1:30). That is, by His grace, He initiates our desire and furnishes us with the will power to all that our sanctification requires (Philippians 2:13).

The key to an amicable relationship not just with God and our self but also others, is found in one simple act—that is, through cooperation. Obedience is always better than sacrifice. Work as hard as you wish, but nothing will please God any more that obedience. First of all, and certainly primarily, we must understand that God is firmly committed to all that is good for us and therefore, peaceful for us; however, we commit a grievous injustice to not just our own souls but to that of others when we refuse, ever so slight, to change.

I know by now that some are wondering where I am going with this. Let me cut to the chase and put it bluntly: a cantankerous 80 year old is just as far from God's intention for each of us as is a fresh new convert in their early 30ties, or even in their teens. Longevity may increase your retirement fund in the corporate world, but we all will end up with a zero balance in our spiritual ledger unless we walk wisely before the Lord (Ephesians 5:15-21) on a daily basis.

This is not the negative Gospel, either. Nothing could be more positive than to walk upright before our God (1 John 1:7). Therefore, our daily prayer should be that of the psalmist to—

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10)."

It is a natural thing, spiritually speaking, to desire the very best that God has for us, since it is He that has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) for this explicit purpose, as the Amplified version so clearly illustrates. Therefore, we must not shy away from His purposes for us, hang on to the past, coddle the "old man," and in general wallow in mediocrity.

In any event this is my opinion. So, take care to focus on His purpose as well as His promises for us and keep eternity in view at all times!

As my friends in the Middle East are so fond of saying,

"Peace be upon you!"

 JimR_/