How to have peace (1)

God will give you three kinds of peace. (1) Spiritual peace. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s the foundation, the bottom line. You must have peace with God before you can have any other kind of peace. Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27 NLT). Why? Because His peace has the hallmark of heaven on it. (2) Relational peace. Paul wrote, “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV). Relational peace decreases conflict. You know from experience that relationships can be an origin of tension. For the majority of us, our greatest problems are people problems: interacting well with our boss, family, or relatives. We consistently have to deal with competition, conflict, and criticism. And these things can steal our peace. (3) Emotional peace. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since…you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15 NIV). The Greek word for “rule” means “to umpire.” What is an umpire’s role? He maintains peace. He ensures the game is played in a smooth and disciplined way. And God will provide you with an internal umpire who will keep you at peace when everything around you appears chaotic. Here is a great Bible promise: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Do you need peace today? Turn to God; you won’t be disappointed.