In this article, we’re going to learn: Where does peace come from? What does peace mean? What do we have to do? Let's learn about making decision with peace. Please turn to Numbers 6.
Doesn’t it seem at times that there are so many big decisions to make about life? What is school going to be like this year? How do I make new friends at school? Should I go to college or not? What college to go to? What career path to take? Should I date this guy? Should we get married or not? What about kids? Am I making a good living at my job? At times, it might feel stressful just thinking about all the decisions that have to be made. Should I eat vanilla or chocolate ice cream tonight? Big decisions!
God’s will is not for us, his kiddos, to feel stressed out - but rather - to manifest peace in our lives. Manifest peace. As we trust in God’s ability to help us, and we keep our minds stayed on Him and His Word, we can make decisions with peace no matter what situations come up in life. No matter what changes take place in our lives. Peace comes from an unchanging source - and that can only be God. Let's learn a bit more about making decisions with peace and having peace in our lives.
See, peace is not based upon the situation. Because situations change, they come and go. Peace is not conditional on what’s taking place. Peace does not come from the absence of trouble either. You can’t buy peace. You can’t go to a spa and get peace. A person could be living a very quiet life, and yet they may still be living in turmoil and conflict - within. I could be on a tropical island all by myself, and still not be in peace. Peace comes from the presence of God in our lives. God is everywhere, but we have to let him into our heads, in our hearts, and in our lives. Invite God in.
Numbers 6:22-26: 22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Peace means an abundance of blessings, a total well-being. It’s the experience of health and happiness, social connection, engagement, and having a sense of purpose. Total well-being means that you feel fulfilled in all aspects of your life.
Turn to Proverbs 3.
God has our best interests at heart. Therefore, we do not have to let important decision-making situations cause us to become stressed. We can trust in God. We can trust His ability to help us to make decisions with peace.
Let’s take an example of a very important decision to make: Vanilla or chocolate ice cream tonight? When we are trying to decide one way or another on an important matter such as this, we can be tempted to become restless or anxious. We may even be tempted to become afraid or to doubt God’s ability to help us. In times like these, we can hold onto the simple truths that God provides in His Word and trust Him to direct our way. We trust in God’s ability to help us. In times of trouble, when we may be feeling stressed out, anxious, worried, we have spiritual truths and promises that we can refer to and remember and understand and believe and take action upon - that, when applied in our actual lives, can provide answers to the problems in life. We have to trust in the words that are written for us, so that we can make peaceful decisions.
Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
What a wonderful promise to hold onto, that God shall direct our paths. We can trust Him with all our heart, lean not unto our own understanding (which means-don’t get in the way, with your own thoughts of how you think God needs to work in your life). Just acknowledge Him in all our ways, and know that He absolutely will direct our paths, which means that God can show us what to do in situations. But if we’re not peaceful, we may not see it, hear it, or understand it when the solutions to problems in life come to us. God shall direct our paths, and we can make decisions with peace, if we lean not unto our own understanding, but instead acknowledge him and his presence in our lives.
What do we have to do? Acknowledge God in all our ways. Acknowledge (meaning to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of). Acknowledge God’s presence in everything that we do. I love practicing the presence of God. It takes practice.
Read Jeremiah 23:23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? That verse means, “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only.”
This is a Biblical principle that helps us build a new quality in our minds—that helps us be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). God is everywhere and in everything. This is what brings us positive, powerful results in our lives. Acknowledging God’s presence in everything we do.
Turn to Psalms 46.
Even when situations or circumstances seem negative, we don’t need to fear. We can remain at peace, trusting in God’s ability to help us.
Read Psalms 46:1,2: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
We do not have to have fear in our lives. Turn to Colossians 3.
Colossians 3:15-16: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
We let the words dwell within us, let the peace rule in our hearts, and let that be the controlling factor that is deciding and settling questions that arise. And to this type of peaceful living, we were called as members in one body of believers. And we are thankful to God always for the peace we can enjoy, and letting the peace rule, and helping us make those life decisions. To get those words dwelling within us, we study the word, go to fellowship, read the bible, use an app with verses for the day, find those truths and promises that we like, and we try to remember them, and let those words have their home within us, dwelling in our hearts and minds - permeating every aspect of our being.
God’s peace is not dependent on our surroundings or circumstances. The peace that comes from our trust in and love for God is greater than any situation or decision we face. God’s peace is the constantly consistent factor, especially as challenges and difficult situations arise. And it is His peace that will guide our decision-making. We can factor in and apply this simple and powerful truth.
Turn to Isaiah 26.
Keeping our minds stayed on God and His Word is a way that we can make decisions with peace. When I’m trying to decide what to do with my family and myself, and I’m not peaceful, I take a break, step back, take a moment, sleep on it – until I get my mind “stayed” or calm, cool, and collected.
To get my mind calm, cool, and collected, I pray and bring my thoughts back to the word that I know, and with thankfulness, I thank God for providing for all that I need. And I thank God for those things, answers to problems, or solutions to a situation, that I will receive.
Here’s a verse we may want to use to get our mind refocused back to the peace of God.
Read Isaiah 26:3: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
I am reminded that as long as we put God first and include Him in our lives and decision-making processes, everything will work out just fine.
For us to have that type of perfect peace, it takes staying our minds on God and building our trust in Him. Staying our minds on God means that we constantly bring our thoughts back to God’s Word as our standard, no matter what happens in life. We want our first thoughts to be, what does God’s Word say? What does God’s Word say about this situation? And then we apply it with all believing and thankfulness.
As we consistently put God’s Word in our minds and apply it to our lives, it helps us maintain our trust in God, whether big or small situations come up. When we keep the Word as our standard, we are in a better position to get an understanding on what to do. When we seek God first, He gives us what we need, right when we need it.
Matthew 6:33 days, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The answers we find in God’s Word will bring peace as we apply God’s Word in our lives.
Let’s turn to and read Hebrews 13:20-21: 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
With God in Christ in us, working in us, we lack nothing. And that is well-pleasing to God. What peace, what wonderful peace, we can have knowing that we are completely equipped, perfect, to live according to God’s truths and promises and His will for us.
I encourage you to test this theory out. Today. Let’s prove that God works. Let’s test this theory and prove to ourselves that it works. Let’s think of this as an experimental reminder of the presence and power and peace of God. Let’s read Proverbs 3:5-6 again.
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Now let’s take a moment sometime today, and apply that verse to our lives. Let’s expect to see a positive result. Let’s see ourselves getting peaceful. Let’s enjoy making focused and awesome decisions in our lives. Let’s lean not on our own thoughts, but let’s acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, and let go, and let God. Let Go, Let God. And let’s be thankful for everything that we’ve been given. Let’s get ready to make and enjoy the best, most peaceful decisions in our lives.
There are many decisions to make in life, but by trusting in God’s ability to help us and by keeping our minds stayed on Him and His Word, we can have His perfect peace during all of our life decisions. Because peace is not dependent upon external circumstances, but instead, it’s based upon living in God’s presence and knowing and living the fulness of our relationship with Him.
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