Fight For Peace

 




We have just come back from a beautiful summer holiday travelling around Norfolk in our newly converted van that I affectionately have named ‘Tristan!!’ It was a much needed time away, but I must admit I struggled, at times, to get into the rhythm of rest and find my peace. While spending time in prayer and reflection one morning while enjoying my morning cup of coffee, I felt God whisper a phrase to me. The phrase was ‘Fight for peace’



‘Fight For Peace’ 


Initially the phrase made me feel uncomfortable. They seem to be the antithesis of one another! But as I spent some time considering this in line with the scriptures, I began to see the wisdom in the phrase. 


I began to read scriptures about peace and see them in a completely new way. For example:


"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3


"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7


"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14


"Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it." 1 Peter 3:11


"Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:165



These five verses are just a snippet of what the bible says about peace and as I read them thinking of the phrases ‘Fight for peace’ I was really challenged. In each of these verses we see Peace isn't a passive thing. It has to be pursued and fought for through prayer, reading the word, and declaring the truth over your life. 


When Jesus stilled the storm on the sea of Galilee he didn’t tell the disciples to think about peaceful things and manifest the storm to stop, he stood up and declared that the storm stop. Only then did peace come. 


Over our holiday there were times where I felt like I was fighting for peace, but I found that the fight was worthwhile as I saw so many of God’s blessing and felt God’s peace in a way that I otherwise might have missed. 


The challenge for each of us today is,




Where in your life do you need to fight for peace?


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