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Pastor Chris White says to all of you: HELLO MY FRIENDS. May the Lord bless you today.
HOLA MIS AMIGOS. Que el Señor los bendiga.
Most people would define
peace of mind as the absence of mental stress and anxiety. The expression
“peace of mind” conjures up images of Buddha-like composure wherein calm,
comfort, and composure are so prevalent that nothing can disturb the one who
has peace of mind. An imperturbable, placid person is said to have peace of
mind. The only time “peace of mind” is found in the Bible is the NIV
translation of 2 Corinthians 2:13 where
Paul says he found no “peace of mind” because he didn’t find Titus in Troas.
The literal translation of this phrase is “rest of my spirit.”
The Bible uses the word peace in several different ways. Peace
sometimes refers to a state of friendship between God and man. This peace
between a holy God and sinful mankind has been effected by Christ’s sacrificial
death, “having made peace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). In
addition, as High Priest the Lord Jesus maintains that state of friendship on
behalf of all who continue to “come to God by him, seeing he always lives to
make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This
state of friendship with God is a prerequisite for the second kind of peace,
that which sometimes refers to a tranquil mind. It is only when “we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) that
we can experience the true peace of mind that is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, in
other words, His fruit exhibited in us (Galatians 5:22).
Isaiah 26:3 tells
us that God will keep us in “perfect peace” if our minds are “stayed” on Him,
meaning our minds lean on Him, center on Him, and trust in Him. Our tranquility
of mind is “perfect” or imperfect to the degree that the “mind is stayed on”
God rather than ourselves or on our problems. Peace is experienced as we
believe what the Bible says about God’s nearness as in Psalm 139:1-12, and
about His goodness and power, His mercy and love for His children, and His
complete sovereignty over all of life’s circumstances. But we can’t trust
someone we don’t know, and it is crucial, therefore, to come to know intimately
the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Peace is experienced as a result of prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
A peaceful mind and heart are experienced as a result of recognizing that an
all-wise and loving Father has a purpose in our trials. “We know that all
things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to
His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
God can bring a variety of good things, including peace, from the afflictions
that we experience. Even the discipline and chastening of the Lord will “yield
the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives (Hebrews 12:11). They
provide a fresh opportunity for “hoping in God” and eventually “praising Him” (Psalm 43:5). They
help us “comfort” others when they undergo similar trials (2 Corinthians 1:4), and
they “achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Peace of mind and the tranquility of spirit that accompanies it are only
available when we have true peace with God through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross
in payment of our sins. Those who attempt to find peace in worldly pursuits
will find themselves sadly deceived. For Christians, however, peace of mind is
available through the intimate knowledge of, and complete trust in, the God who
meets “all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Thank you to Got Questions Ministries
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