Peace Puts You in the Driver's Seat

Jesus not only paid the price for our physical bodies to be healed. He also paid the price for our minds to be whole and to be at peace. Peace is one of the most precious commodities on the planet. Peace is everything! However, true, lasting peace can only be attained one way—through Jesus Christ.

After the birth of Jesus, angels announced to the shepherds in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Apart from Jesus, the world is without this supernatural peace.

There are two types of peace that we can have in life:

1.     The peace the world offers, which is dependent on favorable circumstances.

2.     The peace that comes from Jesus, which keeps us calm and content regardless of circumstances.

In the New Testament, one of the meanings for the word “peace” is quietness, oneness, or to set at one again. Oneness means having one thought, not many. In other words, it’s not being double-minded. Being single-minded, and trusting God’s Word, keeps us in peace regardless of contrary circumstances.

The opposite—a troubled mind—will race in multiple directions with many different thoughts and emotions. This is usually induced by negative circumstances. People who experience anxiety have numerous thoughts bombarding their minds, sometimes like the rapid fire of a machine gun. This barrage of thoughts causes confusion, panic, and uncertainty.

If you’re ever troubled with racing thoughts, begin to worship God until you begin to calm down. Then find a relevant scripture and start meditating on what God says about that situation. When you’re trusting and resting in what God says about you and your situation, you are not simultaneously considering what you see or feel. As a result, the peace of God will set your mind in quietness again, because His peace accompanies His Word.

The peace of God is a powerful force. That is why the devil is always trying to steal our peace. Your power to overcome anything in life is rooted in maintaining a calm, peaceful, and trusting attitude in the midst of the storms of life.

How to Live in Perfect PEACE Like Jesus Did

Whenever we give place to anxious, fearful thoughts, we are allowing the devil to take the driver’s seat. But when we choose to trust God’s Word and yield to peace, we give the Holy Spirit charge of our situation.

How can we trust God?

Numbers 23:19 in the New Living Translation says,

“God is not a man, so he does not lie.

He is not human, so he does not change his mind.

Has he ever spoken and failed to act?

Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”

We must believe that God would never lie to us. He is always there to deliver us and take good care of us. When we believe He cannot lie, it is easy to trust His Word. Meditating upon scriptures like this one helps us to trust God. People who stay in peace also stay in control and handle situations successfully. Jesus gives us a vivid picture of what this looks like in Mark’s gospel.

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Mark 4:35-38 KJV

These seasoned fishermen were terrified by this storm. And yet right in the middle of the storm, Jesus was asleep. Jesus had already given the faith command to go to the other side. He was following His Father’s instructions, so He knew He would arrive safely on the other side.

This trust in God’s Word gave Jesus singleness of mind that resulted in peace. However, the disciples weren’t so confident of this and they began to panic.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Mark 4:39-41 KJV

Here’s an important point:

When the disciples asked, “What manner of man is this?”, many would respond, “Well, naturally, He’s the Son of God!” But I believe the real point is that this type of man, the man who operates in the peace and assurance of God’s Word, is powerful and is in control of his circumstances. Staying in peace put Jesus in the driver’s seat! And if you will stay in peace, you will be in the driver’s seat of your life as well!

Anxiety, worry, and panic all have a driving nature. The types of thoughts and feelings they bring put extreme pressure on the mind. In contrast, the nature of the Holy Spirit is gentle and peaceful.

Another thing I love about Jesus is that you never read anywhere in the gospels where He was in a hurry. Even when His close friend, Lazarus, had died, He waited two more days before He went to raise him up. Not even the tragic circumstance of losing a loved one could drive Jesus into giving up His peace.

This peace is not seen most places. That’s why others will often get irritated with you when you flow in it. But don’t let that deter you. Nothing that can happen in life should drive us to give up our peace!

The peace of God is our precious inheritance. Let’s guard it diligently! Let’s allow God’s Word to keep us in quiet assurance.

(I’ve been teaching out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression. This book will truly help you to live a life that is untroubled. Click here to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DDse08)

If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church. As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!