Are you at peace? Peace is a quality of life long sought
after and too seldom found. One of the ancient names of God is “Yahweh Shalom”.
It means “The Lord is Peace!” Peace is not a quality that can be squeezed out of
human circumstances, nor conjured up by finite and mortal minds. Peace is not
merely the absence of conflict, but rather it is a quality of life that
emanates from God Himself. Peace is not bovine placidity. Peace is the
tranquillity of spirit that rests upon the Rock the never moves.
Isaiah the prophet says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Peace comes from relationship with the God of peace. Peace comes from resting in Him who is Peace Itself.
Several things destroy peace. An unwillingness to forgive, or an unwillingness to love either yourself or another, stand out as peace breakers. Fear, guilt, and control issues also block the entrance of peace. The first step towards resting in the God Who is Peace often starts with the action of surrender, the willingness to let go, to relax, to let drop, to be still. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Experience teaches us that such surrender is often beyond our grasp, but experience also teaches us that when we crack open the doors of our hearts and say to Him, “You know I am not willing, but I am willing to be willing”, that the miracle of inner healing begins. It is a principle of Divine grace and love, that He comes down to our level and meets us where we are, not where we think we ought to be. That in a very real sense is why the Living God became Incarnate in the flesh of humankind.
The classic Anglican understanding of true peace, true tranquillity of spirit, rests on a three-fold foundation: The Daily Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer), Habitual Recollection (The practice of the presence of God, and informal prayers), and faithful attendance at Holy Eucharist. Peace is an acquired grace that comes from a spiritual orientation carried into action in prayer and worship. When you are intentionally with the God of peace, peace will be yours. Peace is a grace from God that comes as the fruit of spiritual discipline.
Our desire is often for instant results: “I want peace, and I want it right now!” Peace doesn't often come that way, rather it is born and nurtured in our hearts. There is a necessary process. We become at least willing to forgive, and willing to love, even though for the life of us we can’t artificially drum up either forgiveness or willingness. We begin to pray and read Scripture, at least taking on ourselves one of the Daily Offices; and we persist day after day in humble, quiet discipline. The process is much like planting a seed; once planted don’t keep pulling it up to see if roots are developing. Plant the Offices within your soul and water with persistence, keeping your soul in the light of the Word. Peace most often steals upon us unawares. Looking back we say with some small surprise, “Well, well, it seems I have been at peace now for some while. So quiet is the coming of peace. Would you expect it to be any other way?
Isaiah the prophet says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Peace comes from relationship with the God of peace. Peace comes from resting in Him who is Peace Itself.
Several things destroy peace. An unwillingness to forgive, or an unwillingness to love either yourself or another, stand out as peace breakers. Fear, guilt, and control issues also block the entrance of peace. The first step towards resting in the God Who is Peace often starts with the action of surrender, the willingness to let go, to relax, to let drop, to be still. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Experience teaches us that such surrender is often beyond our grasp, but experience also teaches us that when we crack open the doors of our hearts and say to Him, “You know I am not willing, but I am willing to be willing”, that the miracle of inner healing begins. It is a principle of Divine grace and love, that He comes down to our level and meets us where we are, not where we think we ought to be. That in a very real sense is why the Living God became Incarnate in the flesh of humankind.
The classic Anglican understanding of true peace, true tranquillity of spirit, rests on a three-fold foundation: The Daily Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer), Habitual Recollection (The practice of the presence of God, and informal prayers), and faithful attendance at Holy Eucharist. Peace is an acquired grace that comes from a spiritual orientation carried into action in prayer and worship. When you are intentionally with the God of peace, peace will be yours. Peace is a grace from God that comes as the fruit of spiritual discipline.
Our desire is often for instant results: “I want peace, and I want it right now!” Peace doesn't often come that way, rather it is born and nurtured in our hearts. There is a necessary process. We become at least willing to forgive, and willing to love, even though for the life of us we can’t artificially drum up either forgiveness or willingness. We begin to pray and read Scripture, at least taking on ourselves one of the Daily Offices; and we persist day after day in humble, quiet discipline. The process is much like planting a seed; once planted don’t keep pulling it up to see if roots are developing. Plant the Offices within your soul and water with persistence, keeping your soul in the light of the Word. Peace most often steals upon us unawares. Looking back we say with some small surprise, “Well, well, it seems I have been at peace now for some while. So quiet is the coming of peace. Would you expect it to be any other way?
No comments:
Post a Comment