FIGHT for PEACE
1 For everything there is a season and a time for
every activity under heaven:
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,8
Tree of Life Version
Emphasis mine.
Lately, I have noticed more hate and war than love and peace! Even within my own mind peace is a rare commodity. As I look upon the world and the daily news, I see the wars and rumors of wars Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24.
In this modern world, why does peace elude us? As a follower of Jesus, why do I find myself beleaguered by worry, anxiety, and fear? Indeed, even society as a whole is suffering a massive mental health crisis. Suicide, violence, rage, and addictions are out of control.
Where is the Peace like a River I sing about?
A TIME for WAR
Darkness is spreading over the earth and deep darkness over the peoples of the earth. Isaiah prophesied about these heavy conditions in the earth just prior to Jesus appearing and bringing His Light upon us! Isaiah 60:1-2
In the book of The Revelation, Chapter 12, we read an epic retelling of the story and victory of Jesus and His people. The great dragon, Satan loses the war and is cast down to earth in fury.
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you
with great rage,
knowing that his time is short.
Revelation 12:12
Tree of Life Version
Emphasis mine.
We live in the time before the end of this present age, when the rage of the dragon pours through people and events in the earth like a dark river. He makes war on the saints by flooding our peace with his fear. To repel anxiety and rage, we must learn to fight for peace.
SHALOM
Shalom is the common word used in the Old Testament for PEACE. It carries the nuance of being complete, perfect in health and mind; being at ease, tranquil, unconcerned, safe. Shalom is God’s gift to His people.
In blessing the people, the priest would say,
“Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!”
Numbers 6:26
Tree of Life Version
When God’s eyes are on us, we have peace. Jeremiah tells us God’s plans for His people are plans of PEACE and not calamity. Jeremiah 29:11
I don’t know about you, but I rarely “feel” tranquil, unconcerned and safe. Instead I feel the world unravelling around me. Daily possessing God’s peace seems out of reach.
God wants to bless us with His peace. He laments through the Prophet Isaiah:
If only you had listened to My commandments!
then your peace would be like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:18
TLV
I often feel I have missed God as I struggle to walk in peace. Guilt plagues my thoughts accusing me that I lack God’s peace for some reason or another and it’s always my fault. Did I not listen to God? How did I get there?
PERFECT PEACE – EYES on JESUS
You keep in perfect peace
one whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 TLV
Too often I find myself being like Peter walking on water. Eyes on Jesus, Peter was sailing along. Then Peter LOOKED AT the waves and HEARD the roar of the storm. Peter began to sink. Matthew 14
We live in the hour of upheaval and storms. The enemy wishes to capture our attention by looking at the trouble all around us. Isaiah encourages us, fight for peace by keeping your eyes on Jesus! He alone deserves our attention.
Attention is a hot commodity today. Social media moguls understand that our eyes and ears bring profit. They sell this precious commodity to others, who sell us products, ideas, positions and agendas.
Worldly systems seek to destroy the presence of peace within us. The dragon wants us to flow in his outrage. God wants us to flow in peace. When war rages in my thoughts, chances are my attention is diverted.
THE PRINCE of PEACE
A famous bumper sticker reads:
NO JESUS – NO PEACE
KNOW JESUS – KNOW PEACE
We know Him! Most of us remember the moment we opened our hearts to Him. A flood of peace and joy overwhelmed us as we came to KNOW the Prince of Peace!
Unlike us, the disciples knew Jesus face-to-face. They walked with Him, yet their world at the time was also in turmoil. The night before Jesus was crucified, He celebrated Passover with His disciples. At that table, He shared with them many troubling things, and then He gave them a gift.
“Shalom, I leave you, My shalom I give to you;
but not as the world gives!
Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 TLV
In the midst of storms and the instability of our time, we who KNOW Jesus, can access His peace to carry us through. Jesus still gives the gift of HIS PEACE to everyone who follows Him.
Paul writes about this “Jesus Peace” in the letter to the Philippians. It is greater than any other peace in existence and has power to guard our hearts and guard our minds as we walk with Him.
The dragon hates peace. Human hearts and minds are his target. To get to us, he has to get through the Peace of Jesus. Unfortunately, he has found a way.
WARFARE
During war BOMBS are dropping everywhere. In a spiritual war, it’s not physical BOMBS from the enemy, rather he BOMBards our minds with dark thoughts. Fear, worry, anger, jealousy, destruction – these are some of the weaponry of the dark kingdom.
At times, I struggle to sleep at night, all types of thoughts flood my mind. I find myself, sitting on the edge of my bed, thinking angry thoughts. I remember an offense or I feel indignant about an evil agenda. I question people’s motives. I question God’s love for me. I worry. A dark web ties up my feelings with shadowy thoughts, sleep does not come. A war rages for my attention.
In the moment I don’t even realize I’m receiving enemy fire!
THE IRON DOME DEFENSE
It’s August 2024 and war rages in Israel. Their incredible defense system, the Iron Dome, protects them by blocking incoming missiles. It’s like a giant invisible hand over the land.
In a way, the Peace of Jesus is like our iron dome. His peace guards us, yet we are active in the fight for peace by blocking dark thoughts!
FIGHT FOR PEACE – ACTIVATE THE DOME
The Iron Dome strikes down each incoming missile with a defensive missile fired from within. The dome senses the threat, aims and launches. It destroys the enemy missile long before it can do damage.
It is the same in our thinking. When the dark thought comes, we launch ANOTHER JESUS THOUGHT to strike it down. We have to be aware and sense the threat of anxiety, anger, fear and outrage in our thoughts. We must stay awake and counter the dark thinking before it does damage.
Paul teaches to TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE! With a million thoughts swirling around, this seems impossible, but in Jesus the promises are Yes and Amen!
Don’t Overwhelm Your Defenses
The Iron Dome does have one weakness. If a massive number of missiles launch all at once, the dome is overwhelmed. Some missiles will get through.
Watch one hour of TV news and you will see what I mean! It’s overwhelming.
I know people who view TV and videos for hours, warning, bracing, exposing, and prophesying dark ideas. I have watched believers stumble into hopelessness and despair from watching and listening, and I have been there myself. It seems impossible to turn it off.
Media is designed to addict our minds to an algorithm bringing us “food for thought.” It is NOT EASY to turn our attention away. The sheer number of dark ideas that enter with constant watching, listening and scrolling overwhelms our Jesus Peace.
LAUNCHING YOUR DEFENSE
REDUCE EXPOSURE
Begin by limiting what is coming into your thought life. Limit news, social media, negative conversations, and gossip.
When you begin to disconnect from trending issues, you may be accused of being foolish because you have a responsibility “to know what is going on!”
Preserving God’s peace is more important than a “correct” position on a worldly scandal.
It’s important to “be aware” of current events but it’s more important to be aware of the lost and suffering people all around you. They are seeking peace and don’t know the source. You know Him!
Give yourself to thinking of ways to pray with people, help them and share Jesus. This is better than worrying about how to stop nuclear proliferation in unstable regions in the world!
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
We don’t struggle with people, but with powers from the dark kingdom. Ephesians 6. Your enemy is not a person, nor a political candidate. He’s not a country, nor a people group, nor another religion, No.
Your enemy is the dragon and the dark kingdom spreading in the earth and covering the peoples. Rev 12:12, Is 60:2
When we attack people or groups of people, it releases that dark angry river. Recognize who is stirring up your heart and mind. Aim the Word at him and take your peace!
MAKE IT MEASURE UP!
Frisk your thoughts like a security officer! Do they measure up to Philippians 4:8-9?
True, Honorable, Just, Pure, Lovely, Commendable, Virtuous, Worthy of Praise
If the line of thinking does not measure up, get rid of it. It’s enemy fire! Replace it with thoughts of peace and beauty! If the Joy of the Lord is our strength Nehemiah 8:10, then replace dark thoughts with thoughts of Jesus, His blessings, His work in our life, etc. Dig deep. Find the joy. Fight for peace.
KEEPING YOUR PEACE in a WAR ZONE
King David laments:
6 My soul has too long dwelt with those who hate shalom.
7 I am for shalom and this I speak,
but they are for war.
Psalm 120:6-7
TLV
When we go out into the office, the church, family gatherings, social media, sports fields, etc. we are surrounded by people and messages of war. This is where we fight to keep our peace and refuse offense and bitter thoughts.
People all over the earth are searching. Sisters and brothers, we carry true peace inside. It’s the Light of Jesus.
In protecting our heart and mind, we will flow in His River of Peace. When we flow with His peace, people will come to The River and drink. Carry that sweet water to all who are thirsty and tell them the Good News!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
In what way is the enemy trying to steal your peace? How do you fight for your peace?
Has this article helped you in any way? Please let me know in the comments section below.
I’d like to pray for you if you are struggling!
Additional Inspire a Fire Articles that might be helpful:
How I Find Peace When Bunnies and Sparrows Fall by JoAnn Claypoole
Surrender to God’s Plan by Sandy Kirby Quandt
TAPPING IN THROUGH SOAKING IN HIS PRESENCE!
As a musician, I love God’s praise brought forth with many styles and voices. Ruth Fazel’s Songs from the River series is my favorite sound to seek, pray, and rest in Jesus. When I am troubled, I lay before the Lord and let the sweet sounds of this worship cover me with currents of His Peace!
