PEACE LIKE A RIVER

Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your PEACE would have been LIKE A RIVER, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea – Isaiah 48:18

Two lessons on Peace: (1) Total obedience to God’s instructions is vital to securing His Peace; (2) Peace is likened to a river. PEACE FLOWS. It is not static. It can flow to other people, to the extent that they can draw and drink from it. Unfortunately, the peace that some people have is not enough for them, to talk less of sharing it with others. Jesus is the Creator and Custodian of Peace. The nature of the peace that you have is a reflection of your relationship with the Prince of Peace. There is a strong link between your relationship with God and the type, duration and extent of your peace.

God wants you to enjoy PEACE LIKE A RIVER so that many dry, thirsty or troubled souls can encounter you and find true peace. Such kind of peace does not come to those who live in ease and carelessness, but to those who actively seek God’s peace and pursue it. Lasting Peace comes from pleasing God. Overflowing peace is the portion of those who vigorously follow after peace. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” When you please God, He silences every battle within and settles every conflict surrounding you. His promise to Israel becomes your portion: “Behold, I will extend PEACE to her LIKE A RIVER, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream…” (Isa.66:12). You will swim in the river of God’s Peace and flow and glow in the streams of His Glory!

Pleasing God and obeying His commandments are the currency for obtaining God’s peace. Do you have peace? Is your peace flowing like a river or stagnant like a pool? Does your peace flow to others? Can your peace calm the stormy situations of others? Whatever the present situation, it can be better. You must do everything in your power to seek, pursue and install peace. As you dedicate your life to loving, pleasing and obeying God, you will come into the blissful experience of overflowing peace both within your heart and saturating your life.