Seek Peace

We’re considering what things we should seek in order to have the best life possible.  God gives us some clear help with these words:

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:14

It’s pretty clear that peace often does not just naturally settle on us.  Oh for sure, there are those moments in nature on vacation when all is well. Those moments on a nice day when the sun is going down are some of the easiest times for me to experience that settling down and quiet peace. 

But, it’s pretty clear from the verse that peace is something that we usually have to go after because there are challenges to it – grating personalities of people around us; busy demands on our minds and bodies; a noisy world around us; troubles in the news; pressures in our finances and the unknowns about the future.  The list really is endless, isn’t it?

No surprise then that in more than one place in God’s Word we are reminded to seek peace and work for it.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Work at living in peace with everyone.Hebrews 12:14

Where do you and I need to seek peace today? Anyone we need to work with on reconciliation and forgiveness?  Any thoughts to give to sorting out priorities in our activities so we have space for some peace?  Any movement from just seeking our own well-being to working for peace in places where there is none right now?

Jesus promised us:  God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

Loving God, what does it look like for us today to seek peace and pursue it?  Help us to pause and listen and let You inform us.  Fill us with Your Spirit so we move in the direction You show us. One of Your names is “Prince of Peace” and we want to live like You today.  Amen

Well, one more promise for us if we will seek peace: 

A wonderful future awaits those who love peace. Psalm 37:37

Let’s seek peace and pursue it today.