Got Peace?

Peace. Modern movements in favor of “peace” have graced the world landscape since the early 1800’s. Then there was the American Peace Movement from 1889-1918. Today we are more familiar with the Hippie subculture from the 60’s and 70’s or variations of “No to NATO” to name a few. Peace has long been associated with being a stance for non-violent resistance expressed through forms of pacifism via demonstrations, boycotts, sit-ins and more. Peace being the choice expression against violent settlement of differences.

It’s interesting how the word peace in Hebrew is Shalom and is defined as nothing missing, nothing broken. In ancient Greek, the word eirene, means peace, from eiro, to join, to be set at one again, in carpentry it is referred to as the dove-tail joint, which is the strongest joint. Peace is a place of unhindered enjoyment of friendship beyond guilt, suspicion, blame or inferiority. (ref. The MirrorWord Bible)

Seems there is a connection to modern usage and ancient, but not fully. Unfortunately, it seems that it often happens in word translation, much like the old game of telephone.

So if Jesus is the Prince of Peace, how does that work for us? I mean, today we say we want peace within or to make peace with our past, peace with our neighbors and so on. I suppose we are meaning we want rest from internal or external conflict and that is great. But if we want the peace of Christ, I’d say we are to be looking for the realization that Christ says we are whole (unbroken), lacking nada. That we are to remember that we have been joined with him and are in him. But he is our source of realized wholeness. In this dovetail relationship, that strongest bond, we may walk out the truth of our blameless perfection, but only when we acknowledge and grow in what in him means. It is so much MORE than a feel-good phrase. Luckily, we are made for more.

For me, internal peace is most available when I realize the truth of the gospel and indwelling presence of the living God. Not a god that is out there somewhere or up in the sky, but rather God who is living, loving, and guiding as he dwells in me! As I talk to him about this, and what it means for me in my circumstances, his peace becomes more available and more real than anything I can muster internally on my own or extract from someone or something outside of me.

While this peace is always available, sometimes a struggle comes with accessibility. When panic, fear, or otherwise dominate my prefrontal cortex, I don’t feel peace and find myself living from my feelings rather than his faith that everything that is his also belongs to me.

When this hijacking of my prefrontal cortex (AKA flippin’ my lid!) happens and I struggle to experience Shalom through prayer or otherwise, I have found something that works really well for me. It is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), or tapping.

Want to know why? EFT is healing, helping us reset our mind and align with truth.

Tune it tomorrow and I will talk a bit more about EFT. Until then, re-mind yourself with the words from John 14:27 ESV, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”.

The world has been wanting it for a long, long time. He has it, and so do we. Let ‘s grow together in experiencing it. Peace out,