Written by: Sister Patricia Smith, guided by the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
tells us, “The Spirit produces love, joy, PEACE patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.” This year The Grandmothers of Hope Ministry is focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit and how it relates to our Christian faith.
PEACE,
the third slice of spiritual fruit, is knowing that the Lord of the universe is by your side and then being able to rest in that fact. It’s not just knowing, but it is also living it out. Peace is having the ability to sit in comfort and know that God is next to your side, no matter what is going on, as He has already promised to never leave or forsake us.
Romans 15:13,
says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.
God’s Peace is not something that we can self-manifest by our own works or in our own emotional strength. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, peace may grow in us if we abide in God’s presence, as a branch is connected to a tree or vine like in John 15:1-8. I believe that Peace will grow when we stay connected to the vine–when we practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, praise, fasting, studying the Word, mediation, worship and service to the Lord and others. Practicing these disciplines could be compared to caring for, fertilizing, and watering as if contributing to our own growth which, in turn, will produce spiritual fruit with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are the branches and we are called to have a relationship with our Lord, the great Gardener. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God causes the growth”. So apart from my relationship with God and His will, I have no spiritual power, because neither “he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
Galatians 5:22,
says that it is the Spirit that produces Peace… so there is not anything we can do, but to submit to God, the Lord Jesus and the Spirit’s leading. So, just like physical fruit need time to grow, the Fruit of the Spirit takes time to grow in our lives, too. As I mature in my own faith by believing and practicing spiritual disciplines, I pray that my relationship with the Lord and my spiritual fruit will grow as well. Without love, joy and PEACE, the rest of the fruits may not be possible to grow, in my opinion.
“PEACE be with you” is so important as it is mentioned so many times in the bible and among people of faith. God, Himself, is PEACE and has called us to be peacemakers. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
God’s perfect PEACE is an amazing gift from the Father as He knew in the beginning that we would be living in a world full of chaos ruled by the enemy. John 14:27 says “PEACE, I leave with you….” So, we know that the Spirit of Peace can provide the inner peace of mind and contentment we crave even in less than peaceful times, or situations in our lives. The enemy of this world can certainly stir up and cause undue stress in our lives as it relates to the lack of Peace on our jobs, in our relationships, in our homes, in the lives of our children, in our finances, in our sicknesses, in war and even in our minds. So, whenever I am feeling stressed or unpeaceful, I resort to seeking God in prayer, offering praise, or reading the truth in His Word and I am then reminded that if God is in me, I already have Peace. When I am anxious, in conflict, or experiencing difficult situations that seem to steal my Peace, I may take a moment to be thankful, to pray, to be still, to read His Word, and remember that God Is always in control.
Philippians 4:6-8,
also encourages me to “stand firm in the Lord” and to think on whatever is true. Not only do I think on whatever is true, but I also think about what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is good, what is excellent, and what is worthy of praise. When I set my mind on the truth in His Word, I find that I can begin to practice the concepts within it.
So, in summary, the spiritual fruit of PEACE is produced in my life by the Holy Spirit when I think on and can walk in faith by practicing or applying the truth of His Word to my life. The God of Peace is already in me as He promised to never leave nor forsake me. But when I begin to apply and practice the truth of God’s Word, my relationship with the Lord is strengthened and the Peace of God is manifested in my heart and in my mind. And as a result, I believe thinking on whatever is true, being prayerful and thankful are practices that may also help you, too, to stand strong like a tree planted by the waters – in good times, as well as in times of trouble.
As I grow more in the knowledge of our Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct me, I’ve learned that God’s Peace is based on truth, not the circumstances in my life. God’s truth is found in His Word and if I can allow His Word to dwell in me and be written on my heart, then with the help of the Spirit, I can experience the kind of Peace He intends for me to enjoy even in the worst of times. Try it! “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good…” Psalm 34:8
References from Holy Bible, life experiences and YouTube
Ephesians 1:13-14
Romans 8:9
Hebrew 13:5
Psalm 119:160
John 17:17
Colossians 3:16-17
Article Written by Sister Patricia Smith, guided by the Holy Spirit
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry