Introduction
As we continue our week on transcendent peace, we’ll look today at where peace comes from. Peace isn’t something we can muster up in and of ourselves. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. And thankfully, we have God’s Spirit living inside of us. May we learn today how to tap into the peace of God that’s so ever-readily available to us as Christians.
Scripture
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” GALATIANS 5:22-23
Worship
Give Me Your Peace | Gateway Worship
Devotional
Living with true peace can only be done by allowing the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of his presence in our lives. Galatians 5:23-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” How incredible is it that we can have peace in this world through relationship with the Holy Spirit! The fact that true peace is solely a fruit of the Spirit takes the weight of peace off our shoulders.
It’s impossible to bear the fruit of peace apart from connectivity to God. It’s impossible to force peace in our lives because it’s impossible for us to bear fruit in our own strength. John 15:4 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Peace is the fruit of abiding in the Holy Spirit. It’s the fruit of surrendering our perspectives, relationships, words, actions, thoughts, and emotions to him.
If we are living without peace, it is because we have yet to allow the Holy Spirit to fill an area of our life with his presence. If our thoughts aren’t marked by the peace of God’s truth, it’s because we have yet to allow the Spirit to renew our minds with the Scripture he authored. If we’re without peace in our relationships, it’s because we haven’t allowed him to reveal to us his heart for ourselves or others. If the opinion of man continually robs us of peace, it’s because we haven’t centered our lives around his opinion of us. The list continues but the point remains the same. To live with peace is to allow the Spirit to permeate every area of life with his powerful, loving, and transformative presence.
Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” May you choose to seek the kingdom of God above all else today. May you allow the Holy Spirit to bring heaven to earth, not only in your life but everywhere you go today. Seek a greater measure of communion with the Holy Spirit today and enjoy the fruit of peace that comes from his nearness.
Prayer
1. Meditate on the nature of peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” Galatians 5:22
2. Where is your life not marked by the fruit of the Spirit? Where is your life not filled with the peace of his presence?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into a deeper level of communion with him today. Take time to receive an awareness of his nearness.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Romans 8:9
Go
Growing in relationship with the Holy Spirit is like growing in relationship with anyone else. He is a person of the Trinity just like the Father and Jesus. It takes time to get to know someone. It takes effort to learn their wants, desires, and personality. If you pursue a deeper connection with the Spirit you will find it. May you grow in your awareness of your union with the Holy Spirit who dwells within you.
Extended Reading: Romans 8 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Romans 5-16.