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Diva Zone Magazine
SAFEGUARD YOURPEACE
BY MARIA WHITAKER
Picture This.
After a long day of work, a few men get
on a boat for a calm, eight-mile ride across
a small body of water to settle in for the
evening. The trip begins serenely, but from
out of nowhere, the climate in their tropical
paradise suddenly shifts. The winds begin
howling, and the once calm waters begin to
rage and swell to the point of filling their
small boat. The men begin to panic until,
suddenly, they realize that the Captain of
the vessel is on board. They look around,
but aren’t able to locate him right away.
Wouldn’t you know it! They are in the
middle of a major crisis, and they find their
Captain fast asleep in the back of the boat.
They cry out to him, pleading with him to
wake up and help them before the boat
sinks. The Captain awakens at the cries of
his crew, rises, looks out and speaks calmly,
yet forcefully to the storm, “Peace! Be still!”
He then returns to the back of the boat and
continues resting.
Suddenly, the storm completely calms
and the crew is left in amazement,
wondering aloud to each other, “Who is this
man? How is he able to make wind, waves
and commotion cease at the sound of his
voice?” (Mark 4:35-41 Paraphrased)
with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And
the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:27 New Living Translation)
If we were to briefly break down the
meaning of this PEACE that Jesus spoke
about, it would look something like this:
Peace is living in...
Wholeness
(complete, not
fragmented and
disjointed)
Health
(deliverance, healing,
and wellness--
mind, body, and spirit)
2. Learn to walk in FORGIVENESS. One
of the most debilitating leeches in a child of
God’s life is unforgiveness. It dries up your
life source. It is too heavy to carry. If you
are holding anything against anyone, LET IT
GO! I know that it is easier said than done,
but your peace depends on it. Ask God to
help you release it, and once you’ve asked,
DO IT!
(security/ease, without
ungodly fear) 3. Live WITHIN YOUR MEANS. There is
nothing more stressful than living in a place
of lack. Don’t allow what you don’t have to
define you, and don’t allow yourself to make
up for this lack, by spending more than you
have.
Quietness 4. Rid yourself of unnecessary BAGGAGE
and RE-EVALULATE YOUR INNER CIRCLE.
Simply put, who or what needs to go?
P rosperity
ARE YOU WISHING TODAY THAT
SOMEONE WOULD SPEAK AN END TO
THE COMMOTION AD DISTURBANCE IN
YOUR LIFE? (stillness, being
undisturbed)
Do you wish that you could live without
the internal and external storms, for at
least one day? The truth is, beloved, that
if you are a child of God, you have the free
privilege to live this way each and every day
of your life. This gift is yours for the asking. It’s that simple, yet so profound. This
peace allows you to rest in the assurance
that although things may feel and indeed
be out of your control, you have the favor
to reside in a place of spiritual, emotional
and mental rest regardless of external
circumstances.
The gift about which I speak is God’s free
gift of PEACE. When Jesus spoke with His
disciples before his death on the Cross, He
said to them, and now to us, “I am leaving you
1. Recognize that 24/7 DRAMA IS NOT
NORMAL. We all have challenges, and some
of us may have our share of drama (personal,
family, relational, work, etc.), but please,
understand that no child of God should
be consumed every day, every minute with
chaos. Check yourself and rid yourself of
unnecessary drama. Also, recognize quickly
if you defend yourself creating issues when
things seem “too calm” for your taste. This
is a dysfunction (we all have some, but must
surrender them to God), and it is blocking
your peace.
Now, before you brush this off as another
‘religious’ whoop, let’s talk about how we
walk this out practically.
5. ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION.
If you are reading this and you have never
accepted Jesus as your Lord, please know
that living in His peace just is not possible.
I’m not being insensitive, but only God
can bring you to a place of peace and
restoration. Let Him do it. Pray this prayer
with me: God I come to you today asking
that you come into my life. I believe that
you lived, died and were raised from the
dead for my soul’s salvation. I accept your
gift of salvation right now in Jesus’ Name.
Amen. If you prayed that prayer sincerely,
salvation is yours as is God’s peace.