Recipe for Peace

Peace is so important in our life, especially during such a time as this. Having no peace is like walking around barefoot. [Ephesians 6:15-"Having your feet shod with the gospel of peace."] Just like stepping on an object as small as a Lego can bring the largest and strongest man to the ground, walking around with no peace can easily cripple the toughest person. For this, God literally gave us the recipe for peace.

Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Think on these things: A Recipe for Peace

True: "being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed. Consistent. Properly called. Steadfast, loyal, honest, just, the state of being in alignment." When your peace is attacked, the enemy goes after you with lies or negative "what ifs." But "true" is what you know to be accurate. Even in tough times, you know what is true.

Honorable: "deserving of high respect or high regard. Creditable. characterized by integrity guided by a keen sense of duty and ethical conduct." This means keeping your thoughts above reproach.

Just: "having a basis in fact or reason. Reasonable. Conforming to a proper standard of correctness. Faithful to an original. Acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good." Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:5.

Pure: "unmixed with any other matter. Free from what weakens. Free from moral guilt or fault. Homozygous in and breeding true for one or more characters. Ritually having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role." Pure thoughts bring freedom. Christ purified us and freed us, so why should we ponder on things that are unpure and bring back our bondage?

Lovely: "delightful for beauty. Harmony or grace. Eliciting love by moral or grace. Eliciting love by moral or ideal worth."

Commendable: "to entrust for care or preservation. TO recommend as worthy of confidence or notice. Praise." Praise brings peace. Verse 6 says thanksgiving brings peace, which is a form of praise. Praise God for His works and who He is.

Excellent: "very good of its kind. Eminently good. First-class. Superior."

Our thoughts, along with God's faithfulness, are the main ingredients for peace. God wants peace for us so badly that He spelled out how to obtain and maintain our peace. Tough times have nothing on God's faithfulness. It is just our job and our choice to take our thoughts captive and keep them focused on Christ.