Let’s reflect on what we need to do to create peace in our hearts, in our lives, in our communities and in our world.

Let us turn to God with humility and learn from the Holy Scriptures as we ask Jesus to give us His Holy Spirit so we can understand and be wise.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 3:18 – 4:3

So if we want peace in our hearts, in our lives, in our communities and world, we must turn to God with motives that are honourable and righteous.

Peace comes from Our Lord Jesus…

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Jesus said, “Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.” John 15:4

We live in a world where the prospect of peace seems fragile at best. Yet the Lord Jesus promises He will give us peace! The day will come when Jesus will reign on earth, but let us not wait for peace let us sow the seeds of peace today as we allow Jesus to reign in our hearts helping us to become peacemakers.

The persecution of Christians in the world has reached historic levels and some say that the worst is yet to come. Every day violence takes the lives of innocent people. Politicians try to negotiate peace but that peace never seems to endure…Why?

Because only God can silence the forces of evil in the world! Only God can create peace that is sustainable. Only Jesus, Our God can convert the hearts of His people in a way that endures.

Peace begins with a TRUE CONVERSION OF HEART.

“The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.” Isaiah 59:8

The path of peace is the path of justice. God is waiting for His people to come back to Him, to turn away from evil and to pursue solutions that are honourable and just.  The paths of peace must respect the dignity and rights of every human being.

Can you hear God calling?

This is the way to PEACE…

“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:11

“Let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5

In the Book of Daniel we learn that in the end times:

“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” Daniel 12:10

How do we become the wise people who are purified and understand?

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:18

Let us be wise then and seek the glory of Our Lord Jesus by doing what He told us to do: REPENT!

Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:5

Let us take refuge in the Heart of Our Lord Jesus: “Let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5 Let us be reconciled to Our God! We cannot sow the seeds of peace until the soil is tilled. Repentance tills the soil and prepares the path for full restoration.

Have you ever been on a plane where the flight attendant tells you what to do in the event of an emergency when there is a shortage of oxygen on the airplane?

You are instructed that oxygen masks will drop down in front of you and you must first help yourself by putting on your oxygen mask before you can help the person next to you. You can imagine that a mother may want to first help her child, but these instructions are designed so that both mother and child can survive.

As a global community we are in a state of emergency! Too many people are being senselessly killed. Around the world, over 100 million Christians are being persecuted because they believe in Jesus. (source: Open Doors)

How can we help our neighbours?

We cannot help our neighbour until we first make our life right with God. First we must repent and reconcile with Jesus. We must confess our sins and ask God to renew us with His Holy Spirit.

Like the person on an airplane in an emergency we must follow God’s instructions obediently. Let us confess our sins and ask God to fill us with His life giving power, His Holy Spirit, as we commit our lives to the glory of God.

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches and peace is the fruit of the branch that remains connected with its source of life – God!

Once we have repented and come back to God with conviction and purpose we have a new identity. We belong to God and we live to please Him.

Then like soldiers ready to go to battle we prepare to help the souls who are desperately in need of God’s Holy Spirit and grace.

We must pray, we must serve, we must build one another up, we must ask for forgiveness, we must forgive, we must evangelize and we must strive to please God with every choice. We make every day count. Everything we do, we do to make God smile. Doing God’s will is our daily mission.

But how do we stay passionate about this holy mission from God?

We must be continuously renewed and strengthened by the love of God. I encourage you to meditate daily on the Passion of Christ because the Passion of Christ is a mysterious key that will open your heart to the greatness of God’s love.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Let the Passion of Christ convert you as you have never been converted before! See your Saviour suffering for you and you will become PASSIONATE FOR HIM!

Hope in Jesus!

“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.” Romans 15:13

Let us pray to God for peace but remember:

“We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.” John 9:31

If we want to be a peacemaker then we must first make peace with God. We must repent, confess our sins and be reconciled to Jesus and then God will empower us to help others.

Jesus has one mission and that mission is to save and sanctify souls. Jesus wants us to create peace on a path defined by continuous prayer:

“Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

All over the world Christians are uniting in prayer at the time Jesus died for us, 3pm, in our local time zones. At this time we are praying for the Holy Spirit of God to help all souls to repent and to turn away from evil, to seek peace and to have the courage, wisdom and grace to give glory to God with lives that are fully dedicated to Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This peace movement is a prayer movement and it is called  The Mercy Movement. Please join in every day in giving glory to God by honouring His Son Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour who suffered so horribly so that His peace could live in our hearts, transforming our lives and our world. Let us turn to Our Saviour with trust, praying for His mercy upon all souls, especially those most in need of His mercy. Learn more about this global peace movement here:  Pray at the Hour of Mercy!

Believe in Jesus for He will create peace in your heart if you let Him. Surrender your life to Jesus. Trust in Him because He loves you so much!