In this week’s Fruits of the Spirit guest blog, Pastor Lisa Thompson shares with us about the spirit of Peace. Pastor Lisa currently serves as the women’s pastor at Bayside Church Granite Bay in Roseville, California, who has been supporting Mercy for over 10 years.
The Bible promises through the Holy Spirit a life abundantly more than we can ever imagine. A life that does not depend on our circumstances but is dependent on the ONE who provides everything we need to live our life with purpose and significance.
There are many things in our world and personal lives that seek to sabotage the abundant life Jesus invites us to every day. Our worries, anxieties, fears, insecurities to name a few, can keep us from walking and experiencing the peace of God and the promised rest He wants for us.
Biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict or state of rest. It means completeness or wholeness, and it points to the presence of something else. Peace is the fruit of a life that trusts Jesus and is dependent on the Holy Spirit to be our peace. Apart from God, we cannot conjure up peace on our own. And people, places, and things cannot provide this for us either.
Personally, this past year has revealed areas in my life, circumstances, and people I depended on to be my source of peace. ALL failed to provide the peace I longed for. I am learning what I choose to focus my mind and heart on will determine my response to my circumstances and the attitudes I carry within me. God is teaching me to see the hard and unexpected things, not as obstacles to living in peace, but opportunities to be at peace despite them. I am learning that God is not only working in me but impacting others by the ways the fruit of peace testifies to His power within me. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
What is robbing you of peace today? A divisive relationship, hurt from your past, unforgiveness, disappointment, shame and condemnation, busyness, impossible situations where you see no way out? Can I encourage you to begin to practice and proclaim your rights to living an abundance of peace today? I am not sure of the circumstances you find yourself in today, take heart my friend, The Lord is near!
Philippians 4:5-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This great promise begins when we come to God with a posture of dependency. Prayer is the vehicle that keeps us dependent on God to help us in our time of need. We are invited to surrender all of our situations, including our sin, that keep us from being at peace. We are grateful because you and I have access to the God of the universe who knows us by name and calls us His children. Our Abba Father desires that we would walk in the fruit of peace empowered by His Holy Spirit. When we put our faith in Christ and trust Him despite what we see and understand, He promises to provide the peace we need to stay faithful and focused on the ways God is at work and will bring good out of all things in our lives. Our part is to take Jesus up on His offer to be our peace. Especially, in times of need! John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Pastor Lisa Thompson is passionate about reaching and encouraging people, young and old, to know who God is, what He says in the Bible, and the abundant life He invites us to when we trust Him with our lives. Lisa has authored the Faith Journey Bible study series that focuses on equipping women to read, study and apply God’s truth to their lives. Currently, she is the women’s pastor at Bayside Granite Bay and feels blessed to serve both in and out of the church, bringing her love for God and people throughout her community. Lisa has been married to her husband Robb since 1992, they have four children, a dog named Scout, and call Folsom, California their home. You can find Pastor Lisa and Bayside Church Granite Bay on Facebook, Instagram, or their website linked here.
Mercy Multiplied exists to provide opportunities for all to experience God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power. We offer multiple programs and resources online and onsite designed to equip people to live free and stay free in Christ. For more information about the services we offer, click here.
Want more resources? Check out our MercyTalk Podcast episode, “Maintaining Lifelong Freedom”. For daily inspiration, follow us @MercyMultiplied on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
