February 19
The Voice of Peace
“For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. . . .” (Isaiah 55:12)
Not only does God speak to us through His Word, and not only does He speak to us through people and circumstances, but God also speaks to us through His peace. Colossians says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (verse 15). Another way to translate that verse is, “Let God's peace act as an umpire in your lives, settling with finality all matters that arise.”
God’s peace can act as an umpire in your life. He can settle with finality what you should do. Here’s how it works. Maybe you think that something is the will of God. Circumstantially, things have fallen into place. You begin to proceed, but then you have a complete lack of peace. Something inside of you is saying, “Don't do it.”
The Old Testament tells the story of a clever group of individuals known as Gibeonites, who lived in Canaan. God had instructed Joshua not to make any deals with the inhabitants of the land. So the Gibeonites put on old shoes and clothes and pretended as though they had come from a distant country. They told Joshua they had come to enter into an agreement with him. But Joshua unknowingly struck a deal with his enemies because he failed to consult the Lord.
Things can look good outwardly. Everything can seem right. Be careful. Learn to listen to that still small, voice. Learn to pay attention to that peace, or lack of it, in your life because that is one of the ways God will lead you. When you're in the will of God, you will have His peace.
Copyright © 2003 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.