Peace IN Christ

God's peace wasn't much of a personal issue when I was a kid. I loved to play army and it was all about conquering the enemy being all powerful and surviving great odds.
Now that I'm an oldster peace sounds a lot more enticing and fits the desire of my present profile more accurately.
Maybe the years since my youth that were a combination of stress and happiness has left me desiring peace.
Even the music I prefer, is music that brings my mind to rest and gentleness. Than "come on baby light my fire".
Jesus did not say follow me and I will make your life all peaceful and prosperous. What he did say is that you will find peace in me. And that peace will be so incredible you will be able to handle what life throws at you.
If you do life in me you will see what, I the comforter can do for you.
I was looking back over the times of peace in my life that I see are clearly from GOD.
First there are those times connected to life decisions I recount the time I had a peace not to worry about getting a teaching job. And it came about. Peace about selling our house in Indianola and it came about. Peace about buying and running my little coffee business and it came about, The pattern I see is first there is the peace and then he comes in and makes it come about.
Now let me assure you that all of my life is not just peace and he does it. There are decisions and situations that he allows us to go through which is the second peace.
Peace number two, Daily peace, this is the peace that I am with you every step of the way. This is the peace when in real time I ask him to be right smack in the middle of the situation.
My peace is that I know he is real and here.
Peace number 3 Emotional Peace, this is the peace that reassures me that I am loved, I am known, who I am and valued is not based on what I have done but what I have inherited through Christ to be GOD's kid.
"peace that I leave you is not peace as this world knows peace...."

God knows so well, He knew that if we just knew of him we would think we had it all.
He said I want your heart give me your heart and I. will take care of the head.

To live in his peace you have to live in GOD. Open heart ushers in his peace, Close heart you are left with just yourself which just doesn't last long and is based on if your circumstances are happy.
Open heart allows you to be fed continually from God's love. His peace to you is that he is never surprised, you don't see him fretting about anything he's got the whole world, universe in his hand and doesn't break a sweat.
"My peace I give to you , let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Jesus said all my words I have spoken to you, I have said so you can have peace in me.
Peace is the character of GOD, it is like love the more you pull on it, the more it just unfolds . take the verse in Phil 4:7 The peace of GOD,which passes all understanding , shall guard your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
I don't know about you but there have been a ton of times my thoughts have driven me nuts. And GOD's peace I did not reach out for.
There have been times when I was going nuts called out to him hoping to get instant help and no help came and the worry just kept going around and around. What I learned is that:
1. snapping fingers and expecting GOD to jump just aint gonna happen.
2. Analyze your thoughts if it's from GOD he will prompt you to do something if you do it the prompting cease. If it is from satan he will condemn you and be in your head the broken record that drives you nuts. One is constructive the other is destructive.
3. I happen to get thoughts from GOD in the middle of the night and when I do there is no peace, if I get up and write them down I can go right back to sleep. But if they're from satan and can't get it out of my head. I think of the worst person I know and pray for their salvation.
I imagine how wonderful it would be if they were saved.
Now I have never heard of doing this from the bible but sure can't hurt and GOD gets my brain instead satan.
Others have said they read the bible others listen to christian music.
4. Your mind will be in peace if you keep it on Christ who is peace.