The central theme of this episode revolves around the concept of peace, specifically the biblical understanding of peace as "shalom," which signifies not merely the absence of conflict, but rather a state of completeness and harmony in all aspects of life. As we conclude our series on the Fruit of the Spirit, we delve into how Jesus redefined peace, emphasizing its role as a gift from God that transcends external circumstances. Through scriptural exploration, we articulate how the Holy Spirit fosters this peace within believers, enabling them to maintain a tranquil spirit amidst life's challenges. We also reflect on the interconnectedness of peace with gratitude and community, reminding ourselves that our peace should serve as a testament to God’s presence in our lives. Join us as we engage in this critical discussion and seek to embody the true essence of peace in our daily existence.

Takeaways:

1. The podcast emphasizes the significance of peace, described as a profound state of completeness and wholeness in every aspect of life.
2. Listeners are encouraged to cultivate an awareness of God's presence, which is essential for experiencing true peace amidst challenging circumstances.
3. The discussion highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in producing peace by connecting believers to Jesus, who embodies this peace.
4. The concept of shalom is explored, revealing its deeper implications beyond mere absence of conflict, encompassing welfare and harmony in life.
5. Jesus redefined peace by offering an internal tranquility that is independent of external situations, enabling believers to maintain calm in trials.
6. The podcast concludes by underscoring the necessity of guarding one's peace, emphasizing the importance of focusing on positive truths and spiritual realities.

The content shared on Living the Selah Life is for spiritual encouragement, personal reflection and informational purposes only.

It is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace medical, psychological or professional advice of any kind.

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The views expressed are those of the host, Kimberly Lochinore, and are based on personal experience and Biblical insight Welcome back to Living the Selah Life, a podcast that invites you to slow down, breathe and reconnect with the presence of God.

I am your host Kim, and this space is for anyone longing to become more familiar with his presence.

Each episode is an intentional pause, a moment to reflect, realign and remember that God meets us when we create space for Him.

So take a breath.

You are right on time.

Let's live the Selah life together.

Welcome back, my friends, to Living the Selah Life.

In our last episode, we explored patience as God's long suffering nature showing up in our lives through our capacity to endure difficulty, to wait on his timing and extend grace to people who frustrate us.

Today we're closing our series on the Fruit of the Spirit with peace, the settled confidence in God's presence and provision that remains constant regardless of external circumstances.

We'll discover what biblical peace meant before Jesus came, how Jesus redefined it, and how the Holy Spirit produces this peace in believers today.

So we will go right into our main teaching and I will call it peace, the Gift of Wholeness so the Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and everyone has probably heard that word shalom.

The word appears over 250 times in the Old Testament and it carries a much greater meaning than our English word peace would suggest.

Shalom doesn't just mean the absence of conflict or war.

It describes a state of completeness, wholeness, welfare and harmony in every area of your life.

Shalom includes physical health, material provision, right relationships with God and others, emotional well being and spiritual wholeness.

When ancient Israelites greeted each other with shalom, they were blessing each other with comprehensive well being in every dimension of life.

They were saying, may you lack nothing.

May everything be whole and complete for you.

In the Old Testament, shalom was closely connected to covenant relationship with God.

When Israel obeyed God's commands and remained faithful to him, they experienced shalom, safety from enemies, abundant harvests, healthy families, and God's manifest presence among them.

When they broke covenant through disobedience and idolatry, shalom departed.

They experienced war, famine, disease and exile.

The prophets spoke repeatedly about a coming Messiah who would bring the ultimate shalom.

Isaiah 9:6 calls him the prince of peace, the one who would establish peace that would never end.

And Isaiah 53, 5 says, the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.

The coming Messiah would suffer to purchase shalom for humanity.

The Old Testament taught Israel that true shalom came only through right relationship with God.

The Greek have a very similar word that means peace, but it is iraena Irene.

Again my fault.

To my Greeks out there, I am certain I am butchering your language but it is so rich, so please forgive me so I will spell it.

It's E I R E N E Irene.

So when the New Testament was written in Greek, the word used for peace was irene.

In classical Greek, irene described the absence of war or hostility.

It referred to tranquility, harmony, and rest from conflict.

Greek culture valued Irene as a state to be achieved through diplomacy, military victory, or personal discipline.

But New Testament writers, influenced by the Hebrew concept of shalom filled Irene with deeper meaning.

It was the presence of right relationship with God made possible through Jesus Christ.

It was reconciliation between God and humanity accomplished through Jesus's death and resurrection.

Romans chapter 5:1 says, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through faith in Jesus, the hostility between a holy God and sinful humanity has been removed.

Reconciliation has been accomplished, and we now have peace with God.

This peace becomes the source of all other peace in the believer's life.

Since we are reconciled to God through Jesus, we can experience peace with ourselves, accepting our identity as beloved children rather than trying to earn the Lord's approval.

We can experience peace with others, forgiving those who wrong us because we've been forgiven.

And we can experience peace in our circumstances, trusting God's sovereign care, regardless of external difficulty.

So how did Jesus redefine peace?

Jesus introduced a category of peace that the world had never known.

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.

Jesus distinguished his peace from worldly peace.

The world's peace depends on favorable everything, y'.

All.

When life goes well, when relationships are harmonious, when health is good and finances are stacked, worldly peace exists.

But when circumstances change, when conflict arises, when loss occurs, or when difficult times come and they do and will, worldly peace evaporates.

Jesus offered a completely different kind of peace, the kind that doesn't depend on external circumstances at all.

It all rests on internal realities, God's unchanging character, his sovereign control over all things, his covenant promises and his constant presence.

This peace remains regardless of what is happening around us.

We just have to receive it.

Jesus demonstrated this peace throughout his ministry.

He slept in a boat during a violent storm.

When his disciples panicked, he maintained composure when crowds rejected him.

He remained steady when facing betrayal, he was falsely accused and even execution.

His peace came from his confidence in the Father's will and presence.

The night before his crucifixion.

Knowing he would soon experience the full weight of humanity's sin and separation from the Father, Jesus told his disciples 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.

And that's John, chapter 16, verses 33.

Jesus did not promise his followers or us lives free from trouble.

He promised them peace in the midst of trouble because he had already secured the victory.

Now what kind of peace is that?

Where you are on your way to your death, and in your death you are comforting your friends.

Lord Jesus, we love you.

So how does the Holy Spirit produce peace in us?

Well, the Holy Spirit produces peace in us by connecting us to Jesus, who is our Peace.

Ephesians chapter 2, verses 14 says, for he Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation.

We don't have peace as a separate gift from Jesus.

Jesus Himself is our peace.

When we're connected to him through the Spirit, we experience the peace that he embodies.

The Spirit produces peace by keeping our focus on spiritual realities rather than temporary circumstances.

When we're worried about finances, the Spirit reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows what we need and will provide.

When we're anxious about the future, the Spirit reminds us that God holds the future and has good plans for us.

And when we're troubled by conflict, the Spirit reminds us that God is sovereign over all things and works everything for the good of those who love Him.

The Spirit also produces peace by helping us live in the present moment rather than replaying the past or worrying about the future.

Most of our anxieties come from dwelling on things we either cannot change or fear in things that haven't even happened yet.

The Spirit brings our attention back to this moment, this day, where God's grace is sufficient.

Romans chapter 8, verses 6 says, for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The Spirit produces peace by directing our minds towards spiritual realities.

When Our minds dwell on earthly things alone.

Our problems, our limitations, our failures, they all are magnified.

And we experience turmoil.

When the Spirit directs our mind towards God's character, His promises, his presence and his purpose, we experience peace.

And we have to guard our peace.

The Holy Spirit produces peace in us, but we have the responsibility to guard it.

We can lose our peace through what we allow in our hearts and our minds.

Philippians chapter 4, verses 8 says, finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.

This is how I guard my peace every single day.

And the Holy Spirit will remind me.

He won't say the whole Scripture, but He will say whatever is of a good report or whatever is true.

We guard our peace by controlling what we meditate on.

When we constantly consume negative news, negative anything, rehearse worst case scenarios, replay hurtful conversations, or dwell on our fears, our shortcomings, we can undermine the Spirit's work of peace in us.

But when we direct our attention towards God's truth, His goodness, his faithfulness and his promises, we cooperate with the Spirit's peace producing work.

And I know that that sounds super pie in the sky.

Whatever you think about, that's what you become.

But the reason why people say it is because if you actually do it and practice it and keep practicing it, it becomes a lifestyle and it will become your natural way of being.

The most striking quality of Spirit giving peace is that it makes absolutely no logical sense.

It's called the peace that surpasses all understanding.

It defies human logic to remain peaceful when circumstances warrant something else.

This peace surpasses understanding because it comes from a source beyond ourselves.

It doesn't originate in positive thinking or stress management techniques or personal strength.

Although all of those things are amazing.

This kind of peace flows from God Himself.

His peace is supernatural, beyond anything that we as humans could ever produce.

When people see believers carrying this kind of peace, they witness divine power.

They see evidence that God is real and that a relationship with him makes a tangible difference.

Our supernatural peace becomes an invitation for them to discover the same relationship with Jesus.

We often cannot explain why we feel calm when we should feel a whole different kind of way.

We don't even fully comprehend how peace coexists with our difficult circumstances.

We simply receive it as a gift from the Spirit and walk in gratitude for what he provides.

So we will move on to our Scripture, spotlight This episode was scripture heavy already.

But we like scripture over here, right, y'?

All?

We like scripture.

So this week's Scripture spotlight comes from Colossians, chapter 3, verses 15.

And it says, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

This verse tells us several important things about spirit given peace.

It says, let peace rule.

Paul instructs us to let peace serve as the decision maker in our hearts.

So when we're facing decisions or dealing with inner turmoil, we check whether peace is present.

If peace is absent, we pause and seek God's direction rather than moving forward.

That's one way we can let peace rule the peace of God.

It's God's own peace, the peace that belongs to him and flows from his nature.

This peace comes from him and reflects his character in your hearts.

This kind of peace isn't primarily about external circumstances.

It's an internal reality that exists in our hearts no matter what's happening around us.

The Spirit produces peace in the center of our being, in the place where our emotions and will reside to which you were called.

God called us to peace.

It's part of our identity and destiny as believers.

When we're living in chronic anxiety, we are living below our calling.

But we don't live like that over here, y', all, because you know what?

We live the selah life in one body.

We experience this peace in the context of Christian community.

The peace God gives us isn't just for our own individual comfort.

It contributes to the health and unity of the body.

Body of Christ.

Be thankful.

Gratitude and peace are closely connected.

When we're focusing on God's goodness and thanking him for his faithfulness.

Peace grows.

This verse instructs us to actively let peace rule.

Rather than hoping peace might show up, we cooperate with the Spirit's peace producing work by checking for peace's presence, refusing to move forward when peace is absent, and cultivating gratitude that creates space for peace to grow.

We will move on to our pause prompts.

And you know, pause prompts is just a way to take inventory of where we are so that we can know where we're going and where we need to be.

Here we go.

How have you been trying to control situations or outcomes to feel more peaceful?

And what would it look like to surrender in these areas?

What are you allowing into your mind that undermines your peace?

If anything, what do you need to remove or limit?

What truth do you need to meditate on more intentionally?

How does your level of peace reflect God's presence and power to those around you.

What might change if you carried more visible peace?

And what circumstances in your life right now threaten your peace, if any?

Remember peace Is the Holy Spirit producing Jesus own settled confidence in you, giving you capacity to remain regardless of external circumstances?

We will move on into our Selah moment and prayer.

This is our opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit's power for peace.

So you can begin by sitting comfortably and taking several slow, deep breaths.

Notice any tension in your body that comes with each exhale.

Release that tension with each inhale.

Invite the Holy Spirit's peace to fill you.

Bring to mind the circumstances, relationships or just uncertainties that disturb your peace.

Most significantly right now.

And if you don't have any, you are doing amazing.

Acknowledge Acknowledge this Honestly Reflect on specific ways God has proven faithful in your past.

Consider difficulties he brought you through, needs he provided for, fears that never materialized, situations that resolved in ways that you couldn't make up if you tried Now.

Let confidence in his faithfulness settle in your heart.

Ask the Holy Spirit to produce his peace in you.

Request Jesus own settled confidence regardless of your circumstances.

Ask for freedom from the need to control and capacity to trust God's wisdom and timing.

Let us pray.

Father, we thank you for your peace.

Thank you that we're no longer at war with you and that reconciliation has been accomplished, that we have permanent access to your presence through faith in Christ.

Thank you that this peace forms the very bedrock for all other peace in our lives.

Holy Spirit, we need your help with peace.

We live in a world that is filled with difficulty.

Produce in us the peace of Jesus, the peace that remains regardless of circumstances.

When our circumstances are difficult, help us experience peace even in those.

Help us make peace with ourselves.

Free us from any self condemnation and harsh self judgment.

Remind us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

Help us accept our limitations and trust you to work through our weaknesses.

Give us peace in our relationships.

Help us to respond to others with grace, forgiveness and love.

Teach us when to speak and when to remain silent.

Help us live peaceably with all people as much as it depends on us.

Grow our trust in your sovereignty.

Lord.

Help us believe that you are in control of all things and that you do work all things out for our good.

Help us guard the peace that you give.

Show us what we're allowing into our minds that undermines it.

Give us wisdom to set boundaries that protect our peace without becoming selfish.

Direct our attention toward what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of a good report.

Let our peace become a witness to your reality.

When people see us remain peaceful during rough times, maintain hope when we have no reason to hope and experience joy despite trials.

Let them see evidence of your presence, presence and power.

Use our supernatural peace to point them to Jesus.

We thank you for your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thank you that it comes from you and thank you that it guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Help us receive this peace as the gift it is.

Make us people who carry your peace into every situation.

Let our lives demonstrate that relationship with you makes a difference in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

And it is so.

Well my friends, that is it for today.

Thank you for listening to Living the Selah Life.

If this moment stirred something in your spirit, please share it with someone who needs to be reminded to pause and listen.

You can connect with me on Instagram, a Facebook group or YouTube at Living the Selah Life or email me your story to Living the Selah Life at Proton Me.

That's Living the Selah Life.

One word at P R O T O N Me until next time.

Remember that God is speaking.

He wants to guide you and direct and give you his wisdom for your life.

Create space to listen.

Receive his peace as the gift that it is and trust that the same God who purchased your peace through Jesus will produce that peace in you through His Spirit.

So may you go from this place rested, carrying the awareness that his presence is always near.

May you be rooted in the unshakable word of God, the Logos that ground you, and the rhema that guides you.

May you keep rising into the life he designed for you, into purpose, into peace, into the fullness of his calling.

May your life become a living Selah, an intentional pause that reveals his presence in Jesus Name Name and it is so Selah.