In Pursuit of Peace: 21 Ways to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Discontentment by Joyce Meyer
For many years, every time I became upset, in my mind it was always someone else’s fault. I thought, If Dave would just act differently, then I would not get upset. If life was not so challenging, then I could live peacefully. If my children would behave better, I could enjoy peace. In my mind, my loss of peace was never my fault; it was always something and someone else’s fault.
Only when I took responsibility for my reactions and decided to pursue peace did I begin to see change. Excuses and blaming others does us no good at all. If this has been your pattern, as it was mine, I strongly encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you about you, and it will be the beginning of enjoying a life of peace.
PEACE EQUALS POWER
I have learned through my experience as well as God’s Word that peace is power. That is one of the big reasons that Satan tries to steal our peace all the time. He wants all of God’s children to be weak and powerless, not strong and powerful.
Maintaining your peace is your power over Satan. Consider this Scripture: “And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God” (Philippians 1:28).
We see that remaining peaceful is a clear sign to Satan of his upcoming defeat. Peace is power!
We studied in an earlier chapter that the Bible teaches us that staying calm and giving a “soft answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). In other words, if someone is angry and yelling, answering him or her calmly and gently will change the situation and stop the possibility of an argument. How awesome! But in order for this to work, one of the people in the situation must be willing to humble him- or herself and respond the opposite of how he or she might feel like responding. Someone has to choose to be a peacemaker in every situation.
Even when a person is sick, staying peaceful and calm will help him or her recover more quickly. Just think of the instructions given to a woman in labor. I was told to “Breathe deeply,” “Don’t get tense,” “Don’t be fearful,” “Stay calm,” and that if I relaxed, the labor would be easier. In other words, when difficult situations face us, becoming upset only makes them worse—it does not help. Being upset steals our power; it does not release it.
The Word states that “the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]” (2 Timothy 2:24).
Why is a servant of the Lord required to be a peacemaker? I believe the Lord instructs us to avoid quarrels because they not only hurt our own witness to the world, but they also cause us to lose our power. We need to walk in this world with power—power against the forces of darkness. Satan seeks to stir up strife between people because we walk in power only when we walk in peace.
Second Timothy 2 continues to tell us clearly how a peacemaker is to train in the skill of keeping peace with others:
He must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it], and that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God’s] will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
I realized that often Dave and I got into arguments or experienced turmoil right before we went out to minister to people or conduct a seminar. It took a while for us to see Satan’s plan, but finally we understood that the devil was “setting us up to be upset” so he could steal our power.
Proverbs 17:1 says that a house full of sacrifices with strife is not pleasing to the Lord. In other words, we could make all kinds of sacrifices of time and effort to try to help people, yet God is not pleased unless we stay in peace.
Pursuing peace means making an effort. We cannot maintain peace simply by our own fleshly effort; we need God’s help, and we need grace, which is His power assisting us and enabling us to do what needs to be done. The effort we make must be in Christ. So often we just try to do what is right without asking for God’s help, and that type of fleshly effort never produces good fruit. The Bible calls this a “work of the flesh.” It is man’s effort trying to do God’s job.
What I am saying is, be sure you lean on God and ask for His help. When you succeed, give Him the credit, the honor, and the glory because success is impossible without Him. Jesus said, “Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
It takes most of us a long time to believe this Scripture enough to stop trying to do things without leaning on God. We try and fail, try and fail; it happens over and over until we finally wear ourselves out and realize that God Himself is our strength, our success, and our victory. He doesn’t just give us strength—He is our Strength. He does not just give us the victory—He is our Victory. Yes, we make an effort to keep peace, but we dare not make an effort without depending on God’s power to flow through us; failure is certain if we do.
The Lord blesses Peacemakers, those who work for and make peace. Peacemakers are committed to peace; they crave peace, pursue peace, and go after it. Jesus promised: “Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!” (Matthew 5:9).
Peacemakers take the first step in working things out when disagreement, disharmony, or disunity exists. They work toward peace; they don’t just hope or wish for it, they don’t even just pray for it. They aggressively pursue it in the power of God.
Make a commitment to pursue peace from this day forward: to discover all you can about what your Peace Stealers are, to know yourself and face the truth that will set you free.
Call yourself a peacemaker, one who works for and makes peace with God, himself, and others.
About the Author
Joyce Meyer has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She is the bestselling author of more than fifty inspirational books, including How to Hear from God, Knowing God Intimately, and Battlefield of the Mind. She has also released thousands of teaching cassettes and a complete video library. Joyce’s Enjoying Everyday Life radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband Dave are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.
To contact the author, please write:
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 655
Fenton, Missouri 63026
or call: (636)349-0303
Internet Address: www.joycemeyer.org
Please include your testimony or help received from this book when you write. Your prayer requests are welcome.
To contact the author
in Canada, please write:
Joyce Meyer Ministries Canada, Inc.
Lambeth Box 1300
London, ON N6P 1T5
CANADA
or call: (636)349-0303
In Australia, please write:
Joyce Meyer Ministries-Australia
Locked Bag 77
Mansfield Delivery Centre
Queensland 4122
AUSTRALIA
or call: 07 3349 1200
In England, please write:
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 1549
Windsor
SL4 1GT
UNITED KINGDOM
or call: (0)1753-831102
Other Books by Joyce Meyer
SEVEN THINGS THAT STEAL YOUR JOY
BEAUTY FOR ASHES REVISED EDITION
HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD
KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
THE POWER OF DETERMINATION
THE POWER OF BEING POSITIVE
THE SECRETS OF SPIRITUAL POWER
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
SECRETS TO EXCEPTIONAL LIVING
EIGHT WAYS TO KEEP THE DEVIL UNDER YOUR FEET
TEENAGERS ARE PEOPLE TOO!
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
CELEBRATION OF SIMPLICITY
THE JOY OF BELIEVING PRAYER
NEVER LOSE HEART
BEING THE PERSON GOD MADE YOU TO BE
A LEADER IN THE MAKING
“GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD!” GIFT BOOK
JESUS—NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES
“GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD!” DAILY CALENDAR
HELP ME—I’M MARRIED!
REDUCE ME TO LOVE
BE HEALED IN JESUS’ NAME
HOW TO SUCCEED AT BEING YOURSELF
EAT AND STAY THIN
WEARY WARRIORS, FAINTING SAINTS
LIFE IN THE WORD JOURNAL
LIFE IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING STUDY GUIDE
STRAIGHT TALK ON LONELINESS
STRAIGHT TALK ON FEAR
STRAIGHT TALK ON INSECURITY
STRAIGHT TALK ON DISCOURAGEMENT
STRAIGHT TALK ON WORRY
STRAIGHT TALK ON DEPRESSION
STRAIGHT TALK ON STRESS
DON’T DREAD
MANAGING YOUR EMOTIONS
HEALING THE BROKENHEARTED
“ME AND MY BIG MOUTH!”
“ME AND MY BIG MOUTH!” STUDY GUIDE
PREPARE TO PROSPER
DO IT AFRAID!
EXPECT A MOVE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE . . . SUDDENLY!
ENJOYING WHERE YOU ARE ON THE WAY TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING
THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE
WHEN, GOD, WHEN?
WHY, GOD, WHY?
THE WORD, THE NAME, THE BLOOD
BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND
BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND STUDY GUIDE
TELL THEM I LOVE THEM
PEACE
THE ROOT OF REJECTION
IF NOT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
IF NOT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD STUDY GUIDE
Don’t miss Joyce Meyer’s companion devotionals!
STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT
Most of us agree that when we start the day off by seeking God, it gives us a positive outlook and a sense of peace that leads to a better day—and ultimately a better life. Now, Joyce Meyer provides us with a day-by-day guide for getting closer to God every morning of the year. Included in this 365-day devotional are such topics as:
• the keys to enjoying every single day
• balancing out extremes
• acting with discipline and self-control
• being happy
• living without fear
Through the inspirational thoughts in Starting Your Day Right, we’re inspired each morning with a resurgence of hope and resilience in life, and never again want to leave home without first seeking the Lord.
ENDING YOUR DAY RIGHT
Many of us often start our day off with a devotion—a few minutes of prayer and Bible study. But how many of us take the time at night to spend a moment with God? Even when we do, it often amounts to nothing more than a hurried bedtime prayer. Now, Joyce Meyer offers Ending Your Day Right, a daily devotional aimed at helping us take time to acknowledge and give thanks for God’s presence throughout our day, and to ask for his continued care throughout the night. Topics in this 365-day devotional include:
• the keys to letting go at the end of the day
• remembering to count our blessings
• living secure in God’s love
• realizing our dreams and hopes
• giving thanks for the things we have
Ending Your Day Right is the perfect book to help us end the day on a positive note—and sleep easier, content in the love of God.
* Reprinted with permission. For more of Dr. Colbert’s advice on better health, please visit his website at www.drcolbert.com.(back to text)
* Reprinted with permission.(back to text)
* Reprinted with permission.(back to text)
* Reprinted with permission.(back to text)
* Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man, Vol. 2 (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc., 1968), 180-181.(back to text)
Joyce Meyer, In Pursuit of Peace: 21 Ways to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Discontentment