Deep inside each of us, though, is a craving and desire for true peace. We want our bodies and our minds to be at rest, but the battle within just seems to rage on. Where is that peace? How can we find it?

Let me start by sharing three ways we wrongly search for peace:

Try Harder

In the “try harder” solution, we carry the burden of finding peace. Results are our responsibility, the fruit of our effort. It’s pretty common in the American culture to expect results from trying harder. We find it in schools, in our jobs, in almost every area of our life. “Just try harder, and then you’ll succeed.”

Here’s the problem–it doesn’t bring true, complete healing. Sure, there are some areas of success that come through trying harder, but they are often superficial and short lived. Trying harder puts all of the burden and effort on you.

Trying harder also has the exact opposite effect. The more strength, effort and emotional energy you pour into trying harder, the more adrenaline you release and the more anxiety you create. It’s like blowing on a campfire trying to put it out. You would think that it would help, but you end up feeding the fire more oxygen, and then it burns hotter. The same is true with trying harder–it only feeds the anxiety.

Wait on God

If trying harder is at one end of the self-effort spectrum, then waiting on God is at the other. It’s the notion that we can do nothing on our own, so wait on God. Like the “try harder” solution, there are certain elements of truth in each of these solutions. Sure, there are times we need to engage our will and there are times we need to wait on God. What I’m referring to, however, is that passive “waiting” that does nothing to change.

Yes, there are times we need to wait on God, but it’s far more important that we press in to God, hear his voice and respond to him. Simply waiting on God and doing nothing will not bring lasting peace into our lives.

More Information

Another common response is more information. Over  the past two decades, access to information has increased tremendously. There are massive amounts of books, teachings, seminars, workshops, how-to’s and litany of informational resources. Again, information is not bad. We are to grow in our understanding and knowledge, but information alone cannot transform us. Knowing the truth in our mind does not make it real in our heart.

Look at the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. They were a wealth of information and knowledge. They knew the scriptures inside and out. If information alone could bring healing, then these guys would have walked in complete freedom. But, they didn’t. Knowledge and information did not change their hearts.

So, what is the solution? Is there hope for those struggling to find peace? Yes! There is hope! The key is transformation through revelation.

Transformation

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

They key to finding peace is not trying harder, waiting on God or learning the right information–the key to finding peace is transformation that comes through believing what God says. Let me explain.

For transformation to take place, we must surrender to God’s way of doing things instead of trying to make it happen on our own. God created each of us to be transformed into the image of his son (Romans 8:29). When we were saved, we were given a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19) and we are now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are transformed when we believe the truth of what God says about us.

“Without faith, it’s impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). God is not pleased with our own strength and efforts to find peace. God is pleased when we believe what he says about us. This week, I encourage you to take time to listen to God’s voice. Let him speak his transforming love over you. God is at work in you, and he desires for you to live a life full of peace. If you’re not sure how to hear God, check out this article on Hearing God.

Prayer: Father, open up my spiritual eyes to your transformation process. Help me surrender to the healing work of Christ in my life.

We must be very careful about what we say and how we say it.  It’s easy to put voice to our feelings and thoughts, but are those thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:5)?  If our thoughts are Godly, then we should speak those words of life.  But, if our thoughts are birthed out of our own soul or from the enemy, then we cannot give those thoughts a voice.  We must guard our mouth and avoid speaking anything that does not produce life in us and in those around us.

James compares our tongue to the rudder on a ship (v3:6). This rudder, though it be very small, guides and directs this giant vessel.  There is tremendous power that pushes the ship through the water, but it’s the rudder that guides and tells it where to go. So it is with our tongue–our entire life is guided and directed by our tongue.

I read a story yesterday about a businessman who had partnered with someone that was less than honest, and things started to go south in their business.  The businessman knew his partner was being dishonest with him, but there was no proof.  The businessman would come home at the end of the day and say to his wife, “This partner of mine is evil and corrupt. He’s going to end up in jail and take us with him.” His wife warned him about his words. She explained to him that our words were powerful, but he shrugged it off.

Day after day, he would come home and speak negatively about this partner and the business situation, and his wife would warn him.  After a few months with no change in the situation, the businessman was praying and God showed him that his words were negative and causing more problems, just as his wife said.  Immediately, he repented and began to bless his partner, bless his family, bless his children, bless him with success and peace. Within a week, the businessman got a call from his partner, “We need to talk.  I haven’t been honest with you, and I just need to make this right with you.”

This story illustrates how negative words can restrict and bind the work of God in our life, and open ourselves to attacks from the enemy.  It also demonstrates how positive, Godly words can release God to do amazing and wonderful things in our life. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).

If you’ve spoken negative words over yourself or over others, don’t be condemned. Jesus did not come into this world to make you feel bad (John 3:17). He came to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). I would encourage you to talk to God about your words.  Tell him how you’ve spoken out when you shouldn’t have. Ask him for strength to speak words of life and words of encouragement.  Then, start speaking words of life, love, hope and peace.

A few weeks ago, I was praying and talking to God about the power of words, and God gave me a declaration to speak out loud in the mornings, and I want to share that declaration with you.

I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that:

• I am a child of God, and I have a Kingdom inheritance, today.
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
• I am free from all fear, all anxiety, all panic, all confusion.
• I am free from all sickness, all disease, all injuries, all illness, all infirmities.
• I am healed through the name of Jesus Christ, whom I serve.
• I am at peace in my body, in my soul, in my spirit.
• I am a citizen of heaven.
• I am the head, and not the tail. I am victorious.
• I am prosperous, in my soul, in my finances, in all that I have.

Each declaration is based on a promise from God in scripture.  As I speak these promises out loud, I do so slowly and methodically making sure my heart agrees with the words that are spoken.  And, I listen for God’s agreement over these promises.

This week, I encourage you to listen to the words you speak.  Are they words of life, or words of death?  Ask God to help you speak good words, Godly words, words of life!

Prayer: Father, help me guard my mouth against any negative words, and help me to speak only words of life!

In May of 1996, I received my first email from a lady struggling with panic attacks. The subject of the email read: “I would like to talk about panic disorder”. I had just posted my story on the Internet, and a few people started writing to me. They wanted to talk with me about what I was going through.

At that point in my life, the anxiety, panic and sleepless nights were at an all-time high. It was very difficult for me to drive or be alone. Going to bed at nights was especially a challenge.

But, I shared my story anyway. I didn’t want to, especially since I was still battling the fear at time. It was a deep struggle within my soul. “But, I’m not free yet. No one will listen to me. Maybe I should wait for the right time, the perfect opportunity to share my story.”

I wanted to wait. I wanted to hold back and only start this endeavor after everything was in place, after I was totally free, after the testimony in my life was strong and founded. But, I pressed on in faith. Things began to grow. The Season of Peace was birthed. Today, that single testimony on the Internet has grown into a full, non-profit Internet-based ministry. That one single correspondence in 1996 has grown to over a thousand weekly subscribers today.

If I had waited for that perfect moment, that right time, that opportune season to share my story, I would still be waiting. There would be no weekly message, no devotional being published, no Internet ministry, no website, nothing. Today, I’m free. Today, fear no longer has any control over my life. Panic attacks are a thing of the past. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

Let me ask you. Are you waiting for that perfect opportunity to go back to school, start a family, write a book, change careers, compose a song, start a business? What exactly are you waiting for? Don’t let fear keep you from experiencing all that God has for you. Don’t let the risk of failure keep you from risking at all.

It’s a lot like receiving Christ into your heart. If you were to wait until your life is perfect, holy and sinless before you invited Jesus into your life, then you would still be waiting on your deathbed, for it is Christ within us that makes us perfect, holy and sinless. God says to you, “Choose today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Today, ask your Father for the strength and endurance to step out into what he is calling you to do. Start with something small, and let him bring it to life. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10a).

Prayer: Father, give me your strength today in Christ, the strength that empowers to walk in victory and freedom, for I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.