Peace.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”

Jesus said this the night before the cross. His peace doesn’t depend on circumstances. It’s a gift that holds when life doesn’t.

Live it: When the pressure rises today, breathe slowly and say it: “Your peace, not mine.” Then keep moving.

“You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.”

In Hebrew, “perfect peace” is shalom shalom: peace, doubled. It comes from where you keep your mind.

Live it: Cut ten minutes of news and scrolling today and give that time to a Psalm. Guard your mind.

““Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.””

“Be still” means let go and quit striving. God speaks it over nations at war. Stillness comes from knowing who’s in control.

Live it: Five minutes of silence today. No phone. Remind yourself who’s really in control.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus invites the exhausted, not the impressive. Rest is something He gives, not something you earn.

Live it: Say no today to one thing you only agreed to out of pressure. Make room to rest.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.”

Peace is guarded by what you let your mind dwell on. Paul gives a filter for every thought.

Live it: Take the thought that keeps coming back and run it through this filter. If it isn’t true, it doesn’t get to stay.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.”

“Rule” is the word for an umpire making the call. Let Christ’s peace make the call when you’re torn.

Live it: Before your next decision, ask which choice leaves you at peace with God. Let that make the call.

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

David wrote this while he was in danger. He could sleep because his safety rested on God, not his circumstances.

Live it: Before bed tonight, hand God tomorrow’s worries one by one. Then sleep like someone who’s protected.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Joy and peace come as you trust. They’re the overflow of faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Live it: Trust God with one specific thing today, and watch the peace that follows.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!””

Jesus says plainly that in this world you will have trouble. He also says to take heart, because He has overcome the world.

Live it: When trouble shows up today, don’t be surprised by it. Say it: Jesus has overcome.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Paul prays that the Lord of peace Himself would give peace at all times and in every way. Peace comes from a Person.

Live it: Pray this verse over the part of your day you’re dreading.

“A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

A heart at peace gives life to the body, while envy rots the bones. Comparison steals peace.

Live it: Catch one comparison today and replace it with thanks for what God gave you.

“The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.”

David ends a psalm about a powerful storm by saying the Lord gives strength and blesses His people with peace. The same God controls the storm.

Live it: When the storm gets loud today, remember who controls it.

“‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’”

God gave the priests this blessing to speak over His people: the Lord bless you, keep you, and give you peace.

Live it: Speak this blessing out loud over yourself and your family today.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah prophesied a child who would be called Prince of Peace. Peace has a name: Jesus.

Live it: When peace feels far today, call Jesus by that name.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Because we are made right with God through faith, we have peace with God. The deepest peace is settled at the cross.

Live it: Thank God today that you have peace with Him, not because of your record, but because of Jesus.

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility”

Paul says Jesus Himself is our peace. He tears down the walls that divide.

Live it: Ask Jesus to tear down one wall in your life today, inside you or between you and someone else.

“Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

David says he calmed and quieted his soul like a weaned child with its mother. A quiet soul is something you can choose.

Live it: Take two slow minutes today to quiet your soul before God.

“For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence— but you were not willing.””

God told His people their strength would be found in quietness and trust. Rushing isn’t strength.

Live it: Choose quiet over rush in one part of your day.

“And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.”

Jesus points to wildflowers that don’t work or spin, yet are dressed better than Solomon. God takes care of what He made.

Live it: Look at something growing today and remember God’s care for you.

“Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Great peace belongs to those who love God’s word, and nothing makes them stumble.

Live it: Spend ten minutes in the Word today before anything else gets your attention.

“If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”

As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. You can’t control them, but you can control your part.

Live it: Do your part today to make peace with someone you’re at odds with.

“Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Pursue peace with everyone. Peace doesn’t just happen. You chase it.

Live it: Reach out today to someone where things are tense, and pursue peace.

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.”

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. Peace is planted on purpose.

Live it: Plant peace today in one conversation that could turn into an argument.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Making peace carries God’s family resemblance.

Live it: Step into one conflict today as a peacemaker, not a fighter.

“Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

God says mountains may move and hills may shake, but His covenant of peace with His people will not be removed.

Live it: When life shakes today, remember what can’t be moved.

“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.”

The psalmist says he will listen to what God says, because He promises peace to His people.

Live it: Spend five minutes listening to God today instead of talking.

““Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.””

Jesus told Martha she was worried and upset about many things, but only one thing was needed: time with Him.

Live it: Choose time with Jesus first today, before the to-do list.

“Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”

The psalmist tells his own soul to return to rest, because the Lord has been good to him.

Live it: Remind your soul today how good God has been, and let it rest.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.”

When a person’s ways please the Lord, He makes even their enemies live at peace with them.

Live it: Focus on pleasing God today, and trust Him with the people against you.

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul says to practice what you’ve learned, and the God of peace will be with you. Peace follows practice.

Live it: Put one thing you’ve learned from Scripture into practice today.