More Like Jesus: Reflections on Peace

In the book of Galatians the apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and within that list is found peace. This peace is understood as an internal peace of heart, mind, and spirit which resides within Christians. Such peace brings a calmness or tranquility within us. The following quotes address the fruit of peace in our interactions with others, as well as the peace we have with God.

Peace

“Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.”—Paul Chappell

“When we place God at the center of our lives, we find unexplainable joy, balance and peace.”—Brittany Ann

“Prayer is the voice of love that brings us internal peace, understanding, and the wisdom on how to share.”—Catherine Franz

“Peace and joy are two main fruits of Christ’s kingdom.”—Richard Sibbes

“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. ... If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.”—Amy Carmichael

“When you take the high ground, you rise above the irritation and the conflict and choose to live in peace.”—Rick Warren

“Where do you go for peace if you don’t have God in your life, if you’re not connected on a moment-by-moment basis? Jesus Christ has an incredible offer for you. He says, ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest’” (Matthew 11:28 CEV).—Rick Warren

“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.”—Job 22:21–22

“The reality is that this is how you know if you’re getting closer to God: more kindness, more gentleness, more joy, more peace, more patience.”—Matt Brown

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”—C. S. Lewis

“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.”—Francis of Assisi

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”—Francis de Sales

“As we pour out our bitterness, God pours in his peace.”—F. B. Meyer

“When it comes to experiencing peace, we can’t cram it in at the last minute; we need to build a foundation for it by giving God’s Word a central place in our lives.”—Brian Hardin

“When our lives are filled with peace, faith and joy, people will want to know what we have.”—David Jeremiah

“Happiness without peace is temporal; peace along with happiness is eternal.”—John H. Aughey

“We may have to wait for justice and peace in the world, but we can know God’s forgiveness for our sins on a personal level and be at peace with him right now.”—Brian Johnston

“An unpeaceful mind cannot operate normally. Hence the apostle teaches us to ‘have no anxiety about anything’ (Philippians 4:6). Deliver all anxious thoughts to God as soon as they arise. Let the peace of God maintain your heart and mind (v. 7).”—Watchman Nee

“God can, in answer to the prayers of His people, give divine peace.”—Andrew Murray

“If thou wouldst find much favor and peace with God and man, be very low in thine own eyes. Forgive thyself little, and others much.”—Robert Leighton

“Self-seeking is the gate by which a soul departs from peace; and total abandonment to the will of God, that by which it returns.”—Madame Guyon

“Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer can do.”—Charles Spurgeon

“Seek true peace, not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone.”—Thomas a Kempis

“It is not worrying, but rather trusting and abiding in the peace of God that will crush anything that Satan tries to do to us. If the Lord created the world out of chaos, He can easily deal with any problem that we have.”—Rick Joyner

“Prayers provide us that peace and security which only the Father can provide for us.”—Dr. Mary Lee

“Accessing the kingdom of God while on earth should be our foremost goal. It is this access that gives us peace, it is this access that gives us the strength to fight on in a broken world, to keep pressing towards the goal, the finish line we all desire.”—Mark S. Taylor

“Money can never buy happiness, or peace of mind.”—Catherine Pulsifer

“If you can believe what God teaches in the Bible and learn to actually do things this way, then you enter into a wonderful peace and freedom.”—Joan Boney

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:6–7 NIV

“When you believe that everything happens for good reason and the Lord is always in control, then you can feel peace in any situation.”—Lindsey K. Rietzsch

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”—Attributed to Francis of Assisi

“A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.”—D. L. Moody

“Christ wants us, and finally the whole world, to share in His peace, a peace that we must contribute to by fighting anxieties and concerns, by staying faithful to God’s ways and by asking for the peace that Christ gives miraculously to all that He loves.”—Michael Caputo

“When old companions, old lusts, and sins crowd in upon you, and when you feel that you are ready to sink, what can save you, sinking sinner? This alone—I have a high priest in heaven, and he can support in the hour of affliction. This alone can give you peace—I have a high priest in heaven. When you are dying—when friends can do you no good—when sins rise up like specters around your bed—what can give you peace? This—I have a high priest in heaven.”—Robert Murray McCheyne

“Full peace will come only when Christ returns. But until that day we can know His peace in our hearts and can be messengers of His peace in the world, as we commit our lives to Him.”—Billy Graham

Peace with God

“The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against us, is for us. No account of God’s peace which does not start here can do other than mislead.”—J. I. Packer

“What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?”—Matthew Henry

“Christ alone can bring lasting peace—peace with God—peace among men and nations—and peace within our hearts.”—Billy Graham

“We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.”—Thomas Merton

“To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.”—Martin Luther

“To be able to look into God’s face, and know with the knowledge of faith that there is nothing between the soul and Him, is to experience the fullest peace the soul can know. Whatever else pardon may be, it is above all things admission into full fellowship with God.”—Charles H. Brent

“When Christ died He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to John. But to His disciples, who had left all to follow Him, He left not silver or gold, but something far better—His PEACE!”—Matthew Henry

“Maintaining peace with God is more important than keeping pace with someone else.”—Andy Stanley

“The Bible talks about three kinds of peace. There is peace with God. There’s the peace of God. And there’s peace with each other.”—Rick Warren

“The foundation of the Christian’s peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies; it will remain when the mountains depart and the hills shall be removed, and when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. The fountain of His comfort shall never be diminished, and the stream shall never be dried. His comfort and joy is a living spring in the soul, a well of water springing up to everlasting life.”—Jonathan Edwards

“After much prayer, careful study and reliance on the Holy Spirit, I have concluded this about Christ’s intercession for us. Jesus died on the cross to purchase peace with God for me—and He is in heaven now to maintain that peace, for me and in me.”—David Wilkerson

“Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God’s removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him.”—Charles H. Brent

“No God, no peace; know God, know peace.”—Croft M. Pentz

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Note

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.