Isa 66:12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon [her] sides, and be dandled upon [her] knees.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men. Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work. 2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled; Heb 12:16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Peace is like a river and peace comes from God. It is like a river because water flows downhill. Peace starts at the mountain of God and flows to vessels willing to receive of His peace. Peace has tributary streams and these also of necessity are given birth from the same source, even God. The tributaries of peace are charity, faith, righteousness and joy. Following after peace is like taking a journey down stream in the river of God, not fighting the current.

The way to place a dam (or more likely a "damn") across the river of peace is to fail of the grace of God allowing bitterness to spring up. In the context of this a fornicator or profane person is one who is willing to sell his birthright (God given inheritance) for a bowl of porridge. A bowl of porridge would be something far less than what you already have been offered. A bowl of porridge would be failing of the grace of God by desiring to be again in bondage. Bondage is a peace destroyer. Failing of the grace of God in giving up this inheritance is subject to being in a place where there is no room for repentance.

In order to "strive for peace" (oxymoron?) one needs to go to the top drawer of the peace bank, even God. Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

How then do we trust in the Lord with all our hearts? Why, dear child, it is as simple as believing Him when He says, and in what He does. Even though it may be years in the making,something promised by God has every assurance of coming to pass. The best way to get there is to be found in scripture as well.

Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

If you have an initiative for which you are unsure of the cost or of the authorship, (World, flesh devil or God) and yet need to make an end/beginning take steps in a direction. If it is of God, then peace will be the assurance. If peace is fleeting. Stop and take a measure. God will never direct the path without granting of peace in so doing. Even if it is obtuse to the human understanding, so contrary and off the wall to what men may say against it, think God. Think peace. Leave yourself open to peace. It is not a leaking vessel.

A very good post. Written from the heart as it seem to testify from your personal experience. Thanks, Fervent.

Also, I've lately drawn inspiration from the story of Hanna and how she was grieved by not having what she wanted; she only got it after she went away happy in the Lord. This tells me greiving and sadness doesn't gain much in terms of "wants"

There's happiness in peace

I thought something similar of this today while in my Animal Biology class. Right now we're talking about Biotechnology and we're about to start discussing Evolution. My professor has very strong opinions and he sometimes mistakes his personal opinions for facts (I stopped listening too hard when the first person he listed on a list of vegetarians was Jesus!). Today we talked about cloning and I was just like wow, this is definately man playing God. I no longer need to learn how the world works and things like evolution because I know that God has everything under control and His mind is much too complicated for mine, so it's futile to try and figure out what He did. I think that is peace, knowing that you trust in a God who is all powerful and that you no longer have to strive for anything but knowing Him more because He will freely give you whatever you need.

I also know that it's futile to try and save the world. When discussions like global warming come about, I just remember that God told us a long time ago that the world is going to pass away. We're not going to save the world, but with God we can help save His people. My professor talked about why he is against the death penalty, because they sometimes kill innocent people. I realized why missionaries go to speak to people in jails, because they won't change their behavior if you tell them they might get punished for them, you tell them that if they trust in Jesus Christ, they aren't under any obligation to behave that way any longer!

Support peace or I will kill you.

that would make a good slogan on a tee shirt....makes lots of money too...