“A born-again person ought to possess unspeakable peace in the spirit,” writes influential speaker and author Watchman Nee in his book, The Spiritual Man – and I can find no fault with it. What are the keys, then, to transforming our thinking in order to make this our daily experience?

Jesus warned His followers that they could expect suffering in this world, and, at the very same time, extended to them the extraordinary promise of His peace. This is the unshakable peace of the One who has been in the presence of the Father, who knows the sights of Heaven from personal experience, who sees, with clarity and certainty, that God will ultimately bring this present chaos back into order.

As believers, our entire experience of this life has been rewired, so that the evidence of our senses is no longer the final word. Those to whom God has given this new life in the Spirit have been “rescued … from the domain of darkness and transferred … into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” It would be normal for us to be anxious and fearful in this dark realm, where we see and hear, firsthand, the soul-grinding consequences of sin and evil – but, as children of God, it is our responsibility to not be normal!

It is true that our pesky humanity has a way of drawing our attention to what is plainly visible, right in front of us, but we are called to keep step with the Spirit, to continually re-synchronize our walk with Him as He reveals the comfort and truth that are ever present in the invisible Kingdom. This is, to a great degree, how we respond daily to God’s call to “repent,” that is, to turn around, away from the foolishness, emptiness and lies that distract and deceive, and to reach in the other direction for the Kingdom of God – which is ever “at hand,” ever within our grasp.

To the degree we view our current and future circumstances from God’s eternal perspective, to the degree we trust that God will be as faithful in the future as He has been in the past, to the degree we embrace the unseen as more real than the seen – to that degree we will walk, as Jesus walked, in unbroken peace and freedom from fear.

 

◊ ◊ ◊

 

Related passages from the Scriptures:

I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
Psalm 4:7-8

Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.
Psalm 119:165

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.
Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!
Isaiah 26:3-4

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.
John 14:27

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.
John 16:33

For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

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.
Romans 15:13

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23a

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.
2 Thessalonians 3:16a

Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Mark 1:14b-15

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
Colossians 1:13

For we walk by faith, not by sight…
2 Corinthians 5:7

Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25

In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.
1 John 4:17-18