He is Our Peace

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Psalm 4:8

He is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Think of the last time you experienced what you would call a deep sense of peace.

For some of us, maybe that moment was holding a sleeping child; or maybe it was relaxing in a favorite armchair after everyone else has gone to bed. Maybe for you, it is a memory of a beautiful scene in nature, or an early morning cup of coffee as dawn breaks.

I believe we all get these fleeting moments of peace; moments when time seems to stop, even just for a second; and we feel like it is all going to be OK. Sometimes, we can linger in those moments and enjoy them. Sometimes, they are so fleeting we wish we could hang on to them.

Wherever you are as you read this, pause a moment.

Take a deep breath...in through your nose, out slowly through your mouth. Do this a couple of times.

There is something beautiful about the fact that this kind of deep breathing is the easiest way to find even a brief moment of peace; as we breathe deep, our bodies slow down for a second, as the rush of new, plentiful oxygen floods our system.

As we've discussed many times before, the Hebrew word for spirit, "ruah" (pronounced "ROO-ah") is the same word translated as Spirit, and wind, and breath.

Today, take moments to breathe deep. These are moments you are breathing deep of the Spirit; moments you are breathing deep of the peace that God brings. This peace is always available to us, and over time we can train our bodies and our minds to be more attentive to it.

Today, Christ is your peace. Breath deep. Whatever it is, it will be OK. The sun will rise tomorrow. The people who love you will still love you. The God who watches over you will guard you. Peace be with you.

PRAYER:
We are grateful for your peace which surpasses all understanding. Peace of Christ, comfort us amidst the storms of life; intercede on our behalf, grant us wisdom, and lead us in all your truth. Alleluia to the Source of peace. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts