How to Develop More Peace

The following page explains how to use easy, practical ways to develop more peace.

No matter where you are on your journey, you can build peace into your life. Simply follow the steps below and never give up hope.

CATEGORIES: Intro . Habits . Summary . Recommended . References

KEY: Grds:goodreads . Ama:amazon . You:youtube

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Intro

What peace is and where it’s found

What peace is

The word peace can mean freedom from or cessation of war. It can also mean completeness, soundness, and well-being. This article focuses on the second meaning.[1]

Peace is an inner settledness, a calm tranquility, that often defies human comprehension. It stems from the uniting of truth, goodness, and beauty in the wholeness of life.[2]

Many people spend countless hours seeking peace yet often remain uncertain about whether they ever truly find it. Truth be told, if you want peace you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has it.[3]

Where peace is found

THE SOURCE — From the world’s perspective, there are many places you can find peace and comfort, but there is only one place you can find a hand to catch your tears and a heart to listen to your longings. That level of peace and comfort comes from God alone. The God who created and controls all things, who is ever-present (whether you acknowledge it or not) is the God of peace.[4]

THE CONNECTION — We were made by God and for God and are restless inside until we find Him. When our hearts connect to God's heart we receive His peace. The God of peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts connect to Him.[5]

THE MESSAGE — The gospel is the message of the good news of peace because it reconciles people to God. When someone accepts this as truth they receive a true and lasting peace (this is the most foundational principle in the Scriptures).[6]

THE GOAL — In the Scriptures we are urged to pursue peace and holiness, and when we do we are blessed by it. Peace and holiness are connected. There can be no true peace without holiness. Peace follows purity and depends on it.[7]

It’s quite simple: the closer you get to God the more peace you will have - in good or bad times, ease or difficulty. Walking in closeness to God does not give immunity from difficulty, it gives peace within any difficulty, a peace at all times.[8]

Certain mindsets and habits lead to the development of peace. Let’s explore those now…

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Habits

How to develop more peace

Stop comparisons

Comparison is a silent killer. Comparing yourself to others creates jealousy and envy, and jealousy and envy are like cancer in the bones.[9]

Seeking validation from others is worldly, unspiritual, and can even be demonic. Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is chaos and every kind of evil work.[10]

Accept who you are. Change what you can or what God asks you to change. Develop the character God seeks by following the leading of the Spirit. Stop comparing yourself to others and you will have greater peace within.[11]

Humility with others

The humble person feels no jealousy or envy. The decision to walk in humility preserves peace, while the decision to walk in pride (the opposite of humility) disrupts peace and leads to destruction.[12]

The more humble you are, the more obedient toward God, the wiser you will be in all things, and the more peace you shall have. Those who sow peace reap peace.[13]

Scripture requires people walk humbly. As much as possible, we are to live in harmony with others and build others up. In return for walking in humility with others, God promises to give grace honor wisdom favor exaltation peace and prosperity.[14]

Harmony with nature

The humane treatment of animals is a characteristic of right living. Scripture requires humans to treat all animals with kindness and compassion.[15]

Today’s meat and dairy system don't do this. While God did give man permission to eat animals after the flood, at creation we were plant-based. And the end times prophecy that says all animals will live together peacefully in the future suggests eating animals is not God's ideal.[16]

We are free to make our own choices of course. However, the more plant-based one eats the healthier they will be, the more harmony they will feel with nature, and the more peace they will feel within.[17]

Avoid bad people

Some people come to you as lessons, and some come as blessings. Both are necessary for your growth, so be thankful for both, and enjoy the good avoid the bad.

Avoid bad people: fools, the lazy, the ungrateful, manipulators, divisive people, and those who resist God. It is good to be a helper, it is not good to be an enabler. Know the difference, set boundaries.[18]

Avoid toxic family: gossips, victims, scoffers, controlling manipulators, financial predators, jealous competitors, and deceivers. A person’s enemies will be members of their own family. Stay away from toxic family members.[19]

Some people do not know or want the way of peace. All they want is war and strife, and their paths are crooked. It is wise to avoid them or they will destroy your peace.[20]

Miscellaneous

BUSYNESS — Beware busyness. It is incredibly easy to get caught up in an activity trap, in the busyness of life, climbing the ladder of success only to discover it’s leaning against the wrong wall. It is possible to be very busy without being effective.[21]

Busyness does not mean progress. It makes us more restless and less peaceful, and if we’re not careful the cycle of busyness can easily spin out of control.[22]

God is not impressed wIith excessive activity, even when done in His name - remember peace leads to joy, and if satan can steal our peace, he will also get our joy.[23]

FORGIVENESS — To have peace of mind, you must forgive - forgive yourself, forgive your parents, forgive others, and apologize to those you need to.[24]

We must learn to forgive. Holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Holding onto bad hurts you, not them. Let it go.

If we want peace, we need to quit allowing emotions to rule our lives. Don’t waste time living in the hurts of the past. Forgive, let it go, and move on.[25]

NOTE: this list is not exhaustive, however if you master the habits here, you will be well on your way to a peace that surpasses all understanding.

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Summary

In summary, peace is the wholeness that comes from living in closeness to God.

Habits that develop peace include: stopping comparisons, showing humility with others and harmony with nature, avoiding bad people and busyness, and choosing to forgive.

Whatever happens in life, don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, tell God what you need, thank Him for all He's done, and think good thoughts.[26]

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable; think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise, and the God of peace will be with you.[27]

When the mind is stayed on the right things it will be at rest and peaceful.[28]

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References

KEY: ch:chapter . p:page/pages . para:paraphrase . v:volume . x:x.com . yt:youtube . for bible book abbreviations, see logos.com/bible-book-abbreviations.

Bible verses: if you're new to the Bible or English is not your first language, you'll probably prefer the NIV or NLT translations—they're easier to read. My faves: ESV, NIV, LSB.

[1] Peace: freedom from war: Soanes & Stevenson, Concise Oxford English Dictionary 11th edition · also means completeness: Douglas, The New Bible Dictionary 3rd edition.

[2] Inner settledness: Stanley, The Spirit-filled Life ch:peace · uniting truth goodness beauty: Cabal, The Apologetics Study Bible.

[3] Countless hours, uncertain ever find: Grudem, Systematic Theology 2nd edition (para) · want peace get close to thing that has it: Lewis, Mere Christianity (para); see also Luk 2:14, Act 10:36, Isa 9:6.

[4] Place to catch tears, heart to listen, only God: Charles Stanley quote (para) · God controls, ever-present: Stanley, Finding Peace (para) · the God of peace: Jdg 6:24, Rom 15:33, Phil 4:9, 1Th 5:23, 2Cor 13:11.

[5] Restless until we find Him: MLK, The Measure of a Man (para) · hearts connect to God, peace we receive: Psa 1:1-2, 119:44-47, 119:165 · perfect peace to those who connect: Spurgeon, Morning and Evening > Dec 9; see also Isa 32:18.

[6] Gospel is message of peace: Eph 6:15, 1Th 5:23 · it reconciles people: Eph 2:12-18, 2Cor 5:18, Gal 3:28-29 · accept and receive peace: Rom 5:1, John 14:27, Num 6:26 · most foundational principle in Scripture: Stanley, Finding Peace (para).

[7] Pursue peace, blessed: Psa 34:13-15, 1Pt 3:11, Mt 5:9 · peace holiness connected, peace follows purity: Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible > Heb 12:11-14, James 3:18 (para).

[8] Closer to God, more peace: Mt 11:29; Lev 26:3,6; Psa 119:2-3, Jer 6:16, Ezek 34:25 · life immunity difficulty peace: C.S. Lewis (para) · peace at all times: 2Th 3:16.

[9] Comparison silent killer: Furtick, Unqualified · jealousy envy like cancer: Pro 14:30 (see NIV and NLT translations).

[10] Where selfish ambition, chaos and evil: James 3:16.

[11] Accept who you are, then you will have peace: Stanley, Finding Peace (para) · the character God wants you to develop: Gal 5:22-23.

[12] Humble feels no jealousy: Murray, Humility (para) · pride leads to destruction: Pro 16:18, 18:12.

[13] The more humble, more peace: Kempis from Murray, Humility (para) · sow peace reap peace: James 3:18, Pro 11:18, Isa 32:17, Hos 10:12.

[14] Walk humbly show kindness compassion: Zec 7:9-10, Deu 22:1, 2Sam 9:7, Mt 9:13, Mk 12:33, Phil 2:3 · live in harmony, build others up: Rom 12:14-13:7, 14:19; Titus 3:1-2, 1Tim 2:1-2, 2Tim 2:22-25; 1Pt 2:13-17, 2:20-24 · God promises: grace 1Pt 5:5; honor Pro 15:33, 18:12, 29:23; wisdom Pro 11:2; favor Pro 3:34; exaltation James 4:10, 1Pt 5:6, Mt 23:12; peace and prosperity Psa 37:11.

[15] Humane treatment of animals: Pro 12:10, 27:23; Exo 20:10, 23:12 · treat animals with compassion: Deu 22:1-4, 22:6-7, 22:10, 25:4.

[16] Today’s meat and dairy system: watch Earthlings and/or Dominion documentaries · permission to eat: Gen 9:1-3 · at creation plant-based: Gen 1:29-30 · prophecy all live peacefully: Isa 11:6-9, 65:25; Hos 2:18.

[17] Plant-based healthier, more peace: see Food page →

[18] Bad people: fools Pro 17:10; lazy Pro 19:15, 20:13, 10:4; ungrateful Luk 17:11-16, Mt 7:6; manipulators Pro 6:16-17 (pride & lies); divisive people Titus 3:10, Rom 16:17; those who resist God Pro 29:1 (list courtesy of yt/bad-people) · sowing discord is an abomination, see Pro 6:16-19 · set boundaries: read Boundaries books above.

[19] Toxic family: gossip Pro 26:20; victim Pro 19:3; scoffer Psa 1:1, Pro 22:10; controlling manipulator 2Tim 3:1-5; financial predator Pro 12:15, Pro 21:5, Pro 21:10, Pro 27:23, Luk 14:28, Eph 5:15-16, Ecc 5:10; jealous competitor Gen 4:3-8; deceiver Mt 7:15-16 · person’s enemies, own family: Mt 10:36, Mic 7:6 (list courtesy of yt/toxic-family).

[20] Some people do not know peace: Isa 57:21, 59:8 · all they want is war: Psa 120:7 · avoid them: Psa 1:1-6, 10:2-10; 1Cor 5:11.

[21] Easy to be busy without being effective: Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

[22] Busyness, not careful spin out of control: Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (para).

[23] God is not impressed with excessive activity, steals peace joy: Meyer, Enjoy Your Journey.

[24] To have peace, you must forgive: Eph 4:32, Mt 6:14-15 · forgive parents others yourself & apologize (courtesy of x/forgive).

[25] Quit allowing emotions to rule, let it go: Meyer, Worry-Free Living: Trading Anxiety for Peace.

[26] Whatever happens, don't worry, pray, tell God, think good, and peace will be with you: Phil 4:6-7.

[27] Fix thoughts on what is true honorable right pure lovely, and peace with be with you: Phil 4:8-9.

[28] When mind on right things, it will be at rest and peaceful: Meyer, Battlefied of the Mind (para).

* End note: if you made it this far, nice job. 👏👏 And if you want more, here's: How to View Food.

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Whatever brings you to this page, I wish you great health and hope on your journey.

Be strong and believe. You can do all things (Phil 4:13).

Peace and Love,
Ben