Seeking Peace

     The other day I was praying, asking God to give me peace about a particular situation in the sort of nonchalant way that I have always asked in the past, in the way I have heard prayed by others countless times.  This time, however, I was struck by a thought.  I was asking God to "give me peace"--no real qualifier as to the circumstances, no stopping to think about the fact that perhaps not having peace about something may be an indicator that I am not to have peace about it until I do something that He may be urging me to do.  Never mind the fact that the unspoken attitude of my asking was that I was just going to sit there and wait on Him to make me "feel better" about it--that's really what I was saying (without saying) by the way in which I was asking God for His peace.  In short, I was just being lazy!
     I am challenged that there is more to it than that.  I do believe that we are to ask God for His peace; the Bible is full of doxologies expressing that very sentiment, as well as passages specifically telling believers not to worry, to cast our anxieties on Him.  That said, there is more to it than simply asking Him in passing while I go on about my business.  Am I letting the Spirit examine my life, such that areas of conflict which are of my own making can be dealt with?  Have I oriented myself towards the Son such that I have a true perspective when I consider how I am being emotionally affected by what is going on in my life?  Do I trust the sovereignty of the Father, that He is not ignorant of where I am or what I need?  As I ask for peace, should that even be the object of my asking, or should I not be more concerned with connecting with the Prince of Peace?  Too often I am being fooled by the lie that my comfort is to be sought at all times, and when that is even slightly disturbed, it needs to be brought up as a matter of utmost importance.  Instead I should be seeking God, who has a perfect will He is working out in my life, that at times may not be very peaceful--and that is just fine with me.

"Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" - Matthew 6:33