{"id":690,"date":"2019-10-08T16:18:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T15:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/?p=690"},"modified":"2019-10-12T13:47:58","modified_gmt":"2019-10-12T12:47:58","slug":"how-to-receive-gods-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/how-to-receive-gods-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Receive God&#8217;s Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This week I\u2019m going to be looking at God\u2019s peace. What is it and how do we receive it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peace is as a gift from God; we hear about peace in bible as the \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Philippians+4%3A7&amp;version=ESV\">Peace that surpasses all understanding<\/a>\u2019 and as a blessing exchanged by the early Christians as \u2018peace be with you\u2019. So, as humans we can rest assured that when our bodies, minds and spirits are feeling disturbed, anxious or fearful, that God can impart peace by his Holy Spirit into our very souls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j3iCPkGkwT8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am going to take you through a step by step visualisation\nprocess that can be done individually, in pastoral care or within a small group\nsituation. &nbsp;Peace comes through being\nreal with ourselves. Only when we acknowledge the storm can the Holy Spirit\nmove to calm it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Firstly, find a quiet moment to focus, and <strong>imagine yourself in a small boat, <\/strong>quite alone. How do you feel? What is the sea of your life like around you? I find visual pictures helpful. For me at the moment I feel unsteady in my boat. I know I carry underlying tension that makes it hard to relax. Sometimes it only takes just one area of our lives to become rocky for us to feel this way. My boat feels unstable. For me difficulties with my family and relationships are rocking my boat. For you if you feel unsteady it could be health issues, financial worries, loss or grief. Or perhaps it is disappointment or regret? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"437\" data-attachment-id=\"693\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/little_boat_600_low\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,437\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Little_Boat_600_low\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?fit=300%2C219&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?resize=600%2C437&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Little Boat on the sea\" class=\"wp-image-693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?resize=155%2C113&amp;ssl=1 155w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_low.jpg?resize=300%2C219&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>&#8220;Little Boat&#8221; &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/art_meditations\/little_boat.html\">download a higher resolution version here<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Staying with this picture, in that still or turbulent sea, <strong>place Jesus into your boat<\/strong>. Jesus is by your side. Sitting beside you is the author of life, the creator of heaven and earth, the Holy One, the Redeemer. Journeying with you is the one who loved you so much that he faced a horrific death yet conquered over that darkness and rose to life. &nbsp;Feel His presence, the love and light He carries and allow Him to lead your thoughts and heart. Where is the still water? This still water might be the care of friends and family, or it might be the blessing of a focus like hobbies, passions and interests. These are Gods\u2019 good gifts! To find peace sometimes we need to allow Jesus to hoist up our sails and to gently lead us into the harbour. In the roughest times we all need help to engage with rest and sleep, a hot bath, a comforting drink, the beauty of flowers or a sunset! I believe that the Holy Spirit works with us in a holistic way. He helps us engage with the gift of peace.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Now look at the cargo in the boat<\/strong>. What are you carrying? It could be precious cargo, children perhaps? Or a charitable work? Or perhaps a role or responsibility? Look further, is there any cargo weighing your boat down? Is there anything you don\u2019t need to carry? In my little boat I do see precious cargo &#8211; children, passions and callings, roles and responsibilities. However, if I am honest, I see a great big sack of guilt! I\u2019m going to give Jesus this guilt. You see it keeps arriving back in my boat! And as I pass it into the hand of the Lord it becomes lightweight dust. It\u2019s nothing to Jesus! Why? Because he has conquered my guilt! He has paid the price for my mistakes and failings. Is there anything that you need to give him? Fear of the future? Shame from the past? Hurt that feels as fresh as the day you bore the pain? Disappointment that suffocates your aspirations and dreams? Name it and give it to Him. See it turn to dust\u2026\u2026<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"812\" data-attachment-id=\"694\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/voyage_600_low\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C812&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,812\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Voyage_600_low\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?fit=222%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C812&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?resize=600%2C812&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sailing boat in stormy waters\" class=\"wp-image-694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?resize=83%2C113&amp;ssl=1 83w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Voyage_600_low.jpg?resize=222%2C300&amp;ssl=1 222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>&#8220;Voyage&#8221; &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/art_meditations\/voyage.html\">download a higher resolution version here<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Next, <strong>what do you need from Jesus<\/strong> to hoist your sails and move into that more peaceful harbour? There is always a harbour, no matter how turbulent our sea, how damaged the boat is or how frightened we feel! Jesus promises us peace in all places and at all times. What is the sail that will carry you? What does the wind of God\u2019s Spirit need to blow on to propel you into that haven of God\u2019s peace? On my sail I see the words \u201ckeep trusting in God\u2019s love\u201d. I allow Jesus to lift this sail high and I breathe in those words. For you it might be words of comfort such as \u201cI am with you\u201d, \u201cyou are chosen\u201d, or a request such as &nbsp;\u201cI need you healing touch, release me from this depression\u201d. It could be so many things. Where will your small boat sail to? Where is your harbour? Breathe in the love of God, allow hope to fill your sails.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"434\" data-attachment-id=\"692\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/harbour_600_low\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C434&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,434\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Harbour_600_low\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?fit=300%2C217&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?fit=600%2C434&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?resize=600%2C434&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Boat in still waters\" class=\"wp-image-692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?resize=156%2C113&amp;ssl=1 156w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Harbour_600_low.jpg?resize=300%2C217&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>&#8220;Harbour&#8221; &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/art_meditations\/harbour.html\">download a higher resolution version here<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Lastly, imagine the <strong>boat now in the harbour<\/strong>. Create a picture of this in your mind. I cannot promise that you won\u2019t once again feel the storm, the unsteadiness and fear. However, I can testify that the harbour of God\u2019s peace will always be there. If you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you back into this haven he will. Because God\u2019s love is deeper and wider and more powerful than we could ever fathom or understand no matter how wild the sea around us.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week I\u2019m going to be looking at God\u2019s peace. What is it and how do we receive it? Peace is as a gift from God; we hear about peace in bible as the \u2018Peace that surpasses all understanding\u2019 and as a blessing exchanged by the early Christians as \u2018peace be with you\u2019. So, as <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/how-to-receive-gods-peace\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[7,6,13,1],"tags":[44,61],"class_list":["post-690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","category-prayer","category-reflections","category-uncategorized","tag-peace","tag-visualization-meditation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Little_Boat_600_Blog.jpg?fit=600%2C337&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7bKxI-b8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":460,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/lord-make-me-an-instrument\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":0},"title":"Lord, make me an instrument!","date":"March 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I find the prayer of St Francis a deeply challenging prayer to read. Whether in a time of peace and prosperity, or in a period of conflict and hardship, it is not instinctive to be an \u201cinstrument of peace\u201d. Yet the word instrument does suggest that we become a channel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Films&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Hands in the shape of a heart with beach in the background","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer_of_St_Francis_600.jpg?fit=600%2C337&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":791,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/prayer-for-peace-and-comfort\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":1},"title":"Prayer for Peace and Comfort","date":"March 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Peace is so important to our hearts, our minds and our bodies, so coming before God will always bring more peace into our lives. It\u2019s important that we take time with our prayers, because God knows that we need to slow down, we need to still our minds, we need\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Prayer&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"A beautiful and peaceful lake","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/un_peaceful_lake.jpg?fit=600%2C371&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":757,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/the-serenity-prayer-meaning\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":2},"title":"The Serenity Prayer Meaning","date":"December 6, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This week we\u2019re going to be looking at one of the most famous and inspiring prayers of the 20th Century \u2013 \u201cThe Serenity Prayer\u201d, and I\u2019m going to be exploring what the full version of this prayer means and how we can use it in our lives. Often known by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Prayer&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"The Serenity Prayer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/UN_Serenity_Prayer_800.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":597,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/prayer-for-fasting-during-lent\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":3},"title":"Prayer for Fasting During Lent","date":"March 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Jesus teaches us to begin with ourselves, not to become weary by judging others but to create rivers of truth, hope, peace, joy and love that flow through our own beings (John 7:38). During Lent we seek to pull aside from the tides of work, family, community and the world\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Films&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Sun rising over clouds","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prayer-_For_Fasting_Lead_600.jpg?fit=600%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":158,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/may-the-road-rise-up-to-meet-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":4},"title":"May The Road Rise Up To Meet You","date":"August 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. (traditional gaelic blessing) I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Films&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Parent holding infant","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/held_600.jpg?fit=600%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":778,"url":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/prayer-for-protection-at-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":690,"position":5},"title":"Prayer for Protection at Work","date":"February 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When we work, we serve God. No matter what our occupation we contribute daily to the ongoing work of His Spirit. It can be daunting when we feel the stress of responsibility, the fatigue of physical tiredness or the fear of the unknown and yet God longs to journey with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Prayer&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"walking to work","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/prayer_for_work_protection_600_un.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=690"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":703,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690\/revisions\/703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}