Welcome back to the Bible Cafe™ and week five of Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore.  We saw five Portraits of Peace this week. How comforting, since we also know Satan is roaming the earth back and forth looking to devour our peace. Jesus comes with his sword, the Holy Spirit, and gives us peace. Today we have access to the Father and the authority of spiritual peace.

Peace: A state of inner tranquility, harmony, and wholeness, as well as the absence of conflict.

As we discussed in Bible Cafe™ small groups, peace is not passive and it involves our participation. We must pray, give thanks and trust the Lord in our turmoil. We pour out our hearts to Him and trust Him with our peace.

Beth Moore reminds us, “God is not a proponent of emotional annihilation but He gives us specific instructions regarding emotions.”

The Bible says: We seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

In our reading this week, Beth Moore reminds us there are times when we can be in a complete turmoil of circumstance and yet have a state of total peace. Other times we can have nothing to complain about, yet feel a complete loss of peace.

Christ had perfect peace in the storm. –Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27