“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful.  Colossians 3:15

I would like to share with you some thoughts on the subject of Christian women having a peaceful countenance. The word countenance can mean your appearance; especially the expressions of the face; a look of apparent encouragement; composure, and self-control. A peaceful woman is not quarrelsome; but free from disturbance. She is calm and quiet.

When we have peace in our hearts, we can be a better disciple for Christ.  With peace in our hearts we can be better friends, wives and mothers.  As godly women we must hold peace in our hearts before we can have peace in our homes.

As busy women of this world we find ourselves stressed and anxious.  How can we find peace, so that we can teach peace? I remember a quote from Thomas A Kempis that states, “First keep peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.”

If we are angry at the things in our lives, we cannot hold peacefulness. Never let anger take the peace out of your heart or someone else’s. And pride will disturb peace.  A “know-it-all” attitude stirs up others in a negative way. Let us be humble women who want others to know peace.

Sadly, I have seen many women who do not have a peaceful spirit in their hearts.  Some even boast of their ability to speak out and win an argument. Some women are so stressed with worry and painful memories, that they cannot feel peacefulness in their hearts.  There is no room in their hearts for peace to rest and grow.  I am not judging anyone who is emotionally upset or spiritually confused.  All of us have to deal with these matters until the day we die.

As a Christian wife and mother we need to be an instrument of peace.  As the famous quote goes, “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; ” Christ is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Are we His servants of peace?  “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3

We need to seek God’s wisdom for the stressful situations in our lives.  His wisdom is a producer of peace.  “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

 

We can be producers of peace, also.  We can either set the home “thermostat” at peacefulness or stressfulness.  We can sow seeds of peacefulness in our lives or choose not to. God’s Word is full of advice and encouragement to help us be more peaceful.  “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165).

Dear sisters, let your home be your children’s and your husband’s haven of peace and love.  When tensions arise and arguments creep in, smother them out with a calm and peaceful reaction.  Teach your daughters the importance of a women’s touch being loving and peaceful and that her words are producing peace. Teach your sons to have a hand that loves and is peaceful; not self-serving and arrogant.  Teach him to be a leader of peace. Pray that you and your family can become more peaceful. Remember to live for making peaceful and loving memories today.

Let us strive to hold peace in our hearts so that peace will flow easily into our homes.  Stress and worries may always exist, but when buffered with peacefulness, no harm will come to be.  “Finally, brethren, farewell.  Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

“God grant me peace or I must die;”
The dumb stars glittered no reply.
Broken at last, I bowed my head,
Forgetting all myself, and said,
“Whatever comes, His will be done;”
And in that moment peace was won.
~ Henry Van Dyke

This article was originally posted on May 19, 2014

-by Susan Follis

Susan Follis lives in Lamar, Colorado. She and her husband, Jim, have been married 35 years. They have six children and four grandchildren. She loves learning about being a godly wife and mother.