There’s peace in the conscious awareness of God’s presence. Many Christians though are anxious, worried, or fearful; none of which describe the believer’s relationship with Jesus. The word “peace” appears over 400 times in as many verses in Scripture. Conversely the word fret appears only 7 times and the word afraid only 193 times. These two words combined appear only half as much as the word peace (context and meaning notwithstanding). So it would seem that our relationship with Christ, and subsequently our life as a whole ought to be characterized by peace. If this is true, why does it seem like so many Christians’ lives are wracked with worry, anxiety, and fear?

The book of Psalms records at least 27 occurrences of the word peace. Verses such as Psalms 29:11, “The Lord will bless His people with peace,” and Psalms 37:37, “behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace,” are very clear and encouraging in their message.

But Psalm 119:165 is particularly interesting: “Great peace do they have which love your law…” A large portion of the book of Psalms centers on praising God for His law, His precepts, His truths, and His word. It continually admonishes us to meditate on God’s precepts and law in order to live a happy, pleasing life. (See: Psalms 119:56, 100, 104 for “precepts,” and 1:2; 19:7; 37:31 and 40:8 for “law”) In fact, there is a definite correlation between the words precept and law, and the words peace, joy, rest, strength, and happiness in the book of Psalms. It would seem that the peace, joy, and success of the believer is indestructibly attached to following God’s truths and principles as defined in His word.

So what conclusion can be made about the believer’s life that seems more characterized by fear, worry, and anxiety? It would seem that these are those who are either not true believers; and so live under great personal conviction as they try to live as goats within the sheepfold. Or, these are believers who refuse to relinquish their life and will to the God who purchased their life back from death and hell.

The very first fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal. 5:22). Once a person has experienced the transforming love of Jesus, other fruit will manifest itself; specifically joy and peace. How interesting that the first two fruits that ought to be evident in the life of a believer relate to his relationship both with God and man. In other words, when we find our joy and peace in God and His Word it will be evident to all others around us. Our life will flow with joy and peace to the point that it would be impossible to label us as “grumpy old Christians,” “bitter believers,” or “angry Christians.”

Incidentally, it we are full of love and characterized by joy and peace we will never be among those who spew hate in the name of religion. We will never find ourselves bombing, terrorizing, or physically harming others who hold to different views than our own in order to “prove a point.”

Indeed, to live in conscious awareness of God’s presence is to dwell and meditate on Him, His word, and His truth. In learning the Scriptures and allowing their truth to penetrate our heart and change us at our core we will no longer be consumed with self, and what self wants. Instead we will daily hunger and thirst for God, His righteousness, His mission, His kingdom, His purpose, His very person!

In doing this we will experience a peace that surpasses all else, peace found only in the presence of the Prince of peace. It will be at this point when we want to remove our shoes with Moses, and cry out with Isaiah, “woe is me, I am undone.” It is at this moment that we realize that every single day is spent in the presence of the Almighty. Then we understand that there is peace in the conscious awareness of God’s presence.