It has been more than 2 years that I have walked in peace every day, and it feels amazing. From the time I was about 30 years old until I was 48, I endured some extreme circumstances while living with people who were affected by the enemy in extreme ways. The latter 6 years was the most intense season of enemy torment that I had ever envisioned having to endure. It pressed me to the edge of my ability to live a semi-normal state. And I was not allowed by God to tell anyone what I was going through until He released me from my assignment.
Today I walk in peace every day and no circumstances to the contrary will ever shake me because of the extremity of the tribulation that the Lord had me go through. It has created an unshakeable ability to not strive about anything with anyone at any time. I simply will not strive. 2 Timothy 2:23-24 says “23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,” Very few people (let alone Christians) walk every day in peace as the enemy has his way with them through their thoughts, causing them to take an offense, become angry, fearful, and other non-peaceful states.
So how does one learn to change their current ways of tormented living to walking in peace every day? It starts with recognizing the enemy’s tactics and how real he is. Knowing how the enemy plants a negative thought in your mind and then how you take it and begin thinking upon it. Then before you realize it, how you start to speak it out of your mouth, giving it more life. Once birthed, the thought that you first had, takes on a new life and before you know it you are in fear or anger, causing you to behave in ways that hurt others.
So how does one recognize when the enemy is speaking to you? The enemy’s thoughts sound like your own as 90% of what the enemy says is truth. But there is usually a but that he concludes with. For example, he might say “Joe is a great guy. Always trying to help others in our church. But sometimes he does not allow me to do some things that I want to do with the church. He is controlling. He never takes my advice.” Then the next thing you know, you have a conversation with Joe about it and hurt him. Then your relationship is broken and Joe could decide to leave the church, or tell others about what you did to him and create strife.
It is so important to discern where your thoughts are coming from. Most people have no clue and think all of the thoughts they get are from themselves. When in reality 25-40% of their thoughts could be from the enemy. Then these people are unable to live in peace. They are tormented by the negative thoughts from the enemy. They do not recognize it and then strive in all their relationships, ultimately losing a marriage, and sometimes two, three or four or more in the more extreme cases.
What I do is discern the first few words that the enemy will try to hit me with and then stop him from talking to me. I literally will change my mind’s thoughts and go in a different direction. If I have to I will pray in my prayer language (tongues) because the enemy cannot talk to me when I am praying in tongues. Once you allow the enemy to state a complete sentence to you, then he has got you. You begin to think about it and dwell on it and then may even speak it out. You must stop it as soon as you realize it is from the enemy.
Living a more peaceful life begins with your thought life. People who are selfish, fearful, angry, depressed, etc are being affected by the enemy in their thoughts. It is time to break free from the enemy’s torment and think about things that are true, noble, just, loving, pure, and of good report. Otherwise you will never live a peaceful life, and suffer greatly in your emotional state and ultimately your physical body will feel the effects. So keep your peace on!