The Value Of Peace And Contentment

Peace is described in the dictionary as “in a state or relationship of non-belligerence or concord; not at war (or in disunity – my emphasis) – untroubled, tranquil” – Random House Unabridged Dictionary or “The absence of mental stress or anxiety” – Wordweb. Contentment, on the other hand, is described as “Happiness with one’s situation in life” Wordweb “Satisfaction” – Random House Unabridged Dictionary.

IT is a true blessing to be at peace within one’s self; to be able to lie in bed at the end of the day and sleep in peace; to be quiet and alone without needing company to drown out the voices in your head. (I am highlighting peace here as it has to do with our actions). A heart at peace and a clear conscience is of great worth. One who is satisfied and without blame can see clearly what is in front of him – both seen and unseen. Happiness is his state of mind and it overflows easily, there is clarity of purpose and hope that never disappoints.

Contentment is not resignation to one’s lot neither is it mediocrity – far from it. It is rich in substance, an anchor in the rain and in the sun, a knowing and consciousness of divine purpose and the humble submission to it. This is what keeps many men from destructive emotions such as greed and pride. Where contentment and peace (or in other words, a certain fearful expectation of judgement) is absent, there is turmoil, torment and...well, fear! If one’s priorities are not rightly aligned at this point, this results in vain pursuit of security. Where your priorities are not in their proper place one is moved by poisonous impressions such as pride, greed, envy, strife “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16). KJV

A Clear Conscience

Everyone of us has done something or things that we aren’t proud of. However, very few of us have peace in spite of it. No one is righteous in himself/herself (for Christ is our righteousness – 2 Corinthians 5:24) and yet, it is possible to live at peace with God, one’s self and with man – as far as it is possible. Not many people are comfortable in their own skin or live a life of contentment that is devoid of fear. Sadly, only a few taste of it – even for just a season. Yet, this state of being is reachable to all men in Christ.

There is a treasure that we have in us that is of so much worth to those who will acknowledge and heed it. Have you ever had that feeling when your instinct seemed to be telling you something? You just felt that something was amiss only to find out that your gut was right on the money? Often times, you hear people say “I just knew something was wrong; I only wished I had listened to my heart.”

This treasure can be called our conscience. It’s like a compass pointing you in the right direction. Listen to your conscience. There have been times when I wasn’t quite sure what to do. As far as my eyes could see and I could deduce from the situation around me, everything pointed to one direction. However, I’ll have this unsettled feeling in my heart that defied reason (You have to judge and be certain your heart isn’t driven by just some emotion or philosophy). It can be so distinct and demanding that you can only but heed it and take the steps that would keep you at peace with it. Time shows constantly that had I not paid attention to my conscience, I would have made some costly mistakes. Keep a free conscience and your heart will be at peace.

In this way, we all must walk in the light that we know. Emotions and philosophy are very often unreliable and most people on earth walk according to this voice. However, if your conscience is alive, very often, it would lead you along the paths that natural eye cannot perceive and save you from a multitude of sorrows.

When making a decision and you perceive an unsettled or heavy conscience (not emotions based on experiences or your own desires – learn to judge right); it is a good time to pause and listen. The bible says we should test the spirits. 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…” You can only try the spirits with the word of the Lord

Therefore, man must have a clear conscience towards

God

Himself/Herself and

Men – as far as it is possible.

I am only going to dwell a little on the first prerequisite because it is of the same that the other two are derived.

“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”. 1John 4:21 KJV

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself”. Ephesians 5:28 KJV

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these”. Mark 12:30 - 31 KJV

I find no need to say so much as the scripture clearly says it all. What we truly have is an audience of One for we find that we return to where we first began. We hope and strive to spend eternal union with God. Should we “meet” all other requirements and miss the first and the last, nothing we lived for would be worthy of honour or preservation.

Image and Etiquette addresses general perceptions, societal norms and expectations and personal expressions with the goal to cultivate social graces, suavity and a dignified presence for personal development and effective interpersonal relationships. If you have questions on Image and Etiquette please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or SMS 08116706879.

08116706879 (SMS  only).

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it