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PROGRAM D-7896

One of my fondest memories of my father is his love for his garden. Each spring he would plant a vegetable garden on which the rest of us would feast all year long. Somehow I did not inherit his green thumb, so I’m not much of a gardener.

However, there is a garden that every believer should be growing, and we need to be growing it all the time. It’s a lifestyle garden. This is gardening God’s way.

First we need to plant three rows of “peas”: Peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace of soul.

Jesus said, “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). One of our distinctive trademarks as Christians in a troubled world is that peace which Jesus left us as our inheritance.

“Peas” of soul is ours when we make peace with God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This justification through faith gives us peace of soul. We know where our soul will spend eternity—in heaven with God—because we know our sins have been forgiven and we are justified in God’s sight because of Jesus. That’s the only way to have true peace of soul.

“Peas” of mind is ours when God’s Spirit controls our minds. Paul wrote this to the Romans: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). In order to have peace of mind in our garden, we have to put the right things in and get rid of the weeds that are in our minds. We plant peace of mind by learning to bring every thought into captivity and pulling out the wrong thoughts.

“Peas” of heart is in our garden when we “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15). When we have peace of heart, we are not subject to the fears, panic, and worries of this world. But you and I must let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. That means we must not do things that hinder peace in our hearts. That means that when the panic and fear hit our hearts, we must make a choice to let the peace in.

Paul wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Do you have these three rows of “peas” in your garden: peace of soul, peace of mind, and peace of heart?