Our lives rarely bring us to a place of quietness and peace. We struggle through one day after another, our hearts beseiged by the noise and distractions of this world. We rush through the busy-ness of the day and collapse into bed a night with a sigh, too tired to enjoy the stillness the night brings. At least that's how the rhythm of my life seems to beat at times.

The busy-ness of life and the worries of the day sometimes work in unison to disturb our hamony and peace. This is not the way God wants us to live. He wants us to seek out those times of quietness and refreshing in His presence. His desire is to lead us by the still waters and into fields of grace and peace.

Isaiah introduced the Messiah, Jesus, as the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6.)He is the Source of our peace with the Father and the Source of peace within. True peace, a real lasting peace, can only come from Him. As we spend those wonderful times of quiet listening to His voice, His peace will begin to fill our hearts.

Isaiah also declared, "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace..." (Isaiah 55:12) The previous verse shows how this peace can be ours. It comes by spending time with the Lord and hearing His voice.

The prophet also relates the promise of this peace. "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream..." (Isaiah 66:12). Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us that the Lord will keep us in perfect peace as we keep our hearts and minds on Him.

Horatio Spafford, author of the well-known hymn, 'It Is Well With My Soul,'
 came to know this blessed "peace like a river" following many tragedies in his life. That river of peace is ours to freely enjoy today and every day. May it flow through us and enable us to rise above the cares of life and continualy seek those quiet and awesome moments in the presence of the Prince of Peace.

Missionary Amy Carmichael sought that quietness an peace, praying..

"O Thou who art my quietness, my deep repose,
My rest from strife of tongues, my holy hill,
Fair is Thy pavilion, where I hold me still.
Back let them fall from me, my clamorous foes,
Confusions multiplied;
From crowding things of sense I flee, and Thee I hide.
Until this tyranny be overpast,
Thy hand will hold me fast;
What though the tumult of the storm increase,
Grant to Thy servant strength, O Lord, and bless with peace."
 
O Lord, bring us to that place of quietness and peace in Your presence.