The Morning Rush Trap
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NKJV)
Can I be honest with you for a moment?
Most of us don’t lose our peace in the middle of the day. We give it away before we even get started.
Think about your typical morning. The alarm sounds, and within seconds, you’re reaching for your phone. Emails. Notifications. News headlines. Someone else’s emergency becomes your first thought of the day. Before your feet even touch the floor, your nervous system is already in overdrive.
And then we wonder why peace feels so far away.
Here’s what I’ve learned on my own journey, and what I want you to discover on yours: Peace isn’t something you stumble into. It’s something you choose before the noise begins.
The Myth of “Finding” Peace
We’ve been taught to think of peace as something external, a destination we’ll reach once the circumstances are right. Once the kids are grown. Once the bills are paid. Once the promotion comes through. Once life settles down.
But beloved, when has life ever truly “settled down”? Scripture doesn’t tell us to find peace. It tells us to pursue it.
“Seek peace and pursue it.” — Psalm 34:14 (NKJV)
That word “pursue” implies intentional action. It means peace requires our participation. It means peace is a choice we make, not a feeling we wait for.
What Intentional Peace Looks Like
So what does it mean to choose peace before the noise begins? It starts with how you begin your day.
Before you check in with the world, check in with your Father.
This is the heart of The P.E.A.C.E. Path framework. The “P” stands for Prayer (or Meditation), and for good reason. Prayer is the cornerstone of spiritual grounding. It’s where we anchor ourselves in something greater than our circumstances.
When you start your day with even five minutes of intentional prayer, you’re making a declaration: I will not let the chaos define my peace. I will let my peace define how I meet the chaos.
Here’s a simple practice to try this week:
The First Five Framework:
- Pause — Before your feet touch the floor, take three slow, deep breaths.
- Pray — Offer a simple prayer of surrender: “Lord, I give this day to You. Order my steps and guard my peace.”
- Proclaim — Speak Scripture over yourself: “You will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on You.”
- Prioritize — Ask God to show you what truly matters today, not everything that demands your attention, but what deserves it.
- Proceed — Now you’re ready. Move into your day from a place of grounding, not grasping.
Why Intention Changes Everything
Here’s what happens when you choose peace first:
Your spirit finds its anchor. Instead of being tossed by every wave of worry, you’re grounded in God’s unchanging presence.
Your body responds. Starting calm reduces cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and prepares your nervous system to handle stress with resilience rather than reactivity.
Your mind gains clarity. When you’re not scrambling for peace, you can think clearly, make better decisions, and respond rather than react.
This is holistic wellness, spirit, body, and mind working together, beginning with one intentional moment.
The Enemy’s Strategy (And How to Counter It)
Can I share something with you? The enemy knows exactly what he’s doing when he convinces you to reach for your phone before you reach for God.
He knows that whoever sets the tone for your morning often sets the tone for your day. He knows that anxiety is contagious and that fear spreads faster than faith when we’re not anchored.
But here’s the beautiful truth: He cannot steal what you’ve already surrendered to God.
When you begin your day in prayer, when you intentionally choose peace before the demands begin, you’re building a fortress around your heart and mind. You’re declaring that the Prince of Peace has already won this day.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)
Guard. That’s a military word. It means protection. Defense. Security. When you invite God’s peace into your morning, you’re stationing divine guards at the gates of your heart and mind.
Your Invitation
I want you to know something: This path is open to you.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to have been doing this for years. You just have to be willing to start, one morning, one intention, one choice at a time.
The P.E.A.C.E. Path exists to guide people like you, people who are tired of chasing peace and ready to walk in it. People who love God but have felt distant from His peace. People who are ready for transformation, not just motivation.
Peace isn’t something you chase. It is a path you can walk.
So tomorrow morning, before your feet hit the floor, before you reach for your phone, before you let the world set your agenda, choose peace.
Take a breath. Say a prayer. Set your intention.
And then watch what God does when you give Him the first moments of your day.
Pause & Ponder
Take a moment to reflect:
- What is the first thing you reach for each morning? How does it affect your peace?
- What would it look like for you to give God the first five minutes of your day this week?
- What Scripture could you speak over yourself each morning to anchor your peace?
A Prayer for Your Journey
Heavenly Father, I come to You with a heart that longs for peace. I confess that I’ve been chasing peace in all the wrong places, in productivity, in approval, in circumstances I cannot control. Today, I choose differently. I choose to seek Your peace before I seek anything else. Order my mornings. Guard my mind. Fill me with Your presence before I meet the demands of the day. I trust that You will keep me in perfect peace as I keep my mind stayed on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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