Fruitful Living
The fruit of peace
“But the fruit of the Spirit is peace” – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
“Peace” is defined as undisturbed state of mind, the absence of mental conflict, the acceptance of one’s state, or the absence of anxiety. Synonyms of peace include such words as harmony, concord, contentment, agreement, calm, tranquility, serenity and quiet.
To be at peace with someone – whether a neighbour, a family member or God is to be in a harmonious relationship with them. At the heart of peace is harmony. When we ask Christ to cleanse us of our sins and make us new creations, we are asking for peace, a harmonious relationship with our Creator. In Matthew 5:9Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. This is a great promise, and it raises the question of what Jesus means about working to bring peace. Jesus calls us to bear the Fruit of the Spirit, and one of its essential components is PEACE, without which we cannot enjoy anything at all.
1. PEACE A TRUCE WITH GOD TO END MY ALIENATION FROM HIM
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you – Romans 16:20.
God’s grace affords those who long to serve Him the power to triumph in the realm of spiritual struggle. Once Satan is defeated, our turmoil is gone, and we can fulfil God’s plans for our lives. Nothing is more beautiful than to exalt God and achieve in Christ an inner serenity free of all turbulence. The God of peace will crush Satan under His feet. Our old enemy is crushed and we are free to live and serve God in peace. What a great promise this!
When God acts to save us, His peace seeks us out in our world of stress and confusion. We realise that there is a better way to live, a way of life that spreads peace and resolves contentions. Our conversion brings us to a new level of peace, and we then share God’s peace with others through our changed lives.
2. PEACE AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” – Colossians 3:15
The glorious thing about peace is that it constitutes the soul of our relationship with Christ. We relate to Christ, we converse with Christ, we experience and grow in Christ only when His peace is the very atmosphere that shelters our ongoing relationship with Him. The word rule in Colossians 3:15 means to “umpire” or “arbitrate” the struggles and disquietudes of our lives.
3. PEACE, ACCEPTING A HIGHER WILL
No believer can ever find peace by posing as a follower of God while remaining dedicated to his or her own will. When the will of God is accepted, real peace becomes possible. Until then our attempts to serve God while having our own way result only in inner turmoil and peacelessness.
Desiring to do the will of God is the way to peace. We can recognise peace when we see it, but our real problem is that we don’t want to do God’s will. We are possessed of an odd notion that God’s will is no fun and that, if we are forced to do it, we shall be utterly miserable. But peace is not to be spoon-fed into our lives like cereal, nor is it instantly derived from our discipline. Peace is revealed. Peace is ours when we have accepted a higher will. When Paul accepted the call of God, he began to minister in ways he might never have imagined. He was freed to bring peace to others out of his own peace. When we focus on the will of God in our lives, we find peace, and we find that we can spread that peace to others.
4. PEACE AND THE PRINCE OF PEACE
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him” – 2 Peter 3:14
Peter encourages us to make every effort to be blameless and to live at peace with Christ. We are to live so much in the centre of Christ’s peace that we exude that same peace, and it becomes for those around us a haven from their own turbulence. We are to create peace for others by living in it ourselves. Those who try to preach peace while embroiled in their unresolved anxieties cannot make Christ appear much of a solution in a jittery world.
There is joy in the hearts of those who promote peace. Our personal quiet time in the presence of the Saviour ought to be approached, enjoyed and concluded on a note of quiet and untroubled love. Yet sometimes we hurry into His presence terribly troubled, spout off our intercessory lists and then hurry off still troubled. Worrying in the presence of God is not prayer. Certainly worrying in His presence cannot promote real peace in the Christian’s life.
Christians who live in inner conflict do not attract converts. Our own private battles often keep us from even seeing those around us who are in need. Indeed, we must call these inner wars to peace before we can see either Christ or our world.
5. PEACE AND MY SERVICE TO OTHERS
The truth is that people who are at peace make excellent ministers. Peacemakers have no personal agenda. They have no desire to use other people to further their own goals. Peacemakers create an attitude, a mood, an atmosphere that makes other people unafraid. If there is any ministry that must bring joy to God, it has to be that of giving the terrified a little security. We who love Christ are to reveal the peace He offers to a world of frightened children.
6. PEACE AND THE COMPANIONSHIP OF CHRIST
We are to walk with Christ just as we received Him: “in the faith”. We cannot be saved without exercising faith. But faith not only begins our walk with Him; it is also the purpose of God for all our lives. Peace is derived from our faith by continual companionship with Christ.
7. PEACE, THE REIGN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Power is on the way,” Jesus said. “This power will enable us to change the world. Get ready for the power. The Holy Spirit will settle on us like a sweet, warm rain, and our arid lives will be productive once again.”
Whenever we hear God glorified, Christ exalted the kingdom of God proclaimed, we may be sure that the Holy Spirit is at work. The Spirit is the seeker of unity. The only member of the Trinity to wear an adjective is the Spirit. The Spirit is interested in integrity truth and right doctrine. There is no point in trying to harmonise truth and error.
It is a good thing to desire to live up to the expectations of other believers. Others count on us. They believe in us. We see God’s expectations a little at a time, but we do not know what others expect of us. And in our good example to them, we will have gone a long way toward pleasing God. Place this longing to fulfill the positive expectations of others in the centre of our own life. The good things they expect of us can be accomplished. When we are living peacefully and as a good example before others, then we will find it easier to minister to others, for it is hard to serve when our own life is in turmoil. The way to a life of joyous service is to surrender the turmoil, embrace the peace of Christ and move confidently into the ministry to which God has called us.
Edward H. Bickersteth in his beautiful hymn, Peace, Perfect Peace, raises many of the perplexing questions that we grapple with in our troublesome world, and provides answers to them. They are worth thinking about.
- Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
- Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
- Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
- Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.
- Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
- Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
Culled from: Fruit of the Spirit Bible.
Stay blessed!
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Though debated, women’s leadership is not prohibited in Islam if practiced within Islamic ethics. Muslim women historically influenced governance through education, economic power, and advisory roles (Ahmed, 2021). Contemporary Muslim women in public office embody the Qur’anic principle of justice (Qur’an 4:135).
Islam encourages professions that benefit society. Female physicians, gynecologists, and nurses are essential in Muslim societies, ensuring culturally sensitive healthcare (Shaikh, 2015). Similarly, Muslim women in education, media, and business embody the Prophetic principle of service to humanity.
The Ghanaian context
In Ghana, Muslim women play a pivotal role in sustaining both families and communities. Beyond managing households, many women assume the role of primary breadwinners, paying school fees, supporting relatives, and financing community projects. Their contributions extend into professional and public life. In academia, Dr Rabiyatu Armah, an Islamic educationist and lecturer at University of Ghana, has championed girls’ schooling and equal opportunities in religious studies. In politics and governance, Hajia Samira Bawumia, Ghana’s former Second Lady, has promoted literacy, health, and women’s empowerment through nationwide initiatives. In the media, Madam Shamima Muslim, who serves as Deputy Presidential Spokesperson under President John Dramani Mahama, stands as a role model for young Muslim journalists. Her career reflects how Muslim women can excel in public communication while upholding modesty and Islamic values. These examples affirm that empowering Muslim women in education, media, and governance strengthens both families and national development.
Education and economic empowerment
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The best of you are those who are best to their women.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 1162). Honouring women means enabling them to access education and livelihood. Denying women education contradicts both the Qur’an and Sunnah and weakens the Muslim ummah (Barazangi, 2008).
A call to rethink our attitudes
Muslim societies today must critically re-examine cultural practices that continue to restrict women’s potential and return to Islam’s authentic message. The Qur’an and Sunnah affirm women as not only homemakers but also scholars, professionals, and leaders in society. True empowerment lies in realising the framework Islam already provides.
The role of Muslim scholars (‘ulama) is crucial. Those trained in Sharia and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) must guide women in balancing modesty with participation in business, education, and public service. History offers powerful precedents: Aisha bint Abu Bakr (RA), one of the Prophet’s wives, transmitted over 2,000 hadiths and was a leading authority in law; and Fatima al-Fihri founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, the world’s oldest existing university. Their legacy demonstrates how knowledge and faith combined to shape civilisations. Equipping today’s Muslim women with similar guidance will strengthen families, uplift communities, and ensure a prosperous ummah.
Conclusion
Islam dignified women at a time when they were devalued, transforming them from marginalised figures to partners in faith, family, and society. From Khadijah (RA), who invested her wealth in the Prophet’s mission, to Aisha (RA), who transmitted knowledge and shaped Islamic scholarship, women have always stood at the heart of the ummah. The Qur’an enshrined their rights to inheritance, education, economic participation, and spiritual equality (Qur’an 4:7; 33:35).
Equally significant is the role of Muslim women in marriage and family life. The Qur’an describes spouses as “garments for one another” (Qur’an 2:187), highlighting marriage as a bond of comfort and protection. As wives and mothers, Muslim women nurture faith, instill moral discipline in children, and create homes rooted in mercy, patience, and cooperation. This domestic leadership complements their contributions in business, education, health, and governance, ensuring balance in both private and public life.
Allah reminds us: “For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn.” (Qur’an 4:32). Empowering women in marriage, education, and work is therefore central to building thriving families, resilient communities, and a strong ummah.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
“Again Jesus call the crowd to Him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.” – Mark 7:14-16 (NIV)
Introduction
The Lord is really awesome in His wisdom and as Moses said when they were led to cross the Red Sea – “Who is like unto you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:11 (KJV)
CHANNEL
The word channel connotes action – real action because as a verb, it means:
- to direct
- to show the way
- shepherd
- lead
- train; among others.
And as a noun it can mean:
- a conduit
- an access
- an artery
- a pipeline
- a means of.
But the other words I found in the Thesaurus which really thrilled me and gave me a greater understanding of who we are called to be as Christians are meaning of channel as
- Advertiser;
- Delegate;
- Witness;
- Narrator;
- Go between;
- Spokesman,
- Communicator;
- Publiciser;
- Speaker.
Fascinating isn’t it. This reminds us of our calling as stated in Acts 1:8 that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes and we will be His witness here on earth – we are to be those through whom others come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. So as I found in the Thesaurus, we are Jesus’ delegates here on earth – we represent Him. We are His spokespersons. His go between when He wants to reach out to people. We are His communicators – we are really the ones who should be on radio each day telling people about the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation and redemption from sin. Alas, political party communicators seem to have the upper hand because media houses prefer their cacophony and not our soothing but very powerful words that ONLY Jesus saves.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
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