In search of 'something'

I am reading 'Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart' by Father Jacques Phillippe.  It was first recommended by friend via facebook, then a speaker mentioned it at the MN Catholic Homeschool Conference this past June.  While trying to read a chapter whenever I'm able to sit down ...no easy task! ...I am finding much wisdom in the few chapters I've read (only four, so far). 

I've been on a quest, for what seems like years, to recover peace/joy that I used to feel and experience much more readily.  I admit, not very happily and with much humility, that my anger has been much quicker to surface, as has my critical and sarcastic side, in the last couple years.  There are a variety of reasons for this, but as an adult, I do expect better of myself!  I am, afterall, trying to set an example for the children entrusted into my care.

So, the passage I read today that really stuck with me was the author's reaction to this quote, by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, "The Devil does his utmost to banish peace from one's heart, because he knows that God abides in peace and it is in peace that He accomplishes great things." 

The author responds by writing, "It would be well to keep this in mind, because, quite often in the daily unfolding of our Christian life it happens that we fight the wrong battle, if one may put it that way, because we orient our efforts in the wrong direction.  We fight on a terrain where the devil subtly drags us and can vanquish us, instead of fighting on the real battlefield, where, on the contrary, by the grace of God, we are always certain of victory."

Now, isn't that something to think about!  Am I fighting the real battle, or one contrived to drag me away from peace.  How does one determine this unless you've set aside time - daily or weekly - to discern God's will??  I've been trying to just trust, but maybe I'm starting to realize that's not enough...I need to give more of myself, my time, to just listen and respond in silence or prayer.

Later in the chapter the author summarizes that we should not strive always for that victory, but to stay the course in maintaining 'peace of heart' regardless of the outcome.  Just what I needed to read?  Yes, most definitely.