Philippians 4:6-7
Written as a letter to me from God, it might go something like this,
Do not be anxious about anything, Cherri, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me. And My peace which
transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Peace. One thing lacking in many areas of this world is peace, yet I can experience a peace beyond human understanding. How? I need to take my worries and anxieties to God instead of holding on to them. Worrying about something isn't going to solve the problem, and it will only make things worse as my mind begins to blow the problem out of proportion. Paul tells me I am to present all my requests to God with a thankful heart. Thankfulness comes out of a heart of gratitude for what God's done and what He's going to do. Even though His answers may not always be the answers I'm looking for, He knows what's best for me. I may not always understand His reasoning, but I know I can trust His heart. He knows the direction I need to go.
I don't need to be bogged down with worries. That is one of Satan's ways of getting my mind off of where it needs to be. When I begin to worry about something, I need to stop and take it to God and LEAVE IT with Him. I'm not always good at leaving my worries with God. I may take them to Him, but then I want them back to deal with myself instead of waiting on His timing. When I actually leave my worries and anxieties with Him, His incomprehensible peace fills me and guards my heart and mind, like a military sentry guarding something of importance. His peace will protect my heart and mind. I can experience freedom from those worries, knowing God is in control.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Father, help me to remember to bring my worries and cares to you and not hold on to them, trying to figure them out for myself. I want to experience Your incomprehensible peace. Thank you for the peace you have to offer that guards my heart and mind in Your Son, Christ.
Written as a letter to me from God, it might go something like this,
Do not be anxious about anything, Cherri, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me. And My peace which
transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Peace. One thing lacking in many areas of this world is peace, yet I can experience a peace beyond human understanding. How? I need to take my worries and anxieties to God instead of holding on to them. Worrying about something isn't going to solve the problem, and it will only make things worse as my mind begins to blow the problem out of proportion. Paul tells me I am to present all my requests to God with a thankful heart. Thankfulness comes out of a heart of gratitude for what God's done and what He's going to do. Even though His answers may not always be the answers I'm looking for, He knows what's best for me. I may not always understand His reasoning, but I know I can trust His heart. He knows the direction I need to go.
I don't need to be bogged down with worries. That is one of Satan's ways of getting my mind off of where it needs to be. When I begin to worry about something, I need to stop and take it to God and LEAVE IT with Him. I'm not always good at leaving my worries with God. I may take them to Him, but then I want them back to deal with myself instead of waiting on His timing. When I actually leave my worries and anxieties with Him, His incomprehensible peace fills me and guards my heart and mind, like a military sentry guarding something of importance. His peace will protect my heart and mind. I can experience freedom from those worries, knowing God is in control.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
You [God] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you.
One of my favorite hymns is It Is Well With My Soul. (If you click on the link, you can hear the song as well as read about the trials the author faced.) This song doesn't necessarily address peace from worries, but it does address peace that comes from God alone in the midst of trials. The author of this song, Horatio G. Spafford, experienced some very difficult trials, two of which included the loss of his son later his four daughters. Yet, in the midst of these trials he suffered, he experienced a peace that only God can give. This beautiful hymn came out of deep suffering. No matter what struggles and worries I experience, financial, health, relationships, etc, I can experience God's incomprehensible peace, if I keep my focus on Him and give Him my troubles.
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