CELEBRATE HIS PEACE
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT)
We live in tumultuous times. Everyone would likely agree with that statement. It seems there’s unrest everywhere. Violence fills our schools and streets. Truthfully, the economy is a rollercoaster ride that none of us want to ride. The rise of social media shines a brilliant spotlight on all these things and more. No wonder depression and anxiety are at all-time highs.
And yet!
God the Father is still sovereign. Jesus is alive and will return to establish His eternal Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is among us. We may agree with these statements, but do they bring us joy and peace? Do we trust God? Celebrate Him? Does our thought life reflect that we’ve placed our trust in Him in every circumstance?
Hear the words of Jesus to His closest friends on the eve of His crucifixion:
"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."
John 14:27 (NLT)
APPLICATION:
Write out a list of various things that concern you—your stressors and anxiety inducers. Pray over this list. Ask God to help you live more fully in His peace. Then tear up the list and throw it away. You might also listen to the Mosaic MSC worship song Tremble.
PRAYER:
God,
Help me trust You even during tumultuous times. Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. May Your peace rule and reign in my heart and mind. Your joy is my strength.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.