week 2: Joy/Peace
Friday
Peace is Present
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:25
When we think about our health we are prone to worry. We worry that our health could fail - that someone we love could die - that we need to look amazing next week for that reunion with our friends. And from that fear we lose our peace. We direct our attention towards a future problem we have and we begin to live our lives according to our fears instead of our faith.
You have probably heard the saying, worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s problems, it only takes away today’s peace. Well, whoever said that was spot on with what the Bible says about worry. David Platt says that “true hope is a Biblically based expectation of God that things are going to be ok.” When we accept that we have a future hope we are opening up space in our mind to be filled with peace in our present day instead of worry. It is when we leave the present and try to fix the future we are stepping out of our bounds and we lose the peace of Christ. God promises to give us peace for the day, but he never intends for us to gather more peace than is necessary for the day. We see an example of this in the Bible when the Israelites are in the wilderness and God provides manna for them each day, but tells them to only take what they will eat for the day. Out of worry some of the Israelites took more and by the next day it was rotten. They gathered in vain because they lacked trust and didn’t think things would be ok without their intervention.
Although we may never see ourselves fully healed from all our problems, because we live in a broken world, we can work on trusting God each day. There are wonderful strategies and practical things we can be doing every day to renew our mind in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. The next time you are in a funk, you start spiraling, or you are desiring to be more hopeful in the midst of your circumstances try checking in with yourself by remembering the acronym PEACE.
-Pause. Eat. Acknowledge. Commune. Equip.-
PAUSE
Before you allow your mind to drift too far into negative thoughts, take control of your reactions. Pause. Take a deep breath and lean away from catastrophizing and lean into truth. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
EAT
This one is self-explanatory yet often overlooked. Many times when our minds begin to spin, it is because we haven’t checked in with our bodies. Have you had water today? When was the last time you ate? What kinds of food have you been eating? Our physical health can wreak havoc on our minds, so before you allow your emotions to take over, be aware of what your body may be telling you. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
ACKNOWLEDGE
After you have regrouped a bit, taken a pause, and nourished your body, then you can regroup and come back to your emotions from a more level place. As you begin acknowledging your feelings, be aware of your tendency to spiral and have your emotions dictate what you believe to be true. Journaling can often be helpful because it causes you to slow down enough to process your thoughts and write down more concretely where you are at. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
COMMUNE
Once you have been able to identify or acknowledge where you are, don’t leave those burdens to your own devices, bring them to God. God is an active God, desiring to commune with us, help us, and guide us through the work of the Holy Spirit. You are not alone in your sufferings. God not only brings you Himself, but His church are His hands and feet and your Christian community is ready to support you. Often times we think placing all of our burdens on God means we can just drop all of our stuff and wait for Him to do something about it all. This is partially true, as God works in our lives and is in control, however we are called to be active participants in bringing Him glory through prayer, petition, repentance, and proclamation. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
EQUIP
There may be many things you do not have any control over in your situation, but there are always things you can be doing that strengthen you and are God glorifying. How can you equip yourself in the midst of your sin and brokenness to still choose peace. What decisions can you make right now to improve your current circumstances? How are you equipping yourself to grow more into Christ’s likeness? “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:12-18
Questions to Ponder:
What percentage of your brain is filled with peace? What part of it is filled with worry?
What scriptures can you find in your Bible that help you trust in God and allow you to grow your peace?
Today’s Reading: