The Peace of God
Posted by TulipGirl | Under Theology for Girls Thursday Nov 27, 2008A friend from church called up the other day, and in the conversation mentioned that she’d been reading my daily “giving thanks” posts. I shared with her that I chose to post the short lists of things for which I’m thankful each day, in part because I’ve been very anxious recently. It’s not situational, it’s not unusual environmental stress. Instead, it’s just been extra tension, extra anxiety.
And for me, I knew that refocusing on God and His gracious gifts would calm my anxious heart.
“. . .do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Phil 4:6-7
Not that I think this is a magic bullet, a formula to follow, a substitute for medical aid. . . But for me, I know that I needed to spend time meditating on how good the Lord has been to me, being thankful for all His kindnesses, for the amazing generosities and small details of goodness that have come from God. And I am thankful that He has calmed my anxious heart.
I just did a post on meditation recently. It really does do wonders for a sad or anxious heart. It’s powerful.
Amen.
I have spent the last year of my life on antidepressiants. I have had anxious and racing thoughts keep me from sleeping soundly throught the nights. And would wake in the morning not ready to face the day and feeling compleatly exausted before I even got out of bed! Then the thought was given to me, “Peace from God is Peace with God.”
I am amazed how many time that thought enters my mind, and when it does I say it out loud. I then ask for that Peace from God, as I make peace with God, by asking Him to forgive my sins and continue to write my name in the book of Life. And just like the thief on the cross, I ask God to save me in His kingdom! And then my anxious thoughts melt away! Untill the enemy tries to re-intoduce them into my mind. And then the thought comes back…Peace from God comes from Peace with God….and I begin to make peace with Him again and my anxious thoughts disapear! I praise God for the peace He and Only HE can give!