Scripture:
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:6-9 (MSG)
Perspective:
Paul challenged the church at Philippi in the conclusion of his letter to not worry about things they could not control. It sounds like Paul was speaking from experience. His travels, experiences, floggings, and shipwrecks at sea would have given him license to be a worrier. However, he knew that worrying wouldn’t change anything about his circumstances. Only God could bring about the change that he needed. Therefore, he learned the practice of prayer and passed this wisdom on to the people in Philippi. He knew that peace didn’t come from worrying or thinking about the worst.
Worry is directly correlated to what we entertain in our minds. If we continually have a mindset that focuses on the worst case scenario, its going to translate into our attitude and actions. We have a responsibility for choosing the substance of what we fill our minds. If you are lacking peace today, retrace your mindset. What have you been dwelling on? If it is not things that are beautiful, compelling, and true, don’t be surprised that you feel jittery inside. As we fixate our thoughts on new patterns of thinking, we are able to transform our internal being. These patterns include prayer, praise, and gratitude. So, today start walking in God’s peace by focusing on thoughts that bring about His peace, and you will be delighted to find the peace that you need.
Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
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About Hona Amer
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