I served stir-fried rice, Hawaiian style to our friends who came over for dinner the other night. “We’re planning a trip to London,” they said.
“London? How cool. I’ve been there,” I said.
The trip was my parent’s college graduation gift. Lots to see, many places to visit. But my 22-year-old mind was impressed by the guard outside Buckingham Palace. Dressed in this elegant uniform, he stood rigid. He didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. I stared at him. Was he real or a statue?. What if he had an itch behind the ear? What a terrible job.
What in the world could be so valuable behind those gates that warrant such rigid commitment from these guards? Well, we all know the answer.
But what is even more valuable than guarding the royal family, is what we store in our hearts. What we keep in our minds. As you read this, stress is at the door, trying to barge and steal your peace. We face this more often than we check Facebook.
So who guards that gate, making sure anxiety, fear and stress don’t come in?
God does. He promises. He declares and assures in Philippians 4:7: “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That peace is what vanished when I received news my youngest son had not survived the 23 stab wounds. I clung to God’s promises and in my desperation, He spoke to me giving me the steps to bring back peace. Here they are:
- Be anxious for nothing. Nothing—not our heartache, our kids, not our health, not our job, our bank account or our future. Be anxious for nothing.
- Bring our request to the Lord. Not holding back any petition—big, small, dark, light or insignificant. All are placed before His throne.
- With praise. We praise God for who He is—mighty enough to move mountains, to part the Red Sea and to perform miracles. Praise Him for moving our mountain of adversity.
- With thanksgiving. We thank Him ahead of time for hearing our cry, for knowing our pain and for being at work while we still speak our need.
- With supplication. Beg, plead, and repeat our requests. Let Him know with boldness in our conviction, faith in our attitude, and confidence in our words, we let the Lord know.
And only after these steps are taken, He promises His peace—complete, lasting and true will be ours through Christ Jesus.
Father, thank you that you recognize how much our hearts and minds need guarding. We receive your promise of peace. And although it’s the peace that goes beyond human understanding, it washes all anxiety away. In Jesus’ name, amen.
- What has been stealing your peace lately?
- What anxious thoughts will you erase today?
- What steps will you follow to find peace for your heart?
Janet
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