Practice Peace
The other day on Facebook and Instagram, I talked about how in order to change and grow spiritually, we can’t just try harder. Any more than I can curl 50 pounds by just trying harder. I need to practice. Work out. Lift smaller weights until I build up muscle enough to lift more.
Growing spiritually is the same way. We can’t expect to try harder and suddenly be more patient, more kind, more loving or more peaceful. We have to practice. Work out the patience muscle and the love muscle. Practice patience in the grocery store line and while on hold with the insurance company. Practice loving your spouse and your kids.
You’ve got to love it when you teach or write about something and then right away God gives you an opportunity to make sure you’re practicing what you preach!
Anxiety is something that surfaces in my life and peace can be hard to come by sometimes. And yet Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I’ve also been looking at the importance of what we think about. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” There’s that connection to what we think about. God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are steadfast. What we think about matters!
How can I practice peace? In my own life, a situation arose recently that wasn’t a huge deal in itself, but it had possible negative ramifications down the road. I found myself thinking about all the “what ifs” and my anxiety grew fairly quickly.
There are some “what ifs” that need to be addressed. It’s wise to plan for different contingencies so that we’re prepared with a solution if they arise. But I know for me, I go beyond reasonable contingency planning. I take “what ifs” way down the road to things that may never happen. I’m no longer trying to plan for a solution, but I’m doing the thought life version of “doom scrolling”. That certainly does not lead to peace.
In order to practice peace and practice being anxious for nothing, we have to keep a rein on our thoughts. Don’t allow the “what ifs” to go beyond reasonable planning for contingencies. When I found my mind spiraling down that path recently, I got alone with God and laid the whole situation at His feet. I surrendered it to Him and reaffirmed that He is Lord over my schedule and my plans and all that happens. I would trust the future to Him.
Memorizing Scripture can be a good way to put a halt to the mental doom scrolling and focus on something more positive. I sometimes stop and recite Psalm 23 in my mind as a counter to all the “what ifs”. That gives my mind something much better to think on.
What do you do to practice peace? How do you prevent yourself from “mental doom scrolling”?