Peace-full

Renee Swope <http://www.crosswalkmail.com/dbyyhgzgw_czbtnbfbbln.html>

"You will keep in perfect peace, [her] whose mind is steadfast, because [her] trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Devotion:

One of my favorite things to see is a rocking chair on a front porch.Looking at it makes me feel peace-full. I don't have a rocking chair, ora front porch, but I sure would like to!

Worry is the opposite of peace-full. It leaves me peace-less!

There are times when I don't even realize I'm worried. My mind is wiredto think a lot so I get used to the constant flurry of motion in mybrain. Worry will start to slowly creep in, and then before I know it,there's a stirring in my heart, my neck is tense, my mind won't shiftgears and little concerns have kicked into full-blown worry.

Author Linda Dillow says, "Worry is like a rocking chair, it will giveyou something to do but it won't get you anywhere!" So much for my imageof peace-full! Oh, but she is right. Worry, like a rocking chair, getsme nowhere! And when I stop worrying, I realize I've wasted valuabletime and mental energy thinking about something I can't change when Ishould've been talking to God - since He's the only one who can changethings.

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul tells us how we can find peace to replace ourworries. He reminds us the Lord is near and tells us, "Don't worry aboutanything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need andthank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace,which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard yourhearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)

In the NIV translation, verse 7 reads, "...the peace of God, whichtranscends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds inChrist Jesus." I love the promise that God's peace could transcend myneed to understand! Sometimes that's my biggest problem; I wouldn't beso worried about what God is doing if He'd just explain why so I couldunderstand better.

But God doesn't say He'll give us understanding in this verse, He saysHe'll give us peace in the midst of not understanding. And that's what Iwant. I want God's nearness to be my good and trusting His sovereigntyto be my goal. According to the Word, all I have to do is:

1. Stop worrying -- press the pause button on my consumingconcerns.

2. Start praying -- open my mouth and tell God what I need.

3. Start thanking God -- remind my heart of God's faithfulness by thanking Him for what He's done.

Now that is doable! So why is it so hard to do? Why do we naturally dothe opposite? I think it's because we listen to the enemy's whispers: Donot be calm about anything; instead worry about everything. Tell Godwhat He should do and take control if He doesn't listen. Before we knowit, our concerns are consuming us and our worries are robbing us of God's promised peace.

But we don't have to live that way. God promises to provide just what weneed -- to keep us in perfect peace, as we put our trust in Him and notin our worries. So, today when our concerns consume us, let's choose tostop and empty our hearts of our worries, talk to God about what we needand thank Him for His faithfulness and provision. It's amazing how"peace-full" comes when we stop worrying, start praying and begin thanking God for what He has done and will do.

Lord, thank You for the promise of Your peace that comes when I put mytrust in You! When worry or concern threaten to consume my thoughts,help me remember to stop, pray and thank You so that my heart willremember how faithful and capable You are of taking care of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.