Morning Bible Verse and Reflection: Finding Peace in a Noisy Mind

the average person has over 60,000 thoughts in a single day that's almost one thought for every second you're awake in our last conversation we spoke about god's word being a lamp for our feet a light for the path ahead but when your mind is filled with 60,000 different thoughts it can be hard to even see the path let alone the light there's a passage that speaks directly to this feeling of being overwhelmed it's a promise given to us in the letter to the philippians let's sit with it for a moment do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to god

and the peace of god which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus the opening line can almost sound harsh do not be anxious about anything for most of us that feels like being told not to be hungry or not to be tired anxiety can feel like a fundamental part of being human a part of our wiring but this isn't a command to simply stop feeling something it's an invitation to do something instead it's a pivot notice the word that follows but do not be anxious but in every situation do this instead it offers a new path for that nervous energy a place for the worry to go

and the instruction is beautifully specific it gives us three tools first prayer this is simply turning toward god it's opening the conversation it's acknowledging that you are not alone in this moment with this feeling second petition this is where you get specific it means to name the thing that's causing the anxiety not just a general sense of unease but the actual bill you're worried about the difficult conversation you have to have the health concern that's keeping you up at night you bring the specific request to god and third with thanksgiving this is the part that changes everything it's the ingredient that shifts your heart even in the middle of the worry you

are invited to find something to be grateful for it doesn't mean you're thankful for the problem it means you are thankful for god's presence in the problem thankful that he is listening thankful for the breath in your lungs this act of thanksgiving lifts your eyes from the thing you fear and places them on the one who is with you that is the exchange being offered you bring your prayer your specific petitions and your thanksgiving and what do you receive the peace of god and notice what this peace does it guards your hearts and your minds a guard doesn't eliminate the threat but stands watch protecting what is precious this peace stands guard over your

inner world keeping the anxiety from taking over it's a peace that doesn't always make sense it transcends all understanding it's a quiet calm that can exist right alongside the storm so here's what that means for you today as you look at the hours ahead you don't have to pretend you're not worried you don't have to ignore the things that feel heavy the invitation isn't to become a person who never feels anxiety the invitation is to become a person who knows what to do with it when it arrives think of it like this imagine you are carrying a heavy awkward box you can't see around it your arms are getting tired you're worried you might drop

it prayer is stopping and realizing someone is walking beside you petition is telling them this box is for my sister and i'm afraid i can't get it there thanksgiving is saying thank you for walking with me and peace peace is the moment you allow them to take the box from you your arms are suddenly free you can see the path again the box still needs to get where it's going but you are no longer carrying it alone the weight you feel today does not have to be yours to carry the practice is simple name the worry give it to god and then find one small thing to be thankful for that is the exchange your

anxiety for his peace and it is an exchange he is always ready to make