But, I wanted to share these thoughts with you today, because many close to me, including myself, are wrestling with anxiety and fears of all kinds, so I think it’s safe to assume many of you are with us in these struggles. But what if I take it a step further and make prayer and meditation my first response? And even when the fears and anxiousness subside, what if I continued meditating on the truth that we do not need to fear because God is with us and promises to strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10)? What if I incorporated that into more of my praise and worship and regularly confessed where my trust is weak? Wouldn’t that be a better, wiser approach? Coping with fear and anxietyĪgain, easier said than done. I remember helpful verses in the moment and it provides temporary relief. I’ve been treating this truth like Tylenol. Does that sound like perfect peace? God’s Word is not meant to be used like Tylenol I’ll find some peace in the moment, but when anxiety hits again, I fumble through this same process. When I’m fearful and anxious, I focus on my breathing, I lie down, I vent (complain), I’ll even say a quick prayer or remember scripture passages like Philippians 4:6 (sadly, oftentimes an afterthought). It’s the same with this scripture passage. Why do my shoulders hurt? What could I be doing to adjust my posture or strengthen and loosen my muscles? A lot!
When they hurt, I take a Tylenol or rest on the couch, which provides relief, but I’m not getting to the root of the issue.
The best way I can describe it is like how I have been treating some shoulder pain I’ve been having recently. It’s a constant decision and I’ve been getting that wrong in this area of my walk with the Lord. Living in perfect peaceĮasier said than done! The Lord has been convicting me through recent experiences and a message at church that I have been applying this truth circumstantially (and not very well, I might add) and forgetting that when our eyes are fixed on Jesus, when all of our trust is truly in Him, we experience this perfect peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). When we put all our trust in Jesus, He will keep us in perfect peace. Knowing what the Bible says is one thing, but applying the teachings is where transformation happens.Īs I meditate on this verse in that way, the truth that comes to mind is this:
#He will keep in perfect peace how to
It involves deep reflection on the Word and ways of God and how to apply the truth to our lives. What God does say about meditation is found in Psalm 1:2 ESV which says, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” In other words, proper, biblical meditation is actively thoughtful. No where in the Bible does God command us to empty our minds or repeat mantras in a way that many understand meditation today. Meditation is biblical, but there is a way to meditate that’s in line with God’s Word and a way that’s not. My husband encouraged me to meditate on this verse, because lately, I’ve been feeling pretty anxious and fearful about the future.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” -Isaiah 26:3 ESV
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