Recent studies indicate that people are more anxious and stressed out today than in the recent past. Many potential causes are cited, but nothing has specifically been indicated to be the primary cause. Some people’s anxiety gets so bad, that it becomes what is referred to as anxiety disorder. Approximately 19% of the US population is reported to have been diagnosed with this condition. Psychologists do not have a remedy for this, but God’s word does. He tells us that His peace will guard our hearts and our minds from things like anxiety, if we will come to Him in faith and belief.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
The bible teaches us that when we are anxious, when we are stressed out, worried, or we find ourselves feeling any of the other similar emotions of anxiety, that we are to come to Him. We are to “make our requests known to Him”. We are to tell God what is on our mind, and ask Him for His help. And that if we will do this simple thing, He will give us His peace, which is beyond comprehension, and it will guard our heart and mind in Christ Jesus. This is a very profound statement. It has the power to change our lives for the better, permanently. God’s peace guards our heart and our mind. It is like an invisible shield in a sci-fi movie, guarding us once it is in place.
I remember when the Arkansas river flooded our property in 2019. There was 8-20 feet of water on our property, depending on where you stood, and it was moving – there was current, because we are in a floodway (not a floodplain, big difference). Our house is not built that well, and it was possible that our entire house could be washed away. While the entire area under our house and in our garage was underwater, by God’s grace the water stopped rising just inches from reaching the main floor of the house. The flood recovery main effort took a few months, and total recovery took a couple of years, but there was no anxiety. It was one of the high points of my life because God was there and His peace was there, guarding my heart in Christ Jesus. It actually works. It truly is beyond comprehension. I can personally attest to this. I should have been one of the most stressed out people in my city, but instead I was filled with peace and joy, in spite of the fact that my property was filled with mud.
Are you stressed out these days about anything? Are you worried about something or someone? Do you have anxiety at home or about work? Is there a “flood” in your life right now that you are having to deal with? If so, I encourage you to go to God in prayer, and let your requests be made known to Him. Turn to God in faith, and ask Him to guard your heart and your mind with the peace of Jesus Christ, and He will.
Lord Jesus, we come before you today and ask that You would guard our heart and our mind with Your peace, the peace of Jesus Christ, which surpasses all comprehension. We bring our anxious thoughts to You today and make them known to You. Fill us with Your peace. We pray these things in Jesus name, amen.
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