Peace Beyond Understanding

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
Peace Beyond Understanding

As we approach the end of another turbulent year, we can see a lot in this world to distress us. The world offers us plenty to complain about, worry about, distrust, and agonize over. Weather conditions destroy. Disease harms. Accidents happen. People disappoint us, hurt us, or intentionally damage us. If we aren’t careful about our thought processes, we can easily fall into a tailspin of crippling thinking patterns which destroy our peace and wear us out emotionally and physically. Much television and radio, many magazines and books, unguarded conversations and debates have the power to leave us frazzled and distressed physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Philippians 4:8 gives us a remedy to combat these hazards to our well-being. “Think on these things: whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Our thinking carries a crucial antidote to distress. We can choose our thoughts. If we ask, God will help us focus on those thoughts that bring peace and help us refuse to dwell on those thoughts that distress us. This is not to say we are unrealistic about the distresses of this world, but we can substitute thinking that brings us peace instead. What do we allow to dominate our thinking? What thoughts do we mull over and over? Whenever we can retreat to ponder that which is good, we will find a secret to peace of mind. As we approach this New Year, we can begin a refreshing habit by starting a notebook or a computer file to record lists of all those ‘whatsoevers’ in our lives which are described in the Bible verse above. Purpose to think on what is good. God, help us discern You at work in our world.