Do you find yourself wondering how to have peace of mind in the midst of worries and anxieties that weigh you down? The truth is, your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts. In fact, you can’t have a positive life when you have a negative mind. However, the Apostle Paul knows well that, by God's grace, you can become a master of your own mind. Paul knows it is possible to have peace of mind even in the most difficult or uncertain of circumstances. That's why he wrote the encouraging words of wisdom in Philippians 4:7 from inside the walls of a Roman prison.
PEACE THAT TRANSCENDS UNDERSTANDING
If you find yourself seemingly in chains to worry, fear, and anxiety, Paul says in Philippians 4 that the antidote to this is prayer with thanksgiving. We can bring our requests to God and this allows Him to fill us with His peace. Unfortunately, many Christians often turn to prayer as a last resort in times of desperation. Instead, prayer should be our first defense in the war for our minds. What's amazing is that neuroscience now confirms what God has spoken all along. Dr. Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist and the author of the book Switch On Your Brain, writes that 12 minutes of daily prayer over an eight week period can actually change the brain, showing activity in areas of the brain associated with social interaction, compassion and sensitivity to others. This means that when you come to God in prayer, you create new thought patterns that can change your life and help you experience God's peace.
THE COMFORTING SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
In addition to all this, the Apostle Paul was able to find peace in a place of suffering because he had a bedrock belief in the sovereignty of God. You see, sovereignty is the biblical term used to describe how God is in complete control of the universe - including your life. God reigns over everything. If God is in complete control, then you can experience His peace even when your life feels out of control. Philippians 1:6 tells us that "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This means that we are not victims of chance or random circumstances. Instead, we are beneficiaries of a perfect plan put together by a loving Heavenly Father!
IF IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT, THEN PRAY ABOUT IT
Whatever is keeping you from having peace of mind today, remember this: If it’s big enough to worry about, it’s big enough to pray about. So, instead of staying up late worrying unceasingly, do what only you can do. When you pray, you'll have peace of mind because you're giving control to God so he can do what only He can do. And in everything, trust God no matter what. While anxiety may come from a perceived loss of control, you can surrender your control to God and have peace knowing your Savior is trustworthy and faithful.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
To continue learning how to have peace of mind and eliminate worry in your life, check out the additional content and resources below:
- BOOK: Winning The War In Your Mind by Craig Groeschel. Are your thoughts out of control? This amazing book was the inspiration for Liquid Church's Mastermind series. To keep learning, click here.
- MESSAGE: How to Renew Your Mind. Your mind is a battlefield. Learn how you can demolish strongholds and take every thought captive to Christ! To watch the message, click here.
- ARTICLE: How To Change Your Frame Of Mind. The truth is, the lens through which you look at life changes the way you see the world. It is possible to reframe the way you look at your relationships and circumstances. To read the article, click here.