Strategies For Peace: 3 Ways to Adjust Our Anxious Thoughts
We all struggle with things that threaten to rob us of our peace.
Maybe it is a relationship that has hit a wall. It may be a job situation where there is no room for growth. Or, you could very well just be a valley season filled with discouragement and doubt.
But did you know we can encounter the peace of God in these times? In fact, we can embrace peace through our prayer times with the Father.
“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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV
Scripture is filled with the promises of God, and this passage is no different. God declares that as we bring our trials to Him, He will give us His peace.
What Does Peace Feel Like?
Did you know that you can be in the rubble of the chaos around you and still experience the peace of God?
Cambridge Dictionary defines peace as freedom from war and violence, especially when people live and work together happily without disagreements. However, God’s definition of peace is much different.
Shalom, a Hebrew word for peace, encompasses the meaning of wholeness or completeness. Because wholeness is a process, we know that whatever we walk through will be used for God’s glory as He restores our hearts, minds, and spirits.
In Philippians, Paul encourages us not to worry. And while he isn’t necessarily minimizing the anxiety we feel, He knows the power and sovereignty of God over all things.
When God brings His peace, He stops the waring of the mind. As God ushers in His shalom through our surrender, He slows our minds from focusing on the giant before us and encourages us to lift our eyes to Him.
Changing Our Mindset
We live in a time where mental health is widely recognized around the world. But this is not a new concept for God. God created us and called us good, and yes, that includes our minds.
Because the brain is the epicenter of everything we experience, God provides a means to promote well-being mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and He does so through His word.
Just as we are commanded not to be anxious about anything, God also tells us what we should put our thoughts on.
“Finally Brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:8-9, NKJV
When things feel discouraging, we must change our thinking. What if, instead of worrying, we thought about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good?
As we put our thoughts on God first, we leave no room for anxious thinking, allowing God’s power to move through our lives. And when you focus on the goodness of God instead of your lack, His peace is promised to come.
Peace in Our Emotions
God created emotions, and emotions are good.
In fact, Jesus, God in the flesh, walked this earth, experiencing every trial and emotion we have. Jesus knew the weight of emotions not processed with the Father so intimately that right before He was crucified, He told his disciples, “My peace I leave with you.”
Why was this so important? He knew their minds were in for a ride. They were about to embark on a journey where they would watch their Messiah be tortured and murdered. He knew this would bring them great anxiety.
God knows each and every circumstance that would bring us anxious thoughts as well. So how can we make room in our lives that promotes the shalom of the Father? Let’s look at three ways we can intentionally partner with peace.
3 Practical Ways to Partner With Peace
Find God in The Ordinary
When I mentor women on how to pray, one necessary habit I teach them is how to see God in the ordinary.
We are always looking for and taking note of all the spectacular and miraculous works of God, but what if we took time to seek Him in the mundane as well?
Go for a walk and thank God for the birds of the trees and the grass on the ground. As you take your first sip of coffee, remind yourself of all the ways God has provided for you that morning. And when you meet your best friend for lunch, take time to thank Him for time in your day for reconnection and joy.
When you can see Him in the ordinary, you will learn to find His peace in every minute of every day.
Schedule Your Pull-Away Time
Pete Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, encourages his readers to pause throughout the day so that they can realign with God and His goodness.
The truth is, we often get so caught up in the busyness of life – our careers, family life, and ministries, that our minds become too full to recognize anything other than our to-dos. When we intentionally schedule chunks of pull-away time with God, we are choosing to reset and train our minds, will, and emotions to submit to the spirit of God.
One helpful way to do this is to set multiple daily alarms (mid-morning, noon and early afternoon are great starts) so that you can stop and talk to God. The more you do this, the easier it will become to invite His peace throughout your day.
Know and Pray The Names of God
I once heard it said, “Where there is a need, there is a name.” This has been helpful, especially in difficult seasons. Knowing the many names of God as I pray reminds me that God is so much bigger than anything I will ever stand against.
If I need God to provide something specific, I call out to Jehovah Jireh.
If I am praying for healing in a loved one's body, I pray to Jehovah Rapha.
If I feel lonely, I remember He is Immanuel, God with us.
When I find that I am stressed, I try to discover a name of God that combats the anxious thoughts I am experiencing.
As we draw nearer to God, we will begin to learn much more about His character and what He means to us. And when you know His character, you can begin to decipher what is and isn’t from God.
To embrace peace doesn’t mean you won't go through things that hurt; it means you will have confidence that God is working for your good. And when you remember who God is, His perfect peace will sustain you, and you will encounter the promises of God.