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Walking in peace, with your heart calm even when your life is not, is one of the wonderful benefits of the Christian life. God reminds us to pay attention to what is going on within our hearts and to make some intentional choices.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
GUARD THE WELLSPING OF OUR LIFE
Our heart is the wellspring of all of our life. It is the place that our reactions, attitudes, actions all bubble up from. Some translations say, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” All that we are as we walk through this day, with whatever it holds, will spring from our heart. That’s why God tells us specifically to guard that wellspring. We are wise to check what is residing in that wellspring especially when we find peace has vanished and worry and stress has taken its place.
FAITH OR FEAR?
There will always be one of two very specific things in the lead of all the things in our hearts. Faith or Fear. One will always be on the top of the heap. They cannot both occupy the same place. If faith resides there our wellspring will pour out peace and confidence in God’s care for us, even in the midst of uncertain times.
If fear resides there anxiety and depression will be the natural outward flow. Faith or Fear. Every day we choose. Many times a day we choose.
Faith over-rides Fear. Fear over-rides Faith.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
God tells us exactly what to do when fear grips our hearts and takes over our minds. Left unchecked it will scatter our faith and our peace like confetti in the wind and leave us anchorless in the storms of life. Yet God in His love gives us specific instructions as to what to do.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
A SIMPLE FORMULA
What a simple formula! Not easy – but simple. Worry is a call to prayer. The moment we become aware of that churning anxiety over ANYTHING, we go immediately to our Heavenly Father. Let us present our requests to Him. Then turn our thoughts and prayers to thanksgiving.
o Thank Him for His promise to never forsake us.
o Thank Him for the power of His name.
o Thank Him for His intimate knowledge of every detail of our life.
o Thank Him for His track record in our life when He has been there for us in the past.
o Thank Him that He works all things together for our good as we trust Him.
o Thank Him that He is at work establishing His kingdom in our life.
Our faith and trust in God will override our fear and His peace will actually put a guard around our heart and mind so fear cannot overrun us. It’s supernatural and it’s real.
Prayer of action:
Father God,
I confess that I often allow Your peace to slip from my heart. Fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and to sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. I choose to walk in Your peace.
Fill my heart with childlike faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
I confess that I often allow Your peace to slip from my heart. Fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and to sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. I choose to walk in Your peace.
Fill my heart with childlike faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
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