Anxiety and Peace

On March 31, 2025   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Philippians 4: 6 – 7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.

Which do you want, anxiety or peace? I know everyone wants peace, but I find fewer and fewer people are living with the peace which passes understanding than any other time in my adult life.
I remember some stressful times. Although I was very young, I realized something major happened when JFK died. I could tell by the adults’ actions. I grew up with the Vietnam war. That was pretty challenging. It was the first time a war came into our living rooms each night. It was the real beginning of the news cycle drama because it was much more impactful seeing the news than reading about it. Things changed because of television. Were people anxious? We didn’t talk about anxiety.

Fast forward many years and the rhetoric around our lives became about stress. We began living in a state of elevated stress and learned that stress is the single greatest factor impacting our health. Still, not many people admitted openly that they were over-stressed though we did begin to embrace episodic stress. We called it being “stressed out.” This condition was understood to be temporary and there was not much sympathy and very little support for the stressed-out person. We live in an entirely new era now. This is the Age of Anxiety and it’s a real thing.

I met a young woman last week who is most definitely stressed out. Interestingly, minutes after meeting she admitted to being challenged by anxiety. As she spoke, it made quite an impression on me. First, when I was younger, if we suffered from anxiety, we probably wouldn’t have known what to call it and once we did, we wouldn’t have admitted it. This woman is not even 30 years old and yet her life is being dramatically affected by anxiety. It probably is a good thing that the younger generation is open to talking about anxiety so they can get support but it struck me as unusual.

The sad news is that she is not alone. Many young people are reporting anxiety issues. It isn’t just young people either. Those who are older and thought they knew how to cope with stress are finding themselves overwhelmed. Truly, we are living in an epidemic of anxiety.

How are we to manage this overwhelming level of stress and anxiety? The good news is that the Apostle Paul knew a bit about anxiety too and Praise God, he has given us the answer. You won’t be surprised that Jesus is the answer because he always is. Just to anchor our thoughts and our hearts, I want to suggest that Paul received this answer from Jesus himself through prayer and communion with Christ. Let that be your guiding light.

From that point Paul taught that unimaginable peace is available even under the most dire circumstances. However, I warn you, this peace does not come without an investment. I wish I awoke every morning and peace settled over me regardless of what I have done with my time. No, Paul’s revelation is clear. Perfect peace is the result of prayer, petition and thanksgiving. When the stress levels rise and people and situations start getting to me, I know I need more time with Christ. I need to pray more and I need to be in his presence.

I want to be clear about one thing here. Although I believe that any time you spend in the Bible or in any kind of prayer is food for the spirit and wonderful, I find when the stress levels are rising, I need something more. Maybe you are this way too. I need to really slow down my heart and mind and look for Jesus. I need to hear him speak to me. I need him to minister to my spirit. I need to feel him in my heart. Fortunately, we have learned many skills over the years to facilitate intertwining with Jesus. Let me share a few.

When I need to calm my body or my mind, I always begin with breath. Recall that the Holy Spirit is the breath of God and the very breath in us (See Words of the Day Breathe, and Creative Breath). Meditation is certainly one of the best ways to connect with God and to calm an anxious heart (See Breathe, Meditate and Breathe, Meditate Part 2). I also recommend journaling, writing down your To-Do list, exercise, yoga and EFT.

What are your favorite ways to calm yourself?
Share your secrets below.
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Peace, Peace and More Peace

On February 24, 2025   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

This is a word about peace. We are living in prophetic times. There are wars and rumors of wars, multiple volcanoes erupting, erratic weather, fires, floods and political unrest and upheaval. Everywhere you look there are situations which threaten to raise your blood pressure and disturb your peace. Everyday there is more troubling news. It is not healthy to live under the amount of stress assailing everyone now. It’s not good for your body and it is certainly not good for your spirit.

In every situation, Jesus is good news. Bless the Lord for peace. This verse is Jesus’ own words. He knew this world would bring us tribulation so he gave us his words; he gave us the good news so that we could overcome stress and worry just as he did. He said he spoke so that we might have peace even in troubled times.

Jesus has in mind that we partake of his words; that we spend time with what he said. In modern parlance we would say read the Bible then meditate on what you’ve read. Meditation is simply thinking about his words. If we want to have and live in peace, then we need to become familiar with the words Jesus spoke. I like to say, “We hibernate there.” That suggests living in those words so that they become as familiar to us as our favorite, cuddly pajamas. We need the words of Jesus if we are going to live in peace.

Secondly, take what you read right back to Jesus in prayer. Ask him to illuminate what you’ve read. Ask him to give you deeper insights and to show you how what you’ve read is applicable to your life.

Lastly, since we know that Jesus and his words are what bring us peace, we may need to ask ourselves if we are getting enough of him. We are being inundated day and night with news; news that is not uplifting; news that weighs heavily on the human spirit. Are we spending enough time with him to lift our spirits and restore our souls to peace. Is there enough Jesus in our environment to buoy the lagging spirits of our friends?

In these highly stressful times, please take care of yourselves. You may need to give Jesus a larger slice of your time than normal. You may need more of the Word, more prayer, more praise music. Mind you take care to nurture your spirit as you would your body. In the process, maybe you can find someone else to lift up. Everyone you know is living with greater stress. Be the agent of good news. Be the bearer of peace. May our Lord fill you with his peace and may his peace follow you everywhere you go. Amen.

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Encouragement

On September 30, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 46: 10

God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.

Hurricane Helene blasted through the eastern US this past week leaving devastation in its wake. That is not hyperbole. The pictures of the aftermath reveal only part of the story, but certainly enough that we realize the very real need for a strong refuge.

This storm made victims out of millions of people. Some of those people do not know God, the Father and Jesus, our savior. They don’t know the Lord who is a very real and ready help in the time of trouble. For many people, God is not a present God. He is either a theory or a fiction. We know differently. He is alive and here. He is ready to help us in our time of need. Therefore, today’s Word of the Day has two purposes. First, it is meant as an encouragement for all those who have been adversely affected by the storm and secondly, as a call to prayer to the rest of us, to those who know that God is on hand.

Salvation is a big word. We usually think of it in an end of times or end of life context. Through the eyes of Helene, we see salvation’s meaning in its larger manifestation. People need His saving touch in many ways: in their finances, housing, communications, their towns, streets, etc. The encouraging word is that God has salvation in His hands for all those things and more. His saving grace touches every aspect of life. Moreover, it is available to all. Just ask for it, whether for yourself and your family or for others. He is the help that millions of people need right now.

God is that refuge we can run into. In the shelter of God, there is comfort and peace. I believe there are many people who need peace and comfort now. We should let people know that God can impact more than just emotions though. While I believe comfort is very important right now and should not be minimalized, it is also important to let people know that Yahweh is a practical God. By that I mean that He is able to help with the financial and logistical issues facing the eastern US. I am reminded of the great Exodus in which God secured Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt. Liberation was the driving force, but God did not send them out as destitute vagabonds. They left with gold from the Egyptians. That has always amazed me but that shows how God thinks and how He addresses problems.

A great swath of the country has certainly been impacted by Hurricane Helene, yet in the aftermath, we can find God and help others find Him. Maybe some people just need more of Him or a larger version of Him in their lives. Perhaps others need Him to hover close. Still others may find His strength and encouragement for the first time in their lives. Regardless of what each impacted person and business needs, I pray that everyone embraces God and finds the love, compassion, comfort and simple practicality they need in these trying times. While the flood waters recede, I pray that new found relationships and closeness with God never will.

Please join me in praying for the victims of Hurricane Helene

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In Jesus

On July 15, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 16: 33

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

We are looking at this question of whether Christians should be beaten and downtrodden or if God has provided us some form of relief. We saw in Psalm 9: 9 – 10 that God has provided us a fortress of protection which we can trust and into which we can escape the trouble of the world. Today’s verse is a New Testament version of Psalm 9: 9. It is even better though.

In Psalm 9 you would have to run into the protection of the Lord. That protection is still available today. However, today’s Word is from Jesus, and he tells us that we don’t have to fear the day of trouble because He has already defeated the enemy. He has already overcome the world for us. Jesus teaches us that we can have peace even when the world is full of tribulation. Jesus knew about Psalm 9. He knew that our Father had already provided us protection from a world full of tribulation, but Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. He is that law and beyond. Therefore, we still have all of the promises of the Old Testament plus we have a new covenant based on better promises and sealed in the blood of Jesus rather than the blood of sheep and goats. Because of the shed blood of the perfect lamb, the enemy has no more power over us. The blood has covered us, and Jesus defeated the enemy one time for all. So, Jesus tells us that although the world is full of tribulation, we should have no cause for fear because He has already defeated the prince of this world. Jesus has told us these things so that we may live in peace rather than fear or worry. He said, “Take courage.” I would also say, “Trust”. How much better a promise is this? Rather than having to wait inside our fortress while God fights our foe for us, we can simply stand realizing that Jesus has already defeated Him. You still have all the promises of the past plus you have the fulfillment of them in Jesus, the Christ. Jesus said in the world you have tribulation but in Him you have peace. Call me simple but I think I will choose to be in Him.

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Anxiety to Peace

On May 20, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Philippians 4:6 – 7

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.

Today I’m just taking you along on a journey with me. I hope you don’t mind. This verse is where I’m living since my wrist injury. I have needed God’s peace, and this verse teaches us how to have it. Prayer, drawing near to the Lord, is the way to the peace of the Lord.

This verse is set up on two poles; one is in anxiety; the other is peace. They are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Today’s verse is intended to show us how to move from anxiety to peace. This peace is God’s peace. It is beyond any kind of peace we know in the natural. God’s peace is being calm and assured even in times and situations when it would seem impossible to be so. The situation around you, the circumstances might seem to call for anxiety and fretting, but in God’s peace you can still have confidence even in the worst of circumstances. Most of us would prefer to live in that kind of peace than in anxiety. Now we know how we can avail ourselves of divine peace. It is through prayer.

Prayer has more functions than just begging God to do something for us. In fact, at its base, the most important thing about prayer is simply communion with God. Prayer is spending time with God and time spent with God is good for the soul. It is healing and comfort, and because of that, it leads our hearts away from anxiety into perfect peace. Most of us do not pray enough. I hope today’s Word will be encouragement to spend more time in prayer. As I said, this isn’t just begging God to do something for us, so let us look at the elements of this kind of prayer.

Today’s verse tells us that there are three parts To this prayer. Part one is simple. It is the petition or more importantly the communion and communication with God. However, the peace of God comes with adding the two other components. The first is supplication. Supplication can best be defined as humility. As we lay our hearts and petitions before God, it is important that we humble ourselves. There are times we can make a demand off of a promise God has given us. This prayer, however, is one of humility. We are to humble ourselves before the Lord as we lay our petition at his feet.

Second, this prayer is to be accompanied by thanksgiving. Thanksgiving puts your heart in a state to receive. When you combine thanksgiving with humility, you’re able to receive the peace of God, the peace which surpasses human understanding.

This is not prayer without confidence, however. God does not require that you bow and kowtow. You may still pray, going into his throne room with confidence even as you enter with humility and thanksgiving. It is our knowledge of Him as a great and wonderful father that gives us confidence to enter into His throne room of grace. Humbly enter in. Lay your petitions at his feet. Give him praise and Thanksgiving for all that He is doing for you and will do for you. Believe confidently that you are about to receive the peace which surpasses understanding. Trade in your anxiety for the peace of God.

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Peace, Peace

On October 2, 2023   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 9: 6

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us . . . and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Ephesians 2: 17

And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.

One of the greatest commodities of Christianity is peace.  If you want a revelation, run a search on the word peace. Even if you run the search in the New Testament alone, you will see an amazing mosaic unfold before you.

Besides being the Prince of Peace, Jesus is also called the Lord of peace (2 Thessalonians 3: 16). Father is the God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5: 23). Paul opened many of his letters with the blessing of peace and grace. Peace, living in peace, being at peace with others and in life’s circumstances, is part of our heritage, our inheritance. When Jesus was about to leave the earth and return to heaven, he told his disciples that he was going to leave his peace here, for us. His peace, he said, is different from the peace we have known in the world (John 14: 27). What is different about it? To start, it is perfect. You are, therefore, entitled to his perfect peace.

Jesus warned us that the world has trouble in it and as long as we live in the world, we will be exposed to this trouble. Fear not, though, because he said that even in these times of trouble, we may have peace. In fact, the words he spoke, his teachings, were intended that we may have peace. “Take courage,” he said, because he has overcome the world and all it’s trouble (John 16: 33).

So, what is the point of all this? You know things happen which are unpleasant. Occasionally you must deal with unpleasant people as well. That is life on this planet, for now. However, you are not required to live in that unpleasantness. Your inheritance is peace. So, how do you go from unpeaceful situations and stress to living in the perfect peace of your Lord? Well, the answer is actually there in the question. Living in the Lord, is the answer, and the way to his perfect peace. I wish this came easily but for some, it does not.

Sometimes we must be uncomfortable enough to invest some time and energy. We don’t have to live in torment, but the way out is through. Jesus is the prince of peace, the Lord of peace. Time spent with him is the way of peace. To have the peace he left for us, we must seek him and his peace. I wish it fell out of the sky onto you, but it doesn’t. It is in Jesus and when you are in Jesus, then you will find you are in his peace too.

It is challenging for me to give an entire lesson of getting into that space with Jesus in this format, but if you feel challenged, please, feel free to contact me. Above all, don’t live in turmoil and torment when Jesus made a way for you.

Blessings, peace and grace to you!

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Heart Guard

On April 22, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Philippians 4: 6 – 7

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, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I was talking about this verse in the context of healing with my friend Charity who is also a minister (www.glorywaves.org). I exclaimed, “How is this not a health verse?” She responded that of course it is since the majority of our illnesses arise from stress. Stress is a killer and is not how we are supposed to live before God. What we fail to understand is that stress is not an emotion. It is a condition. When we place our bodies under stress, it responds. We are also learning that when we stress ourselves emotionally, whether that just be traffic frustration, getting in a hurry, or really any discomfort or departure from peace, our bodies actually respond. I just was on a call recently where the speaker said that even our cell walls respond to stress as the cells try to protect us.

If you look at this verse again, I think you see the interesting synergy between anxiety and peace. We also need to understand that we are not speaking of clinical anxiety here. This is plain, old, garden variety anxiety. You know that feeling inside of you when you’re running late? It’s that kind of thing and what we are learning is that it is toxic to the body. When we give our anxiety to the Father, He restores us to peace and in that peaceful environment is where our cells get to perform their primary functions.

1 Peter 5: 7 says it so precisely, “Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you.” Father God wants you to cast all your anxiety onto His shoulders because He doesn’t want you to carry those bad feelings and because He knows that they stress your body causing sickness and disease.

However, let’s take this one step further. Throughout this series we have learned that part of our healing is in learning to slow down and hear God speak to us. Okay, when you are under time stress or any other type of stress, you do not hear God as well as when you are in a state of peace. Believe me! I still make this mistake routinely. However, I am learning that when I have lost that peaceful feeling, you know, that kind you get at church when the Holy Spirit is flowing through the sanctuary, when I have lost that good feeling I need to stop whatever I am doing and just take a couple of deep breaths, really deep breaths, the kind that make your abdomen move. Then, in that moment we should redirect our focus. Put our eyes back on Jesus and then ask him to help us with whatever we are working on at the moment. Do that again when you move to the next task. I know for myself that I feel better, am kinder and get more done when I follow this pattern. We are all better, and more effective, when connected to God and we all need the peace which surpasses understanding. It is health to our bones and to our hearts. Give away all your stress to the Father today. Be intentional about abiding in peace. It’s God’s good grace for you.

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