“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.”
How many times have you heard this saying, or something similar, “The mind is a battlefield”. Every day we fight against thoughts that try to rob us of our peace. When these thoughts come, we need to stop and ask ourselves, is this true? Is it helpful? Does it line up with what God’s word says about me? Romans 12:2 (NASB) says “
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”.
The word “renewing” in this verse means “renovation”. We don’t just need a new coat of paint over our natural minds; we need a total renovation.
What Is Peace?
What is peace? It can be defined as a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind. Peace is not just the absence of conflict or chaos. It is a way of thinking that will allow you to stand firm when the storms of life are raging. We don’t need to waste energy on unnecessary worry or conflict. There are far better things for us to focus on, such as our goals and purpose in life.
Be Intentional About What You Feed Your Mind
Growing up, my mom would say this phrase to us, “Peace of mind goes a long way”. She was telling me and my siblings that we had a choice when it came to staying in peace or meditating on negative things. Staying in peace would take us further in life than a negative focus. Negative thoughts may come, but we must never allow them to have power over us. Our circumstances don’t define us, but our response to them does. Every thought we entertain is like a seed planted in the fertile soil of our mind.
What kind of garden are you cultivating? Is it filled with weeds of worry, doubt and anxiety?
Or are you planting seeds of hope, gratitude, thanksgiving and possibility? Each day we have the power to choose what thoughts we will water and nurture.
A Mind Anchored In Peace Requires Daily Practice
Practicing peace daily may not be easy, but it is doable and worth it! One day as I was driving around town running errands, I was agitated by the fact that my days seem to be so full of tasks, yet there never seems to be enough time to get them accomplished. The negative thoughts started rolling in.
“You should have done this, why didn’t you go there?” I had to take a deep breath and shift my focus to one of thankfulness. I was thankful for the blessing of having a car to drive. Thankful that it was a beautiful day outside. Thankful for the little things that could be taken for granted. And as I did that, I realigned myself to peace.
Seek Peace
God commands us to seek peace (Psalm 34:14). We should “make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14:19). Believers have an obligation to “let the peace of God rule” in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). This means we have the choice either to trust God’s promises or to rely on ourselves and reject the peace He offers. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, so, if we are allowing the Spirit of God to rule in our lives, we will experience His peace.
When your mind is at peace you can see things more clearly and make better decisions based on wisdom rather than on impulse. Finding peace does not mean that we deny our pain or circumstances. It does not mean that we pretend that things are fine when they are not. It is a choice that we make moment by moment to not let negative thoughts have power over us. Let’s cultivate a mind anchored in peace instead of chaos.
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