Anxiety is my closest friend. Seriously. She keeps me up until all hours talking, perseverating. She rings me up in the midst of work, wondering when I will have more time for her, extrapolating on details that make my head spin. She meets me at the door with a pile of bills. Lest I forget, she reminds me of the 101 things that dot my list of things to do. When my attention wanders, she squeals until my eyes, mind, and heart are riveted back on her. She sets my priorities. She pushes me when I just need a moment of rest, reminding me of what might happen if things are tended to. The more insistent she is, the more attention I give her. The more attention I give her, the more insistent she is.
But I would rather have peace. I came upon this definition of peace recently:
Peace.
It does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise,
trouble or hard work.
It means to be in the midst
of those thnings and still
be calm in your heart.
(author unknown)
So what brings you peace when the world comes crashing in? What brings you pace in the midst of trouble?
Looking at the one who holds me in His hands. Listening to the one who quiets me with His love (Zephaniah 3:17).
But if I know that, why is it so hard?
Because the world is loud with flashing lights.
Because I have so often listened to anxiety and worry that I hear them best instead of listening to the still, small voice, the whisper on the mountain that is God.
So I need to practice listening to God so that I hear him best. I need to train my ears, my eyes, my heart. I need to tune them to the one who can calm my heart in the midst of life.
Any tips on tuning into peace?
1 comment:
Oh Amy...anxiety is so often my closest friend as well. Can I just share with you what I heard at Bible study tonight?
I am doing Beth Moore's "The Inheritance". Beth reminded us that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. So if we are living anxious, we are thinking anxious. We get fixated on anxiety. We have to learn how to think. She said our success will be a direct result of our meditation.
She encouraged us to keep speaking verses of truth...out loud...claiming peace. There's so much power in the spoken word. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy, but we have to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. - Heb.10:23
Did you ever hear the story of the artist who won a competition for painting a picture of peace? Everyone was sure when it was unveiled that it would be some beautiful sunrise, or quiet, restful scene. The painting that won was a picture of a fierce storm. Wind blowing. Rain. Lightning. Tree bending. But, when one looked closer...on a limb of the tree was a birds nest...and in the nest a little bird was sleeping. While the storm raged, the little bird was at rest. That's peace.
Love ya Amy,
Hugs,
Joy
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