Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
Matthew 6:31-33 AMP
Someone once said that there is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind. I tend to agree.
Trust in the Lord and seek His righteousness, the righteousness that comes from living by faith, and the peace that surpasses all understanding will be yours.
When I share my testimony, I often touch on the fact that the one thing I always wanted in life was peace of mind and I looked for it in all the things of this world. I searched high and low.
Sometimes, you can find a momentary peace but it’s fragile. It’s based on circumstances and conditions lining up perfectly and then, before you know it, it’s gone with the wind.
If you want to drive yourself crazy, try to find peace through controlling your environment and circumstances. Try to find peace by medicating or distracting yourself from the true nature of your existential angst. Chasing peace in the created order of things only makes you more desperate for peace, as peace can only be found in resting in God.
Think about the most peaceful part of your day. That time when nothing can disturb you. You’re dead to the world. You’re asleep. It’s when you’re unconscious. That’s when you’re most at peace.
Now, if you die to yourself, and become alive in Christ, you enter another realm of existence. You are dead to the world, yet awake. You are dead to sin, yet surrounded by temptation. You are still alive in the flesh, but clothed in Christ.
I am convinced that there is no greater peace than knowing God personally. Knowing you’re loved, knowing you’re safe, knowing your Heavenly Father is in control and providing for all of your needs, that’s a great place to live. It’s a state of mind that transcends all circumstances.
The shift that needs to take place in our thinking is one from striving to live a worldly life to striving to live a godly life. How did Jesus and His disciples live? Live that way. Once you cross over into the Kingdom of God, the cares of this world are like wisps of smoke on the ground. With each step, they swirl around and flee from you, only to return and overtake you as you stand still.
God is more than capable of providing for all of your needs. Do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do and be amazed at God’s faithfulness to provide. Just follow Jesus. That’s all you have to worry about. Everything else is already taken care of. That’s trusting God. That’s believing God. Do what God says and He will provide. Rest in that knowledge.
Or you can take matters into your own hands and think you have to take care of everything by yourself. Let me know how peaceful that is.
Less is more. The more you acquire, the less freedom you have. Simplicity is best. If life is not about acquiring earthly things, you have the freedom to live a life of purpose, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Free yourself from earthly attachments and know the peace that surpasses all understanding. Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.
Lord, lead us into the full revelation of who You are, our God and our King, our Peace and our Provider, our ever present help in times of trouble. Adjust our expectations and our desires to align with Your will not the ways of this world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 AMP