“Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.”
(Proverbs 4:23 GW)
Do you know how to meditate – to “think deeply or focus one’s mind for a time?”* You might answer “no,” but if you know how to worry, you know how to meditate.
Finances, relationships, international strife, health, welfare, injustice, friends – there are so many things that compete for our worrying energy. But, Jesus asked, “Can you add anything to your life by worrying?” And, of course, the answer is no. That’s why he told us to, “Forsake your worries!” and “Constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, [and] then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Matthew 6:27, 31, & 33, 35 TPT)
Easier said than done sometimes, though.
But, then, if not problems, what should we think deeply about? What should we focus our minds upon?
The Apostle Paul has a good message for us:
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” (Philippians 4:6-8 TPT)
Easier said than done? Yes, at least for me. But definitely better than wasting our energy on worrying.
Prince of Peace,
Thank you that you already know the end from the beginning and when we feel overwhelmed in life, you call us to meditate on your word, your promises, and the reality of who you are. Help us to not be pulled in different directions or to worry. Remind us that we cannot add anything to our lives by worrying but, instead, to constantly seek your kingdom and righteousness, so we can refuse to worry about tomorrow. Help us deal with each challenge that comes our way, one day at a time, trusting that tomorrow will take care of itself. Help us saturate our lives in prayer and offer our faith-filled requests to you with deep gratitude. Help us to know your transcendent peace as we keep our thoughts focused on what is authentic, real, honorable, admirable, beautiful, respectful, pure, holy, merciful, and kind. We praise you and ask all of this in the powerful and peaceful name of Christ, Amen.
*Oxford (online) Dictionary