Peace of Mind And Heart - The Gift

 PEACE OF MIND AND HEART – THE GIFT

Who of us doesn’t like to receive a gift – and especially when we’ve had a need that we felt we didn’t have the resources for.  That’s the kind of situation I think these words of Jesus speak to for us today.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

Any basic Psychology course will usually have Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as part of the material.  Outside of food and water, safety – or peace of mind and heart – is the next deep need in our daily lives.

Which is why it is so kind of Jesus to reassure us that if we come to Him, he will give us exactly that – peace of mind and heart that goes beyond what circumstances offer to us. 

Even though we may not see all the provision and may not have all the answers we wish we had, when we throw out lot in with Jesus, and seek to follow Him, He will gift us with peace of mind and heart.

Here’s another way Jesus described that with the invitation to us to come and receive. 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

Loving God, we are so grateful that You keep watch over us and in the middle of a complicated and sometimes difficult life, You offer us this wonderful gift – peace of mind and heart. 

We need that today so we can live well and so we can be people who bring support and steadiness to others around us. We open our hearts to You even in these brief moments and release to You all those things that make us anxious and worried, all those things that frustrate and irritate us. 

We trust You to sort out things we don’t fully understand  We trust You to take care of us in the middle of the process and to show us a good and safe way forward.

We receive peace – peace of mind and heart – and rest for our souls.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with all that Jesus speaks of so we can be gentle, humble people, and live above the challenges around us.  Amen

Sometimes I just pause and list to God anything that’s been giving me stress and worry and for each thing I give away I ask God to come and fill that place with His peace. 

At other times, it feels like I don’t even know what to tell God and so I just stop and ask God to come and be with me in whatever is going on and to fill me with His peace so I can see how He’s guiding my next steps. 

God will do that for You today as well.  Receive that gift – peace of mind and heart.