Monday Morning Encouragement - Calm for an Anxious Heart

 


"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7


One of my favorite past times is walking in nature. Surveying God's creation, listening to the birdsong and watching chipmunks and other small animals scurrying about gives me a sense of peace. Nature calms me. It's easy for me to feel calm in the midst of God's pristine creation. But what about when I get back home to the dusty reality of life? The war in Ukraine, inflation, friends who are ill, and so on. All these things threaten my peace. But the Lord says not to be anxious about such things. Instead, take all these problems to Him in prayer, and with a thankful heart (realizing the many blessings I do have and thanking Him for them) ask Him for help with these problems. Then God's peace, which is greater than the calm I feel when I'm on a nature walk, will quiet my heart and mind. 


Thank you, Father, for this reminder.


Today's music video Anxious Heart by Jeremy Camp speaks to Jesus - the calm for our anxious heart. 





I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.



8 comments

  1. A perfect post for this Monday morning. It's such a chaotic world that we're living in. I am so grateful to our loving God that takes all of our cares to Himself.
    I hope you have a peace-filled and glorious Monday.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  2. Hello Nancy. I love to walk outside and pray when I walk. Something about fresh air and the quiet. Happy Monday. Have a great week. xoxo

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  3. Thank you Nancy. I love this Bible verse so much. I think of it often and say it to myself and have it printed out on my wall to remind me. The song is a good song to listen to in those times of high anxiety. My current life motto right now is Let Go and Let God.. and it comes from this verse! If I'm feeling anxious, I just say it, over and over, and it calms me. Unfortunately, I don't have woods to walk in and critters and birdsong to listen to.. those calm me also, but NOTHING around where I live to take a walk in nature. I really miss that so much. It's a good hour to get to anywhere even close to woods and nature, and nature's song. Have a great week! Marilyn

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  4. Good song and great verses for these times of anxiety.

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  5. I so agree with you Nancy... going outside into the pristine beauty of the Lord calms my heart, in spite of the ugliness in the world. Sometimes its hard to believe when I see the beauty in His world. His peace does calm our hearts. I'm sorry about your friends that are ill, it is so hard. And my heart breaks for Ukraine. May the Lord continue to supernaturally deliver and protect the brave men, women and children caught in the crossfires of this war.

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  6. I love to walk alone and pray aloud.
    And I just love to walk in nature.
    Have you read The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson? I have just started it and I think you would love it.

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  7. Thank you for this encouraging message. I often think of the saying, "remember that someone is praying for what you already have" . . . it keeps me grounded and knowing that I have been blessed in so many ways and I have so much to be grateful for. I look around at all that is going on in our world, both near and far, and it can be overwhelming. I pray that the leaders of countries, both far and here where we live, would wake up and turn their hearts to the Lord, but if these things that are happening are needed to be fulfilled in order for our Lord to return, then Amen to that as well. My faith is strong in the fact that He knows what is going on and He will only allow so much before He steps in or comes back. We need to be in prayer for this world, the people of Ukraine and people all over that are being killed and driven from their homes.
    Philippians 4:6-7 Great verses to live by.

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  8. A walk on the beach is always helpful for me. There's something about the sound of the water, the seagulls' calls and the smell of the ocean that makes everything seem ok and hopeful. And your words, so good...the dusty reality of life...amazing. They will stick with me, help me to keep them in perspective and prompt me to try to shake them off with prayer and nature. Hugs!

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