30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 6... Peace

Before I met Jesus I was a worrier.
I worried about everything.
And if there wasn't something real to worry about,
I'd make something up.
You do that too. I know you do. We all do.
God calls it "vain imaginations"... worrying about things
that haven't happened yet or may never happen.

And then I read Philippians 4:6...
Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING,
present your requests to God.
And the PEACE of GOD,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God doesn't want us to worry... He wants to give us peace.
But I can pray and walk away and still not have peace.
So can you.
But I have learned, through this verse,
that the key to receiving and walking in God's peace...
the part we tend to read right over.. is with THANKSGIVING!



God's peace can be ours as we thank Him for who He is
to us, for us, in us, and through us...
for His presence, His promises, His power, and His plans...
because, when we do... our focus shifts from our problems...
real or imagined... and back to our God who is able to take
care of whatever concerns us today, tomorrow and always!

Today I thank You God for Your peace that passes all understanding
as we trust in You! We love You Lord! Amen.

Comments

[Simply Heather]

Oh, me too, Karla...me too :)

[Eevee]

I have gone through many periods in my life in which I can comletely relate to what you are saying.

Especially when I began homeschooling my children I was a big time worrywart because it was unknown to me.

Thank you for sharing with us such an encouraging reminder.

http://christianunschool-more.blogspot.com/2009/11/30-days-of-thanksgiving-day-5.html

Blessings,
Eevee

[Mama Bear]

This is one of my favorite verses and one I claim often when my mind is so full of life's "things" that I can't fall asleep. It never fails.
http://bearsinexile.blogspot.com/

[Valerie]

I just love these 30 days!

I am having so much fun, thinking about and reliving times in our lives as I am awakened to all of the amazing gifts God has given us. Today on day 6 I am thankful for Lake Placid NY. A beautiful place for vacationing, exercise, getting away, meditating, shopping, hiking, reflection, and yes peace. Getting away from the rat race of everyday, and just being alone with God in the beauty of his creation, to walk alone in the woods with Him, stand on a mountaintop and revel in His majesty, or to share that beauty with your spouse and or children - it is an amazing place to reflect on the amazing God who loves us so unconditionally!

[Deborah]

Hi Karla, Today I thank the Lord for the different seasons He has made and in particular with the seasons I thank Him for color. All of nature is color, whether vibrant or muted or in between. It's amazing the transformation that takes place in all the seasons...in the nights and days, the trees, the flowers, the grass, the clouds, the storms, the sky, which is especially blue this time of year! Truly the Lord is THE MASTER PAINTER!!! I thank the Lord also, Karla, for the beautiful talents and abilities He has given you to write and paint...with color!:)
"While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
Gen.8:22
Fall Blessings, Deborah:)

[Linda]

Lovely post, and I hope to give it more thought.

http://remotetreechanger.blogspot.com/2009/11/30-days-of-thanksgiving-day-6.html

[hip chick]

I too find this one of my favorite verses. I have never been a worrier by nature but there have been times when I have needed to go over this verse.
When I hear mothers of young children worry I think Just you wait...as they grow you will find yourself really worrying. But as you say God wants us to be trusting in Him.
I have my thankful 30 post up also.

[Doreen]

Like you have said, I think we all have had the "busy" mind. It can drive you crazy! It is a challenge to hand it all over to God and trust in Him. But so well worth it!!

fantastic post!!

[Speaking from the Heart]

I was going to post the same verse.

[Marlene Suits]

Today is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. I like the way this exercise is going. It is neat to have a word to build your thanksgivinupon. It is a good foundation. PEACE. About 12 years ago I went through a real crisis in my life and a wonderful Christian friend wrote me many letters to help keep me encouraged at this time in my life. And the verse is Thou wilt keep him (her) in perfect PEACE whose mind is stayed on thee. Isaiah 26:3. That has been such a comfort. I know when I keep my mind on the Prince of Peace then my trials and tribulations grow dim in the light of His glory and grace. Peacefull, Marlene

[Julie]

Lord,
I want to Thank You for Karla. How true in what she said. Forgive me for all the times I worried, instead of trusting in You alone. Lord, I am so Thankful You understand us perfectly, and yet love us anyways. I am soooooo Thankful, You never ever give up on us. Yes, Lord, when we take the time, we can truly find many things to be thankful for. You say in Your Word, count your many blessings. I am Thankful for You and Your unconditional love, and for Karla for being such an inspiration to me.
Thank you Lord. Thank You.

[Mary]

Philippians 4:6 is one of the first that I memorized....and it has been there sooooo many times to comfort. I too thank the Lord for His Word and how it will just speak to us when nothing else will. Thank you Karla for this wonderful time to remember.
Mary

[Barbie Heydweiller]

I have been very sick with pnuemonia and have not been reading the 30 days of Thanksgiving. I need to. I am a worrier and I find myself very worried about my families finances. We lost our restaurant at the beginning of this year because of the betrayal of a business partner. Before that we struggled for a year to try to make the business work. We ruined our credit to the point of no return and took jobs that are putting us at poverty level. It is humbling, scary and cause to worry. I am going to read, and re-read the above encouragement and verse. I am scared about what life has for us, but I do know that God is still a God of details and He will take care of us. Now, I just need to trust and not worry. Thank you for your shared thoughts my friend, for that I am thankful.

Blessings,
Barbie