Mindful Peace
Peace is “freedom from disturbance,” yet we live in a world that is full of daily disturbances, so how is it that we can find and practice peace in our own lives? Is it even possible?
The peace we can practice is not just a quiet atmosphere, although I recommend trying to find some quiet time during the day, even if it’s just for 2 minutes. Peace also includes finding some inner stability, even when there’s chaos around us.
The good news is that peace can be achieved even while there is so much turmoil and disturbance in the world, if we can only practice changing our frame of reference from outside ourselves to inside ourselves.
Scriptural Application
Instead of blaming God like many often do, we should change our frame of reference and look at what WE do to create the chaos.
God wants peace for humankind. He desires that we live peaceful and quiet lives as much as possible (1 Thess 4:11; 1 Tim 2:2). Order and stability are both things that God wants for His children, and while often God gets blamed for the chaos, we are actually the ones that create the chaos.
That means that we can and should practice peace-inner peace.
Isaiah lets us know how peace can be established. When we put our minds on God and we trust Him, we will find a peace that transcends any peace that the world can offer. Paul calls it “the peace that passes all understanding” (Phil 4:7).
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Isaiah 26:3
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Practical Application
Practicing peace is an easy concept to understand, yet can be very difficult to implement in to real life, especially if we are used to chaos.
There are a few things we can do to calm the chaos. This list is only a few things that can contribute to being more at peace.
Keep God’s commandments
When we are off the mark here, we cannot experience the peace that passes understanding.
Pray daily
God wants us to give Him our burdens, He wants us to rely on His truth and His promises. God works providentially in the world and our prayers are important to Him. Prayer also helps us get things “off of our chest” so to speak. Conversation to God can help us order our thoughts and refocus on what is important.
Meditate on scripture
When we are meditating on scripture, we are thinking positively. Positive thinking will influence the way that we handle things that happen around us. It will help us to order the chaos and to stay attune to what we can control.
Concentrate on the things we can control
Often, we experience chaos, disorder, and instability when we are thinking about all of the things we cannot control. If we can think about the things we CAN do something about, then we find ourselves feeling more at peace.
Practice letting go the things we cannot control
Much of our peace is forfeited to holding on tightly to all of the things we cannot change. Name those things, identify the things that you are concerned with that are out of your control. Practice letting them go.
Use a journal
Sometimes writing things down helps, because when we see it visually it’s easier to order in our minds. Write the things down that are weighing on you. Order them in to things you can control and things you can’t. Then, concentrate on what YOU CAN DO with the list of things you can control. Tear up and throw away the list of things out of control. Say out loud “this is out of my control.”
Practice gratitude
Think about 3 things everyday that you are grateful for, it can be big or small, just be grateful.
Keep a routine
Keeping an orderly day can help with feeling in control which will in turn contribute to feeling more at peace.
Peace can be achieved, but just like everything else, we must strive for it and want it!!