Peace 

This week has become something of a mini-series on biblical passages for specific themes. Read verses for finding God’s Hope, and read verses for receiving God’s Comfort.

Today we ponder biblical passages to meditate on for experiencing the peace of God through knowing the God of peace.

Peace with God through Christ is the basis for experiencing God’s peace that passes all understanding.

Isaiah 26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (KJV).

Psalm 4:8

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:14

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:9

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Hebrews 10:19-23

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Join the Conversation

What passages do you meditate on to know the God of peace and the peace of God?

Peace that Passes Understanding

When life is in turmoil, what passages do you read and reflect on to find the peace of God and to experience the God of peace?

Over the past two months, I’ve face life’s turmoil ever since I heard those words that no one likes to hear from their doctor. “We’re going to need to do some tests.”

I’m pleased and thankful to share that, after weeks of feeling like a human pin-cushion, my doctor has finally given me a clean bill of health. But it was, to be frank, a scary few weeks.

We’re all different, so we all turn to different biblical passages to “fear not.” The following list contains the passages I turned to and meditated on repeatedly. For the words of each passage, feel free to read and/or download Scriptures to Meditate on for God’s Peace.

• Genesis 1:2

• Genesis 45:4-7

• Genesis 50:20

• Deuteronomy 31:6

• Joshua 1:6-9 

• Psalm 23:4

• Psalm 27:1

• Psalm 46:1-2

• Psalm 46:10

• Psalm 95:1-5

• Isaiah 26:3-4

• Isaiah 40:10-11

• Isaiah 40:28-31

• Isaiah 41:10, 13

• Isaiah 43:1-2

• Matthew 6:9-13

• Matthew 10:29-31

• Luke 15:20-24

• John 14:1

• John 16:33

• Romans 8:14-18

• Romans 8:23-28

• Romans 8:31-39

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

• Galatians 2:20

• Ephesians 1:18-20

• Ephesians 3:16-21

• Ephesians 6:10-18

• Philippians 1:20-24

• Philippians 3:7-14

• Philippians 4:6-8

• Colossians 1:29

• 2 Timothy 1:6-7

• Hebrews 2:14-18

• Hebrews 4:14-16

• Hebrews 10:19-23

• Hebrews 11:24-27

• Hebrews 12:1-3

• Hebrews 13:5-6

• 1 Peter 5:5-10

• 1 John 4:16-18

• Revelation 7:16-17

• Revelation 21:1-7

Join the Conversation

What passages do you turn to in order to find peace that passes understanding?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 30: When Anxiety Strikes, Strike Back!

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,  27, 28, and 29.

Big Idea: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Three Strikes and Worry Is Out!

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-7, Paul exhorts us to take every thought captive. We do so by putting on a new, peace-filled, courageous mindset. Renewing our minds for victory over anxiety includes:

1. Strike One: Expose Erroneous Beliefs (2 Corinthians 10:3-7)

Begin by taking a “worry history.” Before you can put on new thinking you have to identify past unhealthy thinking. So ask, “When did the worry and fear begin? When are they the worst? The least? What have you tried?”

Continue by specifying the worry. When Paul says “be anxious for nothing,” the word means nervous solicitude, harassing care, being full of care, brooding, meditating over too much. So ask yourself, “What am I brooding over? What are the themes or patterns of my worry?” Describe and identify your fear to defeat your fear.

2. Strike Two: Demolish Sinful Thoughts with Scriptural Thoughts

Worriers carry their worries to extremes—they develop them toxically. Such as, “My daughter’s five minutes late and the roads are icy; I know she was killed in an accident.” Demolish lies by recognizing them as false, deceitful, misinformed, inaccurate, unhealthy, extreme, and untrustworthy.

Decatasrophize your worry by bringing truth to bear on your worry. “Would a stranger see it this way? Have I always seen it this way? Am I ever less concerned about this? How and when was I recruited into seeing it this way?”

Examine “what if” contingencies to expose the lies. “What if I failed in the business interview? Then what? What would the worst case scenario be? And if that happened, then what?”

Engage in scriptural explorations and spiritual conversations. Bring truth to bear on your fearful thinking. Review and apply to your fears and anxieties specific principles of scriptural exploration and spiritual conversations found in part 25, part 26, part 27, and part 28.

3. Strike Three: Take Control of Your Thought Life (Philippians 4:8)

Change your thinking. We can make up our minds before hand not to worry about self-protection because of our trust in God’s protection (Luke 21:14-15). Thoughts are a rehearsal for life. That’s why Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 to guard and control what we premeditate upon. It’s why he tells us what to think about in Philippians 4:8. “Think” means to take an inventory.” When anxiety strikes, strike back with a mental inventory of what you allow yourself to focus on.

Paul is very practical (as is all of God’s Word). He suggests specific categories of what to think on. In fact, Philippians 4:8 is a command with a tense suggesting that we develop healthy habits of thinking—godly mindsets. So when worry strikes, strike worry out by thinking on these things:

a. Whatever Is Nobel:

This is truth aligned with God-reality. Ask yourself, “How can I replace the lies of worry (which always eliminate or minimize God) with the truth of Who God is and who I am in Christ?”

b. Whatever Is Right:

“Right” means worthy, holy, august, serious, valuable, honorable, majestic and awe-inspiring. “How can I replace the lies of shrinking thinking with the truth of God’s larger story, infinite power, and grace-love?”

c. Whatever Is Just:

This is right, righteous. Ask, “How can I align my thoughts about life, self, others, God, my past, present, and future with what is righteous and true according to God-reality?”

d. Whatever is Pure:

“Pure” means modest, morally clean, chaste. “How can I keep my thoughts about this situation pure so that they demonstrate a chaste commitment to trust in Christ alone, and remain faithful only to Christ?”

e. Whatever Is Lovely:

This is beautiful, pleasing, winsome, amiable, agreeable, endearing. “What way of thinking about this situation would please Christ; would bring Christ joy?”

f. Whatever Is Admirable:

“Admirable” means well spoken of, attractive, of good report, of excellent reputation. Greek word scholars Abbott and Smith even summarize this as “good omen words!” In other words, “Based upon Who Christ is and upon His promises, what positive mindsets should and could I have about my future?”

g. Whatever Is Excellent:

This means with valor, chivalry, virtue, good qualities, mental excellence. “As anxiety attacks, how can I attack back as a sentinel with valor?”

h. Whatever Is Praiseworthy:

This pictures whatever makes you want to applaud, to give a standing ovation, to stand up and shout. “As I counter these lies, what mental focus would result in God giving my thinking a standing ovation?”

Keeping It Real

1. Which of the three “strikeout principles” best applies to your life? How could you apply it today?

2. Which of the eight mindsets from Philippians 4:8 can you apply today?

The Rest of the Story

How do you master your thought life biblically? That’s our next post—see you then.

Join the Conversation

With so much practical biblical truth to defeat anxiety, why do we insist on looking to secular solutions for help?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 28: Passages Providing Peace That Passes Understanding

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.

Big Idea: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Passages for Defeating Anxiety, Fear, Worry, Phobia, and Panic

In our past few posts, we’ve applied numerous biblical principles for defeating anxiety when it attacks. We’ve emphasized applying Scripture in context in a dynamic, relational way so that we avoid the dreaded “take two verses and call me in the morning.”

While all of Scripture is relevant for all of life, different passages have specific themes that we can relate directly to finding peace that passes understanding. Here’s a brief sampler listing.

*Joshua 1:1-9

*Nehemiah 1:7

*Psalm 27

*Psalm 31

*Psalm 34

*Psalm 37

*Psalm 42

*Psalm 46

*Psalm 55

*Psalm 56:10-11

*Psalm 77

*Psalm 91

*Psalm 92

*Psalm 109

*Psalm 116

*Psalm 118:6-7

*Proverbs 3:5-6

*Proverbs 12:25; 14:30; 17:22

*Isaiah 26:3-4

*Isaiah 40

*Isaiah 41

*Isaiah 57

*Habakkuk 3

*Matthew 6:25-33

*Matthew 10:26-31

*Matthew 11:28-30

*Luke 21:14-15

*John 14

*John 15

*Romans 5:1-8

*Romans 8:1-39

*2 Corinthians 10:3-7

*Philippians 4

*1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

*2 Timothy 1:5-12

*Hebrews 2:14-16

*Hebrews 4:12-16

*Hebrews 13:5-6

*1 Peter 5:6-11

*1 John 4:17-18

Keeping It Real

Which of the preceding passages can you apply to your life today?

The Rest of the Story

In our next post, we’ll discuss how to renew our minds—how to have mental healing when fighting against anxiety.

Join the Conversation

What passages do you use to find victory over fear, worry, stress, anxiety, phobia, and panic?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 27: Soothing Your Soul in Your Savior

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.

Big Idea: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Even Warriors Can Become Worriers

Can you even imagine the great warrior, David, being terrified? It happened.

“David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, ‘Look at the man! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of mad men that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me?’” (1 Samuel 21:12-15).

When a warrior becomes a worrier, what’s the biblical response? Psalm 34 provides the answer, for in it we hear David’s prayer to God immediately after he escapes the clutches of King Achish.

We Will Fear Someone

Psalm 34 teaches us that we will fear someone. Either we fear God or non-God. And this David teaches us that we learn to overcome fear by fearing God.

“I sought Yahweh and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. . . . Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Yahweh” (Psalm 34:4, 11).

When terrified by life, we sooth our soul in our Savior by fearing God—by communing with God our Guard, Sentinel, Rock, and Deliverer. How did David sooth his soul in his Savior?

1. Praise God’s Infinite Power: Psalm 34:1-3

If a great adversary aligns against us, then our only hope is a greater advocate—the greatest Advocate—Yahweh!

Now, we don’t extol God just to stop being fearful. That’s self-centered, manipulative worship. However, true worship that envisions and exalts God as the all-powerful Champion does have real-life results.

2. Diligently and Humbly Seek God Personally: Psalm 34:4-6

Armed with the awareness of Who God is, David is naturally attracted to intimate communion with God. He seeks the Lord diligently. He looks for the Lord humble, dependently. He calls upon the Lord desperately. And God saves him out of all his troubles.

3. Fear God Your Warrior: Psalm 34:7-11

Ponder these amazing words: “The Angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him” (Psalm 34:7). Sound familiar? Encamps—that’s a military sentinel!

When life threatens your life, take refuge in and entrust yourself to your almighty Protector, Guard, and Sentinel.

It is in this context that we read the oft-quoted words:

“Taste and see that Yahweh is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear Yahweh, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek Yahweh lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:8-10).

It is in terrifying circumstances when we trust the Lord that we taste the Lord’s goodness.

4. Keep a Clear Conscience: Psalm 34:12-16

At first glance, David appears to take a major detour. Why talk about sin and evil, goodness and righteousness, in the midst of fear and trembling (Psalm 34:12-16)? Because when our conscience is not clear, when we’re sinning against God, we can’t expect to experience the peace of God nor the God of peace.

5. Offer God Your Broken Heart and Crushed Spirit: Psalm 34:17-18

The very character of God compels Him to come to the aid of the needy.

“The righteous cry out, and Yahweh hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:17-18).

When the fears of life drive us to the point of insanity, the only sane thing to do is to offer God our broken heart and crushed spirit.

6. Testify to Others: Psalm 34:19-22

David ends where he began—with praise of God.

“Yahweh redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:22).

God frees us from fear so we can be His instruments to free others from fear so that together we can praise God. It’s all about Him!

Keeping It Real

What brings you to the point of near insane fear, worry, stress, panic, anxiety, or phobia? In those circumstances, what would it be like for you to sooth your soul in your Savior as David did?

The Rest of the Story

In our next post, we’ll share some primary passages and central biblical characters helpful in conquering fear.

Join the Conversation

When the world terrifies us, why do we turn to the world for answers to our fear, rather than fearing God?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 26: The 911 Psalm

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25.

Big Idea: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Relating God’s Eternal Word to Our Daily Relationships

How do we use the Bible in helping hurting people? The extremes seem to be a quick quoting of a text, often out of context. Or, minimizing the sufficiency of Scripture and turning to secular self-help concepts.

But since the Bible is truly sufficient and relevant to all issues of the soul, then we must learn how to relate God’s Word to our daily lives and relationships by jointly applying the truth in love to specific life issues.

I spend several hundred pages in Spiritual Friends demonstrating how we can do this. Since this blog is one page, not several hundred, I’ll introduce you to some sample healing spiritual conversations. Then I’ll illustrate a sample scriptural exploration.

Sample Healing Spiritual Conversations for Victory Over Anxiety

Healing spiritual conversations are three-way conversations: you, your Spiritual friend, and the Ultimate Spiritual Friend—Christ through His Word.

These “trialogues” jointly apply biblical principles to help a person struggling against anxiety to know that “It’s possible to experience peace even when you feel worried.”

Ponder a few sample healing spiritual conversations related to victory over anxiety:

*“As God empowers you to have victory over anxiety/worry/stress/fear, how will you be thinking differently about God and life? How will you be relating to God and others differently?”

*“When your battle with anxiety is overcome through God’s power, what will you be doing differently?”

*“How have you been cooperating with Christ to overcome your anxiety/worry/stress/fear?”

*“Imagine into the future. How do you see yourself tapping into Christ’s resurrection power to defeat this anxiety?”

*“What would it be like to worship God in the middle of all of this?”

*“What would it be like for you to turn to Christ in the midst of this?”

*“Tell me how you’ve been clinging to Christ as your anchor as you’ve gone through this?”

*“When and how is Christ already empowering you to win some of these battles against anxiety?”

*“Tell me about some times you’ve already been able to find Christ’s peace and rest in this?”

*“What might God be wanting to accomplish in your life through your battle against fear?”

*“What biblical principles have you already been applying to find peace?”

*“What scriptures could we explore together to apply God’s truth to your fight against anxiety?”

Sample Scriptural Explorations for Victory Over Anxiety

In scriptural explorations, you don’t preach at or simply quote a passage to your spiritual friend. Instead, together you explore how a relevant passage applies to your friends specific life issue.

We’ll use Psalm 91 (often called the “911 Psalm”) because in it the psalmist calls out to God in the midst of fear, panic, and anxiety.

*“Let’s take a look at Psalm 91. If you were to write your own ‘911 Psalm,’ how would you word it?”

*“In your paraphrase of Psalm 91, what would the theme of your story be? How might your Psalm turn out? What role would you play in your Psalm? What role would God play in your Psalm?”

*“In your 911 Psalm, what would your relationship to God be like? How would God work your story out for good? How would God be your strength and give you strength to overcome fear and anxiety?”

*“How do you react to this Psalm? How is it different from your situation? How is it similar?”

*“How have you been responding differently from the psalmist? Similarly?”

*“What in this Psalm would you like to add to your story? How do you think you could do that?”

*“Are there any situations in this Psalm that remind you of anything you are experiencing?”

*“How does this Psalm help you to gain new perspective on your situation”?

*“The psalmist is very candid with God about his fears. What would it sound like for you to honestly share your anxieties and fears with God?”

*“The psalmist describes numerous images of God such as Shelter, Most High, Almighty, saving from the snare, finding refuge under His wings, and so many more. Which of these images of God would you like to apply in your battle against fear and worry?”

*“The psalmist describes numerous images of who he is in God’s power such as trampling a lion and stomping a cobra. Who are you in Christ as He gives you victory over what you fear?”

*“Repeatedly the psalmist describes God’s protective presence. What difference will it make for you to consistently envision and experience God being with you in your trouble, fighting with you in your battles, and hearing you every time you call?”

Keeping It Real

1. In your own life, which of the sample spiritual conversations would you like to apply as you battle against worry, fear, stress, and anxiety?

2. In your own life, what would it be like to write a “911 Psalm” to call God in your day of trouble?

 The Rest of the Story

In our next post, we’ll learn the art of “soothing our soul in our Savior.”

Join the Conversation

Why do Christians so seldom know how to relate God’s Word specifically to their life struggles?

Spiritual Friends