but in everything
by prayer and petition
with thanksgiving
present your requests to God
and
the peace of God
which surpasses all understanding
will guard yout heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
I was recently working along side of a dear friend who was anxious. They insisted that they were fine but everything I had learned over the years about the manifestations of anxiety was being displayed by them. Unsettledness, unfocussed conversation, repetitive statements,wringing of hands, running hands through hair and a furrowed brow were all blatantly obvious.
I prayed silently for my friend. I prayed out loud for my friend. I quoted scripture of calm promise and reassurance. Nothing really worked.
Now I have been told that one can claim the promises of scripture for another, but on this day there wasn't much breakthrough. Only after several more hours of intermittent intercession did I settle on the truth that in order to enter God's rest, or to be gifted with His peacefulness one must me open to receiving it. It is the one who's heart is settled on the Lord that receives His rest and peace. This truth did not stop my prayers for my friend but it did make me mindful of what it takes to get to a place of peace.
When the worries of the world come in and entangle themselves around us it is like Boston ivy engulfing a house and its windows blocking out the light. We are going to need to do some determined work with intentional cutting away of unruly matter to overcome the problem. The good thing is that the peace that comes from that determined effort really is beyond comprehension. It is an other world kind of feeling, like the picture above of the sunset in Hawaii, it engulfs one, but that only happens if they are willing to settle down and enjoy the view.
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