Turn Your Frown Upside-Down

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7

Stress has a nasty habit of consuming our thoughts and influencing our behavior. As a result, we’re often not where we ought to be, physically, mentally, or spiritually. Our best defense against the stresses of life is simple: turn worries into prayers.

Remember, God is in control, and through him, we can experience peace. Not a peace that comes from the lack of conflict—we will always be at odds with sin, fear, and doubt—but a lasting peace only found in Christ, who has already battled these forces and won!

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).”

And Jesus never lost sight of where he was headed or what needed to be done.

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).”

He’s the ultimate model of how we should strive to live our lives, who made the ultimate sacrifice to save our souls. When we welcome Christ into our hearts—thanking him for what he did—he brings with him the same victorious Spirit that overcame every hostile force that Satan was able to throw his way. Jesus wards off the powers that cause worry and replaces them with the comfort of knowing our place in God’s Kingdom is set and secure.

If your life is full of stress, ask Christ into your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with his peace.

Today’s author is Mark Henderson. He is the founder and host of The Inspired Legacy Podcast.