Tranquility Amidst a Chaotic World

Our natural minds can create beautiful images of a desirable future or can conjure up worst-case scenarios. These dark thoughts of our imagination can allow the grip of fear and worry; a place God would never have us go. 2 Timothy 1:7: “for God gave us a spirit, not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”Moreover, our thoughts can mistakenly become at war with the will of God. Paul tells us the power that banishes fear is a sound mind bringing all aberrant thoughts into captivity, 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When an unhealthy thought appears, scrutinize it while considering the knowledge of God. Does this thought have any factual basis in reality? If not, take it captive. Refuse to give it free rein in your mind and imagination, preventing it from taking you away from God’s goodness into an unhealthy dread. Paul gives us wise counsel: to discontinue being changed to this world. Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” There’s no reason to be pressed into the mold of our country’s decadence. Let’s fix our minds on Christ who redesigns and transforms our way of thinking to be in alignment with Him. Thankfully, we are not left to figure out this transformation on our own, for we have the presence of the Holy Spirit. We can determine the deceptions of the enemy because the Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught us. Gaining a sound and centered mind is not as difficult as we might think. By reading the Scriptures attentively the Holy Spirit will whisper new strength into our thoughts. He and He alone can tame the reckless power of the human mind, focus us on the truth of God, and keep us from losing faith. Psalm 37:5-6: “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.” As one theologian said, “Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster, and belief in defeat. Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday's troubles.” Jesus assured us, John 16:13-14: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” When we realize that Jesus is present today and will be present tomorrow, we can experience tranquility amidst all the chaos.

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