This post is reposted especially for the Facebook group Pursuing Peace. Peace of mind is surely worth searching for.
Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, February 21, 2016
PEACE is Peace of Mind
Continuing the journey today. I am traveling around to various locations over the next weeks in my efforts to pursue PEACE.
My friend and colleague from the Des Plaines Ministerial Association, Elder and Pastor Chuck Reid, invited me to attend the church he pastors, Bethesda Worship Center in Des Plaines, Illinois. I was so glad I had the opportunity to attend there today, after the service at my own church, St. Luke’s Christian Community in Morton Grove.
When the service had ended, I had the opportunity to talk with a number of people in the congregation. We had some lively conversations, and their personal definitions of PEACE touched my heart. I’m going to be sharing them during the next few days.
I will begin with Ne’Cole Fort, whose personal definition of PEACE is Peace of mind.
This lovely woman was camera-shy, but I assured her that I would certainly post her definition of PEACE even if I did not take her photo. And, what a wonderful definition it is, too!
Peace of mind. Ne’Cole said, “If I don’t have peace of mind, everything else seems out of order. My mind is the battlefield.” She talked of the orderly mind, and about how PEACE helped everything internal—in her mind and heart—to be properly in place.
As I reflected on this excellent definition, I thought of the verse in Romans 12:2 that tells us believers to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yes, the mind is the battlefield! But if God is with us, on our side, we will win the battle (as Martin Luther tells us in his hymn “A Mighty Fortress”).
Dear God, thank You for the opportunity to worship with a new group of believers today. I thank Pastor Chuck, his wife Barbara, and all of the good folks at BWC for their warm welcome. Gracious God, I pray that You might be amidst their worship, empower their prayers, energize their outreach, and anoint Pastor Chuck’s preaching. I thank You for Sister Ne’Cole’s definition of PEACE, and I pray that You might send peace of mind to all those who so sorely need it, tonight. I pray these things in the powerful and peaceful name of Jesus, amen.
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