Read: Philippians 4:5-8

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (v. 7).

Move to a new home, or stay at the old address? This question filled my mind for several days as my husband and I discussed the possibilities. A handful of problems were obvious when we toured a prospective home. For instance, a pipe in the basement jutted up from the floor into the middle of a room. And there was an odd odour in the cellar. Still, there were new cupboards and beautiful windows that would let sunlight pour in.

I found myself more and more concerned with the details involved in the deal. What if we couldn’t sell our home? How much would it cost to fix up the new place? Paul’s words to the Philippians diffused my apprehension. He wrote, “Don’t worry about anything . …Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7). For me, peace was the absence of the constant mental tinkering with our situation. It meant trusting that God would determine the outcome of our plans.

Paul went on to give his ‘top 8’ list of good things to think about. Not surprisingly, none of them included buying and selling a home. Rather, the categories were: what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise (v. 8). Purposely filling our minds with good things and mentally chewing on them leaves little room for fear and worry.

It’s normal to spend time considering the weighty things in our lives. A well thought out approach to our basic needs—shelter, food and employment—is wise. But the Bible tells us we don’t have to worry about those necessities. Prayerfully trusting God and filling our minds with good things helps us to gain the right perspective as we make decisions.

—Jennifer Benson Schuldt

More

Read the following verses for some encouraging examples of God’s faithful provision and direction: Exodus 14:29-30; 2 Kings 20:5-6; Luke 2:11-14; and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

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Where’s the line between worrying and simply pondering a decision? How might the absence of worry in a person’s life be considered an act of surrender to God?