Most of us enjoy serenity. Yeah, I love the adrenaline rush of hitting 112 in a Lamborghini Gallardo 550 just before a 170-degree turn, or riding 1,080 miles in one day on the bike, but I also need the times to relax, to just sit, to enjoy God’s creation. Today was an example—after awesome worship and a great Mexican lunch, we headed to our winery to chill. This pic shows my wineglass and the view. Serenity.
I also love Facebook. Connecting with friends with whom we’d lost touch. Spiritual and/or political or cultural discussions, asking questions. Sharing prayer needs. At the same time, it drives me nuts. OK, I confess that’s a short trip. But sometimes, Facebook kills serenity. The vile personal attacks against people we disagree with. The blind adherence to a position with no regard to clear facts or logic or reason. I’ve seen too much of this coming from both spiritual sides, from both political sides. And I realize part of my reaction is personal.
Back in my late teens and early 20s, I focused on the negative. Everything seemed to be a problem, a big one. That put me in a downward spiral that led to thoughts of suicide. May have, except for its permanence. So I’m a personal example of how negativity and insults can kill our peace.
Then I ran across a transformative passage that saved my life. Maybe it can help you: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me...Then the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT).
The source of serenity and peace? Our thoughts. The thoughts we expose ourselves to. Thoughts that meet the standards given there. And they clearly imply we avoid thoughts that don’t meet these standards.
True: do we know this is accurate, or just pass along a rumor? Perhaps we need to confirm it’s true before we say or post something. We have no reason to not KNOW what we share is true, unless we qualify it as opinion.
Honorable: do our thoughts bring honor to God by their tone and respectfulness? Do they honor the one we talk to?
Right: do they express God’s view and love? Do we strive to be right with God before we hit send?
Pure: are they absent of anger, striking back, getting even, winning?
Lovely: would the person we address, or our opponent, see love in how we respond? Would others?
Admirable: are our attitudes and words ones we think our children or God would admire as expressions of Christian love?
Excellent: does it show care and compassion, and reason? Or are we sloppy in our thinking to make a point?
Praiseworthy: we should want to please God above all. Would he praise us for how we defend him?
The result of fixing our thought on these qualities? Paul said WHEN we do, THEN we experience God’s peace. The implication: when our thoughts, and the thoughts we allow into our world, don’t match these, we’ll not have the full measure of God’s peace. I’d rather have God.
Yes, this is changing me. I’ve deleted over a dozen FB friends who cross the line, on insults or ignoring truth. Best of all, it’s helping. The discussions are better too. Maybe you can give serenity a shot?
Kick Starting the Application
Do you face the same problem of negative thoughts? Have you seen damage to your serenity and peace? Has it impacted your closeness with God? What are three steps you can take this week to get more of God’s peace in your life? Will you?