Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Daily Prayer: Peace of Mind, looks at how God longs to relieve us of our anxiety and worry and give us peace that passes understanding.

Show Notes: Daily Prayer: Peace of Mind

Peace of mind. Rest. Contentment. Three words that have eluded many of us since 2020. Or maybe even further back than that. I’ve grappled lately to find peace of mind because of a bunch of things that have added together to cause stress. We have ants in our house. Especially in my study where I create these podcasts. There’s no food in there so I don’t know what they want.  Have you noticed the price of gas? And everything else? I’ve also had a toothache that won’t quit. The dentist will probably have to pull the tooth. And there are so many tragedies happening to children and adults alike throughout the world.

I’d rather hide than go out on the dance floor. Just pull the covers over my head and stay inside. The problem is that does nothing to relieve the stress. The anxiety. The loss of peace. Peace is not found in hiding or a fabulous vacation or binge shopping or the perfect job. Peace is found in a person.

Jesus Christ. He alone gives peace and rest. Matthew 11: 28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What a lovely, poetic word from the Savior of the world. What is Jesus saying to us?

Jesus calls for us to come to Him. He calls all who work hard, to the point of exhaustion and are burdened by the cares of the world.
Jesus offers to give us rest. Rest in this verse means refreshed again. What a wonderful thought. We take His yoke and learn from Him. The key to rest is coming to Jesus and receiving from Him by faith.
Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. He meets us where we are in our weary, stressed-out condition and offers rest. His meekness is controlled strength. He moves when the Father says to move and stays when He says to stay. We should do the same.
Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light. We follow Jesus, walking or maybe dancing in his steps, staying close, and being submissive to His will for our lives. He knows what we need even when we don’t have a clue.

Jesus is the true peace that is as essential to our lives as oxygen. Or food and water. A peace that passes understanding. I’ll never forget when my dad died and we gathered at the funeral home. We were all so devastated but at the visitation, I had the strongest sense of peace I’ve ever experienced. I don’t remember asking for it but Jesus saw my need and carried me through a difficult time in my life.

And He’ll do the same for you. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

And Romans 15:13 tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Daily prayer is for us. As we follow the example of Jesus, knowing God listens, we confess our sins, then thank, praise, and worship the God who cares and loves. Peace follows. The kind that lets us know that God will never leave us. Won’t you join me today and have a heart-to-heart with our mighty God?

Father God, we come to pour out our hearts to you today. Thank you that you listen and gave us an example in Your word and through Your Son of how to pray. Forgive us our sins and help us to forgive others. We praise you and worship your splendor and glory. We ask for Your peace to overflow us every day. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

Take time to speak with God each day. You’ll be glad you did. Next week,