Stress-Free Living?

Mayo Clinic just published a “Guide to Stress-Free Living.” Based on 10 years of research, they discovered that making a few simple changes can help you let go of stress, and find a sense of peace.

I couldn’t help but see a parallel. Based on a few thousand years of research, the Bible promises that one simple change can bring you peace. “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him, because they trust in Him” (Is. 26:3). Note that Mayo Clinic only offers a “sense of peace.”  The Bible promises “perfect peace.”

With innumerable 21st century distractions, it is unrealistic to think we can live stress free. So how is it we can enjoy perfect peace? Listen how Jesus speaks to a distracted Martha: “There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it [undivided attention to Jesus]” (Luke 10:41). What a timely, and timeless, reminder: “Fixing your eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2) is the key to perfect peace.

When Things Don't Work Out

A.W. Tozer said: “Before God made man, He first prepared a world of useful and pleasant things for him. But in the deep heart of man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come, until sin entered, and God was forced out of His shrine, as things were allowed to enter, and take over.”

“Thing” is such an odd word—meaning nothing and everything at once. Miriam Webster says a “thing” is property and belongings, but also ideas and activities. We all have things occupying us.  And more to the point, we are painfully aware of the things that force God out of the shrine of our hearts.

We live in a world where we measure our worth by how many things we have and how well we get things done. We value making things or collecting things, but are not shy about throwing things away. We like shiny things and tiny things. We despise useless things. We like to allow things to happen, try new things, shake things up, and set things straight. And we hate it when things fall apart.

When Jesus came to the home of Mary and Martha, He gave them a lesson on “things.” While Mary sat at the Lord's feet, listening to Him, Martha was distracted by her preparations. Telling Him about the “things” she had to do, Jesus said, "you are worried and bothered about too many “things,” when only one “thing” matters; and that's the “thing” Mary has chosen.  While Martha was busy doing her thing, Mary had set her mind on things above. Now that is some thing to think about.

Trying to Keep it Simple in a Complicated World

I don’t usually remember jokes, but this one stuck in my mind for its humorous conveyance of helplessness in our financial crisis: “If you laid all the economists in the world end to end, they still wouldn't reach a conclusion.” Indeed, the causes and cures for the recession are complicated.

Paul said I am focusing all my energies on this ONE THING: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13). And what lay ahead for Paul was knowing Jesus better and better. Before his conversion, Paul placed high importance on his knowledge of many things. But from that instant of new birth, he wanted only ONE THING: to know Jesus. He knew that everything else was worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:8).

In the midst of a complicated world, knowing Jesus is the ONE THING we need. Every believer who really knows Jesus will fear nothing on earth. But be careful: these confusing times will lead many away from pure and SIMPLE devotion to Jesus (2 Cor.11:3). But those who know Jesus as the ONE THING will dwell in peace. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Is. 26:3).