READ-THINK-PRAY-REST: God’s Pathway to PeaceSample

We live in an increasingly anxious world. Current estimates suggest that 30 percent of Americans suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder. Most of us are all too familiar with the feeling of being ‘stressed out.’ The impact of this can be devastating—we may suppress our anxious thoughts for a time, but under the surface, stress wreaks havoc on our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. As Christians, we feel worse because we know God promises peace, yet we struggle to experience it or even to trust that he cares. 

Mental Health professionals recommend many practices to combat stress—from exercise to diet to finding a life-coach. Two of the most common suggestions are to take time out daily for quietness and to learn how to breathe deeply. We will do both in this seven-day series by engaging in a contemporary version of an ancient practice called Lectio Divina, which means “divine reading.” Before you begin, watch the video that introduces the four steps—Read, Think, Pray, Rest—that you will rely on each day as you engage with the Scriptures. You may want to have a journal ready for your responses. Then join Jesus, Paul and Solomon as they offer wisdom for experiencing peace in an anxious world.

Read:  Sit quietly and read the passages from beginning to end without stopping. When you finish, read them one more time, asking God to open the eyes of your heart as you meet him here today.

Think: What does Jesus tell us about the peace he offers? How does he encourage us? What does Paul remind us of before instructing us on anxiety? What does he tell us about peace? What does Solomon instruct us? What does he promise? What do you learn about the character and ways of God from these passages?

Pray: As you ponder these verses and what you’ve seen so far, ask God two simple questions: Lord, what are you inviting me to understand from this for my life today? Wait on him, and once you think you’ve heard something, ask this: Lord, how do you want me to respond to this today?

Rest: Sit quietly for a couple of minutes or more in God’s presence. Breathe deeply throughout, offering this prayer whenever your mind wanders: I receive your peace. When your time is up, thank God for meeting you in His Word.