“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30)

For thousands of years, mankind has sought peace of the heart. All too often, however, we ask God to solve our problems and do not display the faith we should when prayers are not answered on our timeframe. True peace only comes when we say, “Even if God does not answer my prayers today, I will accept His wisdom and be at peace in my soul.” It is so easy to be jealous, impatient, and envious of others and wonder why God is blessing them and not us. God doesn’t promise faith will be easy, only that we have it!

It is amazing how many people say they moved from one location to another to find peace. I suspect that most were not seeking greater wealth, but peace of mind and heart. The Devil wants to lure us into the ways of the world and let material things become our focus.

Repeatedly, there are testimonies that wealth doesn’t bring peace and happiness, but often we have a hard time believing it until we see a life wasted. The quality of our life is determined by the peace and joy in our hearts and the strife we avoid, not by the fame or fortune we may obtain. True peace only comes from one source, and that is a relationship with the Lord.

The Bible connects physical and mental health with spiritual well-being, offering verses promising God’s healing, peace, and strength through faith, prayer, and trusting His Word. Key themes are found in passages like Isaiah 53:5 (healing through Jesus’ stripes), Philippians 4:6–7 (God’s peace guarding hearts), and Jeremiah 33:6 (God bringing health, healing, peace, and truth). It emphasizes that God’s presence provides strength, guards against fear, and offers rest for the weary soul.

The Bible connects peace with the presence of Jesus in our lives; with peace comes better health. Peace and health are deeply interconnected: you can’t have lasting health without peace, and peace is difficult to achieve without good health. The answer is Jesus.

Paul instructs us: “For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:5–6). This is at the core of the Christian faith. If we doubt this at all, we cannot enjoy the freedom that God wants for us to have—the type of freedom, and associated inner peace, that Jesus tells us about when He says, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

by John Grant
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Inner Peace

Peace Has Been Provided

Peace in the Midst of Pressure

Finding Perfect Peace

The Wellspring of Peace

The post Health and Peace appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’  Luke 9:23

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder has been part of my life since I was ten, like constant static from a white noise machine.

The noise frequently rises in the form of profane phrases or images that intrude on my thoughts like a droning siren. It drives me to compulsive prayer that quickly dissolves into an empty incantation. I find myself repeating the same pleas until the anxiety sparked by the unwanted intrusion fades. The problem is that this usually strengthens the original intrusion. It’s like trying to not think about something. Inevitably, you do.

I’ve begged God to free me, but I’ve found my OCD to be like Paul’s thorn (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). It’s an affliction through which God displays his grace and power.

OCD forces my reliance upon him. It is the cross I bear. The true antidote to my OCD -sparked anxiety is to abandon myself to his grace to cover even the worst thought and to entrust my anxiety to him rather than capitulating to my compulsions.

Following Jesus means embracing death daily. Your cross may be a different kind of affliction. Maybe it’s a choice to give up something that appears to promise security, comfort, reputation, or control but that is really an illusion that hinders living for God’s Kingdom and purposes.

Following Jesus through these deaths of self-denial and endurance also means embracing resurrection. Countless Christ-followers attest to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder has been part of my life since I was ten, like constant static from a white noise machine.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your promise that, when we lose our lives for your sake, we gain everything: true security, true comfort, true joy, true acceptance. Grow my willingness to deny myself and follow you through the hard roads of death, whatever they may be each day. Thank you for your presence with me on those roads, and for your resurrection upon which I can place my hope. Amen.

By Jason Weimer
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Practicing the Presence of God

The Disciplines of Prayer – a 6 part series

How did Jesus Pray?

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The post Death and Life, Daily – Living with OCD appeared first on Thoughts About God.