And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to which also you were called in one body;
and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of God rule. Be thankful. If I can hold onto those two things alone, I can deal with anything. But sometimes I don’t.
I didn’t know until recently that there’s a psychological term for something I’ve done forever: “catastrophizing.” It means imagining that your situation is far worse than it is and/or imagining the absolute worst outcome possible. It’s a great way to make yourself miserable. And ungrateful.
Naming it has helped me fight it. Sometimes that’s all it takes: identifying your foe, spiritual or psychological or emotional . . . Many times, my foe is me. (Technically, “my foe is I” but that sounds hoity-toity.) I’m imagining the worst instead of trusting in The Best.
Let the peace of God rule.
I’m blessed to come from a family of grateful people—on both sides. They’re genuinely thankful for what they have. Actually, my hometown is like that. It’s a community of people who believe in gratitude and generosity. I hope I carry that with me. And I think when I’m ungrateful, it’s because I’m focusing on the few things I don’t have instead of the many things I’ve been given. Every new day is an incredible gift, when you think about it.
Be thankful.
I was looking for a song to add to this post and came back to one I’ve shared before: “Psalm 34” by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. I’m repeating it because as I listened to it again this morning, I found myself in a spirit of true worship, and I realized that’s something I’ve been missing. I can have quiet time at home. I can pray at home. But it’s hard to worship at home. Listening to this song somehow restored my sense of fellowship.
Let the peace of God rule. Be thankful.
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