Quiet Our Restless Hearts
“Grant us the grace to quiet our restless hearts and runaway minds."
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Our hearts and minds are often like a crowded marketplace - full of noise, activity, and competing demands for our attention. We carry worries about the future, regrets from the past, and a constant stream of thoughts about our daily responsibilities. Amid this internal clamor, the idea of a quiet heart and mind can seem like an impossible dream.
Yet, this is exactly what God offers us - not just quiet, but a deep, abiding peace that goes beyond our circumstances or understanding; one that isn't achieved through our efforts but is a gift of grace. We can't force our hearts to be still or our minds to be quiet, but we can open ourselves to receive God's calming presence.
Think of your heart and mind as a jar of muddy water. Shaking it causes the water to become cloudy and opaque. But if you set the jar down and let it be still, gradually the mud settles and the water becomes clear. In the same way, when we allow ourselves to be still before God, the muddiness of our thoughts and emotions begin to settle and we can see more clearly.
This settling process takes time and patience. It requires us to resist the urge to constantly "do" and instead learn to simply "be" in God's presence. It might mean setting aside time each day for prayer or meditation on Scripture. It could involve practicing mindfulness - being fully present in each moment rather than always thinking ahead or looking back.
As we quiet our hearts and minds, we may become more aware of the things that typically occupy our thoughts. We might notice patterns of worry, self-criticism, or restlessness. This awareness is a gift - it allows us to bring these things before God, asking for His peace to replace our anxiety, His love to heal our self-doubt, and His rest to soothe our restlessness.
The goal isn't to empty our minds completely but to fill them with God's truth and love. By making space in our hearts and minds, we create room for God to speak to us, to shape our thoughts and desires, to align our will with His. This is a gradual process, one that continues throughout our lives.
During this Advent season, let's practice receiving the gift of God's peace. Let's allow His grace to quiet our restless hearts and busy minds, preparing us to receive Christ anew. As we do, we may find that the peace we experience begins to overflow into our relationships, our work, and every aspect of our lives.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What tends to create the most "noise" in your heart and mind? How might you invite God's peace into those specific areas of your life this Advent?