Here’s something to not only think about but also to act on today. Perhaps you’ll think it too simple, too plain, too uncomplicated. After all, deep thinkers have been grappling with this for thousands of years; theologians and pastors, therapists and psychiatrists, hippies and yuppies and world leaders, and almost every man and woman who has walked on this earth. All, in their own ways, looking for peace. 

Where will you find your peace today?

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Two simple acts will change your day, no matter what your calendar or your problems look like. Tell God what you need. And thank Him for everything He has done for you.

Who better to go to for help than the all-powerful Father who loves you so much? Who has more resources? Who knows you better than you yourself?

Tell Him, who has promised to work for your good in everything, what you need.

And then remember. Remember all He has already done for you. I regret that we are losing the practice of passing down to succeeding generations the stories of our journeys. The oral tradition of storytelling preserved the history of a people. Long passages in Scripture recount God’s faithfulness to his chosen people. Yes, many people do that today by writing their stories or by speaking their stories; but most of us do not. We have no ritual (and I use that word in the best sense) way of passing along the accounts of God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

At the very least, do this in your own heart and mind. Recount, remember, review all that God has done for you.

Tell Him what you need. Thank Him for His hand in your life.

So simple. I won’t try to explain what happens or how it happens, because Scripture tells us right here that it’s beyond our understanding. But I know that God honors this promise He has made. This asking and thanking brings peace. It is God’s peace — in a later verse, He is called the God of peace — and it will stand guard around our whirling minds and turbulent hearts as we go through today.

I need simple today. I can certainly remember two things: Tell. Thank.

Amen.

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Scripture: Philippians 4:6b-7 (NLT)