“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Ever feel like your thoughts are so scattered?  Ever have what feels like a million worries and fears in your mind shouting for your attention all at once?  Ever wish that God would just reach down and shut them all off?

The Lord has been speaking to me recently about the discipline of setting my mind.  Colossians 3:2 tells us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

What is this idea of “setting your mind”?  I think it is a deliberate choice to focus on God and whatever He is speaking to us.  Sometimes it feels like we can’t control our thoughts.  But we can.  If we deliberately choose to focus on the Lord and His truths, eventually we will be so full of His Spirit and truth that Satan’s lies won’t have room to flourish anymore.

It is very anxiety-producing at first.  We feel that we are obligated to chase our worries down and analyze them.  But the reality is, we’re NEVER told to do that in Scripture.

Consider these verses:

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…’” Isaiah 30:15.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” Jeremiah 6:16.

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart…Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret…do not fret…” Psalm 37.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-33.

In light of these verses, it is evident that worry is the exact opposite of what we are called to as children of God!  This is not to say that we are meant to always be happy or to stuff our feelings.  But we are called to have the joy of the Lord, to have a peace about us that surpasses understanding (Phil. 4:6).

God knows we’re human.  He knows that we will have cares. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. We are to “take heart,” to bring our cares to God, to cast them on Him, and to EXPECT Him to come through as He promises in His Word!

Consider this passage:

“I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope: