for an end to my awful mind cassettes

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:6-8 (New Living Translation)

Sometimes I sit up late at night obsessing. Running one bad tape over and over again in my mind. It doesn't help anything to go over this same ground; to keep replaying a mistake, or a bunch of mistakes. It doesn't help anything to keep worrying over the same fears, the same inadequacies, the same injuries, like a child who keeps poking at a bruise to see how much it hurts. Sometimes I think these bad mental cassette tapes are the exact opposite of prayer, the ultimate in fruitless labor.

Jesus, please guard my mind with your peace. Help me fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

And help me ditch those awful, worn-out, peace-thieving cassettes.

for my friend's peace during a time of worry

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 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. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

O God, our Shield and Strength, my friend is pursuing your peace. Instead of worrying, he is praying. He is letting praise and petition shape his worries into prayers and leaving them in your care. He does not know what the future will bring (do any of us?) but he is allowing you to guard his heart and thoughts and keep him from needless anxiety. Committing to you, leaning on you, drawing peace from your Presence…my friend has given you his trust and I know you are steadfast. For this we both give you thanks.