You know that little bar at the bottom of the screen when you’re watching ESPN? (FYI it’s called a crawler…) Not that I’m a regular ESPN viewer or anything, but with a husband who loves sports, I’ve noticed the bar a time or two. I think it’s crazy that people can watch the game on the screen, yet still manage to absorb the latest information and alerts coming through the crawler.

I have always struggled with anxiety. Most of that anxiety comes from a place of self-doubt or lack of confidence in myself and my capabilities, which I know is just Satan battling for my mind. I hate the thought of letting people down, or making them think that they can’t count on me. I don’t want to be that person because deep down, I know I’m not that person.

Anxiety makes me crave one thing: peace. When I’m praying for others in tough situations, I always pray for God to bring them peace because I know how it feels to be unsettled. I am so thankful for Paul’s words here in Philippians and how he encourages us to be intentional about focusing our minds:

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

These are the reminders and notifications I want on my mental crawler, on constant repeat, bringing me peace. None of the worldly worries and anxieties I’m burdened with are included in Paul’s list of things to think about. One thing encompasses all of Paul’s “whatevers” and that is Jesus. If we fix our thoughts on Jesus and the promise that He is preparing a place for us in heaven, we truly have nothing to worry about – and that’s all the peace I need!