Lower Your Blood Pressure

I am broadcasting to you this afternoon from the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas. Yeah, wouldn’t that be awesome? Beautiful though, huh? The setting does lull one into a peaceful frame of mind, doesn’t it? Palm trees swaying in the breeze. Ocean waves breaking on the shore. It just calms one down. Your find your heart rate slowing, your blood pressure dropping, as you breathe deeply and simply relax. 

You know, you do not have to travel to a tropical island to find that kind of tranquility. Really. Jesus promised us in John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” However, just like, if we want to enjoy the Atlantis Paradise Island resort we have to do something – travel to the Bahamas – in a similar fashion, if we want the peace of Jesus we have to do something as well. First, we have to bring all of our worries and fears to Him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), He says, and we have to leave them with Him. Walk away! This includes our worry. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was very clear, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life…Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:25, 27)

Do we believe Him? Do we trust Him? Then we need to leave our concerns and anxieties with Him. I know this is a difficult time. Many of us are genuinely afraid, but, God’s Word is true. All of it. Every syllable, sentence, and chapter. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God.” Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God proves true.” We agree wholeheartedly when it says, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12). “…anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). “…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38).

Yeah, those are all great! And, surely, they are true! However, the Bible also says, “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).

If you want to slow your heart rate down, lower your blood pressure, and find peace that passes all understanding, then trust God enough to give Him – not “loan” Him – give Him your cares, frustrations, fears, anxieties, and worry. Leave them for Him at the foot of the cross, and do not pick them up again. Ever. Trust Him on that. 

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