A LIVING ROOM DEVOTIONAL

Below is one of the many Living Room devotionals I’ve written. I wrote them for people experiencing mental health conditions. Over 250 of spiritual writings like this can be found on the freshly updated Living Room webpage at https://marjabergen.com/support-groups. They will make valuable additions for all kinds of mental health support meetings, including Mental Health Psychosocial Support groups.  The following was originally written for Christians. It has been changed to help Muslim groups benefit.

These devotional writings were written between 2013 and 2022, inspired by the healing God brought to my life of psychological pain. He filled me with His love when I most needed it. In turn, I passed that love on to others who suffered as I did.

DISCOVER PEACE

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

This Bible verse is not in the Quran, but the core message of finding “perfect peace” through complete trust in God is a concept that is also central to Islam, with many Muslims drawing parallels and applying the verse to their faith in Allah.

We hear a lot about finding peace in God. But how can we live in peace in the lives we live today? All of us are longing for it. We stew about things, worry, wish things were better. Where can we find peace when everything is so wrong?

The Scripture above has the answer. It says that we need to keep our mind “stayed” on God. Other Bible translations use such words as having our “minds steadfast.” It’s not so easily done on our own. But God can help us.

When you allow God (or Allah) into your life, trusting that He’s in control, He will give you His peace. Pray your way through the stress and turmoil, as you keep your mind steadfast on God. He can quiet your heart if you seek Him.

There are other things you can do, activities you might not consider prayer. One thing I like to do to take my mind off stress and pain is to explore what God has created. I study flowers up close, looking at the form, the color, the utter beauty. God is in those flowers. You may not be using words, yet they are prayers, nonetheless.

Check around for something special in nature today. Look closely and thank God for it. His peace is there for you to discover. Most likely, you’ll find joy as well.

Try it.
marja