Is peace a state of mind that comes naturally to you? Could you honestly say the words, “I feel completely at peace right now,” and truly feel it? In many ways, finding peace is a lost art. Your world may be filled with distractions and meaningless babble that capture your attention and warp your sense of reality. If you watch too much cable news, your perception might be that the world is one step away from disaster. Binge too many fantasy features and you might get a warped sense of how your relationships should look.
Or playing too much of the comparison game with your neighbors might make you feel inadequate. A sense of comfort can be difficult to come by if you are looking in all the wrong places. According to Scripture, there’s only one way for you to find and feel a sincere peace that fills your heart and spirit. That is via a mind that is unswervingly toward Christ—meaning you are in harmony with Him and rooted in His Word.
Put your trust in His promise; it’s a much more beautiful melody than the noise of the world.
FOUR
For FOURS, finding peace often means quieting their minds. They can get caught up guessing what will happen in situations and sometimes will replay events over and over until their anxiety level is overwhelming.
Awareness for Fours: Giving yourself permission to explore Scripture through a creative outlet can help you re-center yourself and remember your trust is found in Christ alone. This week as you meditate on Isaiah 26:3, allow yourself to see the benefit of seeking the Word of God first in all you do. Write down several ways in which you have experienced an overwhelming sense of peace because you have put your trust in Christ.
FIVE
FIVES often find peace when retreating into their “own space.” They require and value a lot of alone time. They also gain peace of mind best by rooting their thoughts in the Word of God and quieting the constant need to investigate.
Awareness for Fives: Find how to trust in Christ by spending time learning His ways and recognizing that His ways are better than your own ways. This week as you meditate on Isaiah 26:3, allow yourself to see the benefit of seeking the Word of God first in all you do. Write down several ways in which you have experienced an overwhelming sense of peace because you have put your trust in Christ.
SIX
SIXES find inner peace through physical activity. By walking, doing yoga, hiking, gardening, or maybe even bike riding, they begin to awaken other parts of their bodies. This can help them process anxiety. Getting out of their own heads and not overthinking is key to finding peace in their day-to-day lives.
Awareness for Sixes: Connecting with God through physical activity allows you to process information while stimulating both sides of your brain. This week as you meditate on Isaiah 26:3, allow yourself to bring to mind scriptures that speak truth about who you are as you engage in a physical activity you enjoy. As you renew your mind through scriptures, ask God to quiet your anxiety. Rest in the peace that comes from spending time on yourself and being in the word of God.
Eve Annunziato is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who segued from news writing and reporting to ministry leadership roles at some of the fastest-growing churches in the country. A freelance producer and writer, she loves spending time at her farmhouse outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Charlie Neese, and their two kids.
Jackie Brewster, a certified Enneagram coach, consults with teams and individuals, leading them toward finding the best version of themselves in their work and personal environments by identifying their unique personality type through the teachings of the Enneagram and biblical truth. Leaning on their many years of church ministry experience, Jackie and her husband, Stephen, own a consulting company while raising their four children in Franklin, Tennessee.
Adapted from Hearing God Speak: A 52-Week Interactive Enneagram Devotional. Copyright © 2021 by Eve Annunziato and Jackie Brewster. Used by permission of Ink & Willow, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.