An Invitation to “Think on These Things” from Today’s Guest Lori Hatcher

This week, my guest Lori Hatcher offers an invitation. In her newest book Think on These Things: 60 Thoughtful Devotions for Renewed Peace that  releases January 7, she invites us to follow the offer in Philippians 4: 8-9. Read on for an excerpt, then scroll to learn more about Lori. and click on the link to order her book.

An Invitation to “Think on These Things”

By Lori Hatcher

When you hear the word peace, what comes to mind? Busy toddlers napping, bringing silence to an otherwise noisy home? Or an absence of relational conflict—in your marriage, family, or church? Some might picture peace as the end of a cultural or global war.

Reverend Billy Graham noted, “The word peace is used in the Bible in three main ways. First, there is spiritual peace—peace between God and man. Second, there is psychological peace—peace within. Third, there is relational peace—peace among mankind.”[1]

Every believer has experienced the first kind of peace—spiritual peace—made possible because of Christ’s death on the cross. If we’ve confessed our sin to God and surrendered our lives to His control, we stand before Him forgiven and free.

We won’t fully experience the third type of peace—relational peace—peace among humanity, until Christ, the Prince of Peace, ushers in His eternal kingdom.

But what about the second type of peace—psychological peace? Do you long for it? Wouldn’t you love to experience deep, abiding soul rest? Don’t you wish you could sleep with nothing troubling your mind? Or laugh from the depths of your soul, unhindered by fear or pain? Do you envy the unbridled joy of a child and long for those carefree days?

Must we wait until Jesus returns and banishes sin and sorrow from our world forever before we experience this kind of soul-satisfying peace?

The Bible tells us we don’t have to wait until heaven. We can experience peace right now. Philippians 4:8–9 tells us how: “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. . . . And the God of peace will be with you.”

Romans 12:2 calls this being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Ephesians 4:23 describes it as being “made new in the attitude of your minds.”

Scripture assures us that peace is possible when we seize the reins of our mind and point it where we want our thoughts to go. We can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

If you long to experience the peace that will keep your heart joy-filled and secure, I invite you to join me on a sixty-day journey to “think on these things.”

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.

Isaiah 26:3 esv

~Lori

Lori Hatcher is a devotional writer, blogger, teacher, and at heart desires to point women to the peace only a relationship with Jesus gives. Head over to her site https://lorihatcher.com/to learn more about Lori and her devotional books and click here to learn more about  Think on These Things

[1] “Answers,” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, last modified May 6, 2021, https://billygraham.org/answer/three-kinds-of-peace-what-the-bible-says/.