People who lived through the 1960s tell me it was an era of cultural discord, turbulence, and division. I believe this era is similar. We have dissension over mandates, equal rights, foreign conflicts, education, and racial clashes. In addition, we battle over masks, vaccines, elections, and media. Can we have peace when the culture war seems never-ending?

I believe the answer is: yes we can, but first we must win the battle for our minds. Let me ask you: What consumes your mind? Is it politics? Is it COVID-19? Is it everything wrong with the world? Are you consumed with worry? Do you win a lot of arguments in your head?

I’m here to tell you that peace is available for you! You can have perfect peace if you fix your mind on God. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You [God] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” How do we fix our minds on Him? The easiest answer is to pray and read your Bible. One other way I fight the battle for my mind is by writing truths about who I am as a child of God on my bathroom mirror. I remind myself “I am assured that all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28), “I am a minister of reconciliation for God” (2 Cor 5:17-21), and “I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). With these, I begin and end each day with my thoughts fixed on Him.

Philippians 4:8 gives us strategies for fighting the battle for our minds: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Is talk radio lovely? Are CNN, Fox, and MSNBC honorable? Is the news you consume admirable? Is your social media feed excellent and worthy of praise? Turn them off. Unsubscribe. Fix your mind on God and trust in His Word, and you will have perfect peace in this era of anxiety, distrust, and anger.

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom!

Ben Auger has served as a full-time minister for 12 years in Enumclaw and is a member of the Plateau Ministerial Association. He is developing a new church for the Enumclaw community.