Blog

May 22, 2026 06:00am

Daisies, Butterflies, and the Peace Only God Can Give

48 Views

My eyes fly open in an instant. Was that real? Is someone in the house? Did I just see a figure move past the window? Was there really a spider on me?

Countless questions race through my mind as I try to convince myself to go back to sleep.

I dream every night. Do you?

My husband rarely dreams, but for me, they are constant, vivid, and often bizarre.

And sometimes, they are nightmares.

When I startle awake, I can still see everything from my dream. And it replays repeatedly in my mind. So, how do I go back to sleep?

Daisies and butterflies.

That’s what I turn to when I’m scared or trying to get something terrible out of my mind.

I try to visualize a beautiful meadow with wild daisies blooming. I can see the sunlight casting a warm glow and delicate butterflies fluttering through the field, landing on a flower for nectar.

And then I can fall back asleep.

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The carnal mind thinks carnal thoughts. It remembers sinful things the eye has seen and the ear has heard. So, how can those thoughts be stopped?

Paul instructed the believers at Philippi to fill their minds with wholesome things. And more than just sweet daisies and butterflies. The greatest thing we can fill our minds with is the Word of God. Then they would be filled with peace that only Christ can bring.

Consider what we fill our minds with each day. What have we seen in a movie or video? What sort of books, magazines, or sites are we setting our eyes on? What music are we listening to?

We’re not just talking about lustful images or foul language. How often do we replay that conversation, argument, or hurtful situation in our mind? The one we say we’ve forgiven them for. Yet we constantly go back to it and think, I should have said this, or I can’t believe they did that to me. Or maybe it’s that we constantly focus on the shortcomings, imperfections, or negative characteristics of our spouse. Those continual thoughts can lead us into a spiral of negativity and temptation toward sin.

Are these things like Paul described—true, honest, just, pure, and lovely?

If we are going to be followers of Christ, devoted to showing the world what a life devoted to Him looks like, it doesn’t begin with outward change. It starts within.

Let me share more with you about what life looks like when we walk with Christ. Visit follow.Lifeword.org and use this helpful resource from Lifeword to learn more about Jesus and how to be His disciple.