How do we set our hearts “at rest?”

In the midst of this crazy world and hectic life, do you not desire to set your hearts at rest?  I certainly do.   So when I read, “This is how we know. . . how to set our hearts at rest. . .”, I began to explore what the Apostle John meant.It appears to be simple, based on 1 John 3:19.“This is how . . . . we set our heats at rest in his presence.”The bottom line? We need to be in God’s presence.But once there, we will experience one of two things:Scene 1:  We will be in turmoil because our heart is filling us with self-accusations and tormenting feelings of condemnation.    ORScene 2: We will know our heart is not condemning us and we will be at peace.If we are in turmoil, John suggests we focus on this:  God is greater than our hearts.  God knows everything about us, and he still gave up his only Son for our sins.  When we are failing to be “at rest”, God wants us to remember that Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, even while we were deserving condemnation. At this point,  we bring our feelings of torment and accusation to the foot of the Cross. We roll our turmoil over on to the bleeding body of Jesus, and accept his forgiveness.  Here, we pause with gratitude for our Lord’s sacrifice, and accept God’s grace and freedom from condemnation.ORIf our hearts are not rattling us with self-condemnation, we are to have confidence before God.  We are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace and ask in prayer for what we need, knowing that we will receive it.  This covenant is based on our living in God, practicing what pleases him, keeping his commandments.  If we are in this situation, we are operating in this basic truth: the Almighty God has given us his Spirit.  In fact, we are immersed in his Spirit, the source of peace. So, either way — our hearts can be at rest in God’s presence.It is your choice! In Christ,