Well, today is Monday...and it's early. In the United States we celebrate all of those that have served in the armed forces today...thanks to the men and women who have served...
Today we tackle #4 of those things that master us...anxiety. Anybody else struggle with this? It seems as though I know that I shouldn't but still do... Here is a passage that I found in my research that should help us together...
Philippians 4: 6-9
Do not be anxious about anything . . .
the peace of God . . . will guard your hearts and minds . .
Anxiety is a general, long-term feeling of uneasiness that keeps the body at a constant low level of alert.
Worry is a conscious choice to try to control life events rather than believe that God is in control. Worry is a thief that robs us of joy, energy, peace of mind, and strength for today. The antidote for worry is absolute faith in God by turning everything over to Him in prayer. But in the midst of our prayer, God wants us to have an attitude of thanksgiving not complaining. Have you ever noticed that this verse tells us how to prevent heart attacks and mental breakdowns? What are the major illnesses in our society today? Society is worrying itself to death! God promises to guard our heart and mind if we give everything to Him. Our bodies were not meant to carry these worries.
Spend time thinking about the things listed in verse 8. We have to change our thinking in order to quit worrying. We must get into God's Word and remember God's faithfulness in the past and His promises for the future. In Luke 8:14 Jesus said the seed (Word of God) did not grow because. . . they are choked with worries. . . of this life . . . Don't allow worry to rob you of God's blessing in your life today.
Is worry consuming you? Pray for the peace of God to give you victory in your everyday living.
I am free from WORRY "for I am to cast my cares upon Him." 1 Peter 5:7
Go to the Bible and read: Psalm 9:9-10; 34; 37; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 3:1-6.
I pray this week that if you struggle with anxiety you realize the following things:1) You are NOT alone. God is always with you (man, I need to remember this one)
2) God is bigger than your problem
3) His timing is ALWAYS perfect. We don't need to run the universe. He's got it.
I will be praying for you this week. Please do the same for me.
Thanks for joining me this morning for our devotionals together. Starting next week, some of these devotionals will be videos. I am going to put them on Youtube and then link them here for you to watch right here on this blog. I look forward to connecting with you all through the comments that you leave here each day...
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
4 comments:
Good morning people of God. Yeah, anxiety is a life stealer. I struggle with anxiety quite a bit like you Brian, Kevin, Arnold, others out there. I know that I've always made excuses about it by saying that my situation would make anybody anxious. I'm always amazed when I see my situation after the event & observe that God's peace, joy, love, patience, faithfulness, & comfort was present for me. I ask myself what I did to gain that result. Recent times have made me very "desperate" for the power of Jesus to be manifested in my heart. It wasn't just reading God's Word that chased away the sinking feeling of life out of control, but belief that HE IS FAITHFUL TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THIS SITUATION. I have really experienced God's faithfulness during the past year with Margaret in Grad School, Carlos going away to college in Chicago, & getting involved in leadership @ FRC. WOW!!! What a ride it has been!
Stan
Please Pray today for the Veterans of the armed services, pray even harder for those who are serving now. Knowing that it is them and the ones who came befoe them that gave us the freedom we have today.
Carlos did such a great job this weekend with the guitar solo as a Vet myself I can tell you it was very moving goose bumps all over. As soon as I can compress it I have a video of it but the file is to big, he is alowing me to put it on my blog. I hope tonight
Todays lesson is a hard one but I'm learning.
I need to learn that victory over anxiety comes from facing the issue head on with God's help and through trusting in Him instead of always looking for a way to sidestep and avoid those situations that make me anxious!
Good morning all,
it's late but I slept in having the day off today. I saw a bumper sticker the the other day and it fits right in todays devo. so I will share it with you all, it said "don't tell God how big your problems are instead tell your problems how big your God is"
have a blessed day.
Ps. I'm heading out to IKEA with wife and daughter.
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