One of the things I most wanted these devotionals to accomplish is to give hope – to encourage – to lift up. There is no escaping the hard parts of life right now. I include myself - last night when I laid down to sleep, I got through my prayers fine but as soon as I relaxed to let sleep come my mind started racing and the thoughts were not good. I was thinking about everything that is problematic in my life right now. I kept stopping the thoughts and praying about them. Let’s face it, this will happen, we get worried, we get anxious. All you have to do is go to work to realize things are not the same and won’t be for a long time or maybe never, watch the news and realize what a mess things are right now. We were not built to be fearful – so why do we do that? This is the source of my Devotional today. Some help for me, for you, for us to have handy so in case the mind races or things get tough.
Yesterday’s note in my Pocket Bible was so bang on for the times we are facing right now. I want to share with you. “Stress and Worry are like poison, polluting the mind and destroying your whole body. But we know its not easy to have no stress, because the crisis and the things that bring about stress will not just disappear. God invites you to give all your worries to Him. He will carry it for you, and sort it out, because He has the power and authority to do so. In return for your stress He gives you peace that surpasses all understanding.”
Talk about anxiety - All you have to do is go to work to realize things are not the same and won’t be for a long time or maybe never, watch the news and realize what a mess things are right now. We were not built to be fearful – so why do we do that? This is the source of my Devotional today. Some help for me, for you, for us to have handy so in case the mind races or things get tough. In John 16:33 it says “trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
PSALM 46 AMP God the Refuge of His People. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song. God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
I picked the amplified Bible versions on these because I wanted it to be very clear in todays language to be most helpful.
Matthew 6:19-34 Amplified Bible 19 “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. 23 But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. The Cure for Anxiety 25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying can add one [a]hour to [the length of] his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This part - “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart. Store up treasures in Heaven, knowing the word, spreading the word. Living out the word those are treasures. Those are what we need to store up. So that… no thieves break in and steal… our joy, our thoughts.
Philippians 4:6 Amplified Bible 6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
1 Peter 5:6 Amplified Bible 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,
Jesus did not die so we could live a anxiety riddled life, He did not experience condemnation, temptation and death so we could worry and let the enemy win over us. Grab hold of these promises above and press in to them when times are hard. Read good things..as Joyce Meyer says if you FILL your mind and heart with God’s word there is not room for the enemy to invade. I say – AMEN
Dear Heavenly Father, We as in Jesus Name that you help us demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You, and let us take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus. Help us keep this in the forefront of our minds –in reach always. We thank You for your love and grace. In Jesus Name - AMEN