Bible League: Living His Word Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.The Bible is not big on emotions like fear, worry, and anxiety. Typically, it counsels that we should refrain from having them. Typically, it commands that we should refrain from having them. "Do not fear" (Deuteronomy 31:6), "Do not worry" (Matthew 6:25), and today's verse, "Do not be anxious," are just three of many examples that could be cited. When you look up some dictionary definitions of "anxious" and see descriptions like "mental distress," "greatly worried," "painful suspense," and "extreme uneasiness of mind," you can see why the Bible takes its dim view of anxiety. Who would want any of that? Being anxious is the exact opposite of an emotion the Bible often encourages: peace. In John 14:27, Jesus doesn't say He's going to the Father and leaving us with anxiety. Rather, He says He is leaving us with peace. Peace, one could legitimately conclude, is the standard operating emotion of a Christ-follower. Anxiety, however, is not so easily avoided. Everyone, Christ-follower or not, has bouts of anxiety. In those situations that cause us anxiety Philippians 4:6 has a recommendation: the presenting of prayers and petitions to God. When anxiety strikes, the recommendation is to turn to God, not to the situation. When you do, then something good happens. The peace that transcends all understanding pacifies your troubled heart and mind. You may not understand how God can resolve your situation, but that's why it's called the peace that transcends understanding. You've given the problem to God, you've "cast your cares" (I Peter 5:7), and it is up to Him to figure out how things should be handled. Don't forget the thanksgiving part of the recommendation. Our prayers and petitions should be accompanied with thanksgiving. After all, if we're not thankful for the many things God has already given us, why would we expect He will give us even more? Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 15, 16, 17 Genesis 15 -- God's Covenant with Abram NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 16 -- Sarai, Hagar, and Ishmael NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 17 -- The Covenant of Circumcision NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 5:27-48 Matthew 5 -- The Sermon on the Mount; Beatitudes; Salt; Law; Murder; Adultery; Divorce; Oaths; Enemies NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Insight Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God. Challenge We, too, can have a right relationship with God by trusting him. Our outward actions—church attendance, prayer, good deeds—will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith—the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions will follow naturally as by-products. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezekiel 33:22 Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening.In the way of judgment this may be the case, and, if so, be it mine to consider the reason of such a visitation, and bear the rod and him that hath appointed it. I am not the only one who is chastened in the night season; let me cheerfully submit to the affliction, and carefully endeavour to be profited thereby. But the hand of the Lord may also be felt in another manner, strengthening the soul and lifting the spirit upward towards eternal things. O that I may in this sense feel the Lord dealing with me! A sense of the divine presence and indwelling bears the soul towards heaven as upon the wings of eagles. At such times we are full to the brim with spiritual joy, and forget the cares and sorrows of earth; the invisible is near, and the visible loses its power over us; servant-body waits at the foot of the hill, and the master-spirit worships upon the summit in the presence of the Lord. O that a hallowed season of divine communion may be vouchsafed to me this evening! The Lord knows that I need it very greatly. My graces languish, my corruptions rage, my faith is weak, my devotion is cold; all these are reasons why his healing hand should be laid upon me. His hand can cool the heat of my burning brow, and stay the tumult of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand which moulded the world can new-create my mind; the unwearied hand which bears the earth's huge pillars up can sustain my spirit; the loving hand which incloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand which breaketh in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my soul, address thy God with the potent plea, that Jesus' hands were pierced for thy redemption, and thou shalt surely feel that same hand upon thee which once touched Daniel and set him upon his knees that he might see visions of God. Daily Light on the Daily Path Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.Proverbs 18:24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Exodus 33:11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. John 15:14,15 "You are My friends if you do what I command you. • "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. Luke 17:10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'" Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |