Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Ryan Stevenson singing … Eye of the Storm … poignantly and powerfully singing of the strength we can receive in the storms of life, anchored by our faith in Christ.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
… Anxious?!! … Well, here’s God’s prescription for your worries.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 4:1-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches us how to handle the anxieties of life
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s prescription for worry is trusting in Him.
Reference Passage : … Luke 8:22-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus showed His disciples that He was in control - total control - even when we’re in life-threatening storms.
Reference Passage : … 1st Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [or also “tests, trials, tribulations, troubles”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
… If we truly believe it, we’ll be okay - no matter what comes.
Reference Passage : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
… In the presence of dire pain, Paul remember Jesus’ promise that His grace was enough to give him the power to handle his own pain/weakness.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Karen Wolfe, in the midst of anxieties about a move, remembered Paul writing about how God promises to be with us and provide us with His strength and direction when we pray. The ODB author wrote: We were excited about moving for my husband’s job. But the unknowns and challenges left me feeling anxious. Thoughts of sorting and packing up belongings. Looking for a place to live. My finding a new job too. Making my way around a new city, and getting settled. It was all . . . unsettling. As I thought about my “to-do” list, words written by the apostle Paul echoed in my mind: Don’t worry, but pray (Phil. 4:6–7).
The simple - but life-affirming - question is … do we trust our Lord … especially when we’re in the “Eye of the Storm,” as Ryan Stevenson sings in the linked song. And that song reminds me of a powerful teaching miracle where Jesus showed His Disciples, when they were worried about their lives in the midst of a storm (see Luke 8: 22-25), that He was in control - no matter what!!
But, as the remainder of the reference passages teach, do we really trust God [see photo] enough to quell our anxieties when we’re faced with the storms of life? That’s the focus of my prayer today.
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … O Lord, You are in control … ALWAYS! … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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