AUGUST 14

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Ps 68:19

“Blessed be the Lord,   Who daily loads us with benefits,  The God of our salvation! Selah”

STEPHANIE KUERSCHNER:

We may face situations beyond our reserves, but never beyond God’s resources..

Though life can make various demands on us, we can always draw strength from God. We can entrust our cares to Him, do all we can, and let Him amaze us with what He can do with our situation.

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Father, thank You for Your patience when I trust in my own resources and turn to You only as a last resort. Teach me to seek Your help in all I do.

The  situations I face are beyond my reserves, but never beyond your  resources.

You have a plan . I trust you and praise you for your guidance and if it is your will – that you will walk through this fire with me and that your will be done .

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This month we will continue the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

Philippians 4:4-7

“4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!    5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.   6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

WHATEVER HAPPENS….HAVE A STATEGY FOR IMPERFECT SITUATIONS

REMEMBER THE LORD IS NEAR

When Paul talks about this, in verse 5 above, some scholars believe he was talking about the Lord’s return being near, while others believe he referred to Christ being near through the Holy Spirit.

I don’t think we have to decide which is correct.  I think he was using it both ways….a literary device called a “double entendre” which means something that can correctly be taken two ways.

We certainly know both interpretations represent reality.  The Lord is coming near, and His presence is also near.  Even when we don’t feel His presence, he’s still as near as ever.  Sometimes He gives us a keen sense of His nearness, however.

Many people have been saved when they “happened to” land on a Christian radio station, or “happened” to find a tract laying on the street.  How wonderful to have moments like that.  But regardless of those obvious things, we know the Lord is near His every child.  When your situation takes an imperfect turn, set your mind on the nearness of Christ.

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING

I tend to be anxious about everything.  The only good thing about that is this: it has driven e t study everything the bible has to say on the subject.  The whole bible is given to keep us from fear and worry.  It’s the greatest collection of anti-worry advice in the world.  I’ve found strength and reassurance on every page but there are three passages that seem to me as definitive words from God on this subject.  The first is Psalm 37, which begins, “Do not fret.”  The second is from the lips of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

The third passage is this one in Philippians 4:4-7 (our verse for this chapter….at the top of the page)

May I suggest that, if you battle worry, take the flyleaf of your bible and write the words, “Anti-worry Verses.”  Then start with these three:

Psalm 37, Matthew 6 and Philippians 4.

When you find other verses that help you, write them down, too, and create your own list of anti-worry passages.   (or put them on cards and keep them handy).

Into your imperfect situation, God the Father says in the Old Testament:  “Do not fret.”  God the Son says in the gospel:  “Do not worry.” And God the Holy Spirit inspired the words of Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious.”

Think of the three members of the Godhead hovering around you and speaking these words into your ears.

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