NOVEMBER 20

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Philippians 4:6

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

Luke 12:25

“And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

Matthew 6:26-34

“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?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;  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?

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

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.

Romans 14:23

“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

James 1:5-7

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;”

This month we will read choices from Charles Spurgeon’s (known affectionately as the “prince of preachers”)  devotional, “Beside Still Waters.”   It’s no secret that this world system is getting more evil by the day.  We have to stand strong in the Lord and look to Him more than ever to get through, and to be guided through, what is in the future……..known and allowed  by Him alone…..as well as whatever personal things we are experiencing in our lives.

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PASTOR SPURGEON:

Christians are forbidden to be anxious.  You’re worth more than the birds or the flowers!!!  (Matthew 6:26-34).  (God doesn’t make suggestions, He gives commands!!  Romans 14:23 says that  “… for whatever is not from faith is sin.”  Therefore, worry is a sin because it out-rules faith. We need to repent of it, and ask the Lord for His power to help us believe that He will provide what we need and/or show us what to do…James 1:5-7)

If you have a Father in heaven who cares for you, every little bird that sits on a branch and sings, even though it doesn’t have a grain of barley in all the world, should put you to shame if you are anxious!  The birds live exempt from care, why not you?

Our Lord taught that anxiety is useless and needless. Care and worry cannot add one cubit to our stature. (Luke 12:25).  If the farmer worries about lack of rain, will this open the clouds of heaven?  If the merchant is concerned because an unfavorable wind delays his loaded ship, can this turn the gale to another quarter?  We do not improve our lot by fretting and fuming.  If we were infinitely wiser we would throw our cares on God.  Prudence is wisdom, for it adapts a means to an end.  Anxiety is folly, for it groans and worries and accomplishes nothing.

According to our Savior, anxiety about worldly things is heathenish, (sinful)  “for all these things the Gentiles seek”  (Matthew 6:32)  heathens have no God, and so they try to be their own providence.  The believer who can say, “God’s providence is my inheritance,” will not worry.  Let the heirs of heaven live on a higher plane than sinners who live without God and without hope.  If we are in Christ, let us believe in our God and leave the governing of both the outside world and the little world within to our heavenly Father.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

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