Good Thursday morning, my friends.
Yesterday's message on malcontentedness only speaks of part of the problem - current circumstances and situations. How about anxiety about what could happen - the "what if's"? What if I lose my job? What if I can never find a job? What if my husband gets cancer? What if my child gets hurt? Do you sometimes (or often or always) lay awake at night paralyzed by fear of the future? I know I do. Jesus cautions us against this. He said "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34). Just like borrowing money steals our future earnings, worry about tomorrow steals our current joy.
Yesterday I quoted Paul's litany of the trials he had endured and yet was still able to be content in all circumstances. Paul says this in his letter to the church at Philippi:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)
In addition to the litany of the trials Paul had endured (as I quoted yesterday) he was in chains in a Roman prison when he wrote that. Rejoice? Do not be anxious about anything? The key to Paul's contentedness, I believe, is the phrase "with thanksgiving". If we look at all that God has done for us in the past, and at the hope He has given us: a future of eternity with Christ in heaven, we cannot help but be thankful for our current circumstances and have confidence that nothing that comes at us in the future will be more than light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17). Focus on the true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely, the admirable, and not on the worst case scenario. And a peace that cannot be defined will be yours.
Grace and a peaceful sleep be yours,
Bruce
Father, I'm praying that I and my friends will be free from worry...
Help us not worry when things don't go the way we expect. Jesus said we're not to fret, not to worry, not to let our hearts be troubled or afraid. He said we're to trust in You— and also in Him. May it be so in our lives and ministry, no matter how impossible things seem. (John 14:1, 27b)
Keep us from worrying about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. When such trouble comes, help us to cast all our anxiety on Christ because He cares for us. (Matthew 6:34; 1 Peter 5:7)
Help us not to be anxious about anything but to pray about everything with thanksgiving—for when we do, You'll give us Your peace that surpasses our understanding, and such peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)
Keep our minds steadfast in trusting You, and give us Your perfect peace. May we turn to the Lord of Peace who will give us peace at all times, in every way. (Isaiah 26:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Help us leave every worry at Your feet where it belongs.
In Jesus' name, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment