BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY:

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. - Philippians 3:17-20

The Hardest Prayer You Can Pray

The Hardest Prayer You Can Pray   
by Liz Kanoy    

“Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34).

The context of this verse occurs when Jesus is being crucified. Though He was innocent, He carried His cross alongside two criminals to the place where they would be crucified, called The Skull (Golgotha). On the cross, the Son of God—situated between two sinners deserving of death—spoke to His Father and said, ’Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34). This was and is the worst crime in the history of the world; the only innocent Man to live on this earth, the only Man undeserving of death and punishment was put to death in the most humiliating and unfair way … and He said what?

This prayer was directed toward the taunting crowd, religious leaders happily observing His death, apathetic Roman soldiers placing bets for His clothing, and the criminals on either side of Him. Could you forgive someone for a terrible crime simply because they do not know God? This is the hardest prayer anyone can pray. To forgive someone undeserving of forgiveness; to forgive someone who does not even recognize their need for forgiveness.

Could you pray this prayer for terrorists, for killers, for gunmen, for bullies, for family members who hurt you deeply, for friends who stab you in the back, for co-workers who use you, for any number of circumstances that cause you or someone you love pain.

On my own, I know I cannot pray this prayer—for I am far too angered by injustice, by acts of evil, by selfish deceit. But with the Holy Spirit as my Helper and my Advocate, I can seek to grow in this prayer. To see people as not just wrong or evil but incredibly lost … and to pray most of all for God to make Himself known to them, for He is the One whom all wrongs are ultimately committed against.

Jesus forgave those who murdered Him not only on the cross but also in their hearts. He saw their state of lostness and just as He had compassion on the crowds who surrounded him during his ministry he had compassion on His persecutors.

If Jesus is our utmost example for Holy living according to God’s will, then we can follow His example even in this—the offering of forgiveness to those who persecute us. Let us pray for our persecutors and our enemies that they might know the love of God and the freedom of forgiveness and grace.

Our Concerns Are in His Hands

Our Concerns Are in His Hands   
By John D. Barry    

Gospel work is a process. And there are days when the road ahead feels not just rocky, but downright treacherous. We’ve all been here. It is in these moments that it can feel difficult to go on with Christ’s work. When all feels hopeless, here are some ideas of what you can do.

Consider the Birds of the Air

We often forget just how holistic God’s work is. And God can manage the concerns of his creation, surely he can manage our concerns.

Anxiety and worry are easy. Faith is hard. But if we lack faith, we need to look no further than the birds of the air to realize God’s faithfulness. And this isn’t some sort of “easy way out” theology. I am advocating that we actually stop and observe—contemplate, pray, and then act.Notice the order: stop, observe, contemplate, pray, and then act.

Once we visibly observe God’s work, trust in him becomes much easier. In the midst of hopelessness, we must realize that we serve a God who shows us everyday that we can indeed have hope (Hebrews 11:1).

Consider the Flowers of the Field

It can seem a bit cliché at times, but it’s an important reminder: God’s creation is beautifully clothed, so why would he not also care for you? In the same passage we have already looked at, Jesus goes on to say:

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28–30 LEB).

We struggle over our concerns of today, but how often do they merely fade into the background when tomorrow comes. At times, we wonder where God’s provision will come from while we forget what he did yesterday. Think of what God did yesterday—that may change everything about today.

Consider the “Value” Anxiety Brings

Anxiety brings no real value to our lives. Instead, it concerns our mind and occupies our time. It’s meant to distract us from what is real and important—what matters, which is our loving God and the work he wants to do through our hands. Jesus concludes his remarks about worry and anxiety by saying:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?,’ for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31–34 LEB).

If we seek first God’s kingdom, everything else fades into the background. As we turn our focus from ourselves to Jesus, we see that our concerns about ourselves were really not that important at all. When we mentally place our fate in God’s hands—which it literally is anyways—our perspective shifts and we realize what’s most important: knowing God and accomplishing his purposes by loving others.

Why Our “Concerns” Truly Matter

It’s so easy to toil from one day to the next without acknowledging what God has done the day before. I make that mistake, and I’m sure you have made that mistake before too. And lest we think this is a small matter, let’s take a moment and contemplate why changing our perspective is so important.

When we change our perspective from our worries and concerns—from food, clothing, materialism, and even our personal goals—and turn our focus towards God’s goals, we have an opportunity to truly change the world. Around our globe there are people who are suffering in No poverty, and people who have never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus. If our perspective is skewed, we will never find the strength we need to address these issues. We will lack the courage necessary to do God’s work, because we will be paralyzed by fear. But if we have courage, imagine what could happen.

God has incredible things in store for this world. Joining him means partnering with him, and partnering with him means setting our eyes on Jesus.

A Prayer for the Overburdened

A Prayer for the Overburdened   
By Pastor David McGee  

  On the third day, we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.
 (Acts 27:19)

Did you know that ships have a line drawn along the hull to indicate their burden? If the line goes too far beneath the water, the sailors know there is too much cargo on board. This allows the sailor to take the necessary steps to avoid disaster. Wouldn't it be great if we had indicators on us? In Acts 27, Paul, now a prisoner, was taken by ship to Rome where he and the ship's crew encounter a mighty storm. In danger of shipwreck, the ship's crew threw overboard the cargo they once had considered necessities. Timing and events can really change the way we look at things. We fill our lives with 'tackle' and 'rigging' that is not important to the eternal plan. Often, we get distracted by those things and cling to them rather than to God. We think... "Oh, I need this" or "I just can't live without that," but soon, overburdened, we hit a storm and sink.

Hebrews 12:1: says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

What's in your cargo hold? Are you carrying bitterness? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is your ship laden with shame? Are you hauling around guilt or sin? In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Friend, why carry burdens around when you don't have to? Won't you lay your burdens at the foot of the cross?

Let’s Pray

Dear God, Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for my sins and show me the burdens I carry that You want to remove. There may be things I'm not aware of that are distracting me from the best that You have for me. Please show me these things so that I can give them over to You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Lord Is with Us

The Lord Is with Us   
By Greg Laurie    

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

Sometimes when we end up in a certain situation, we’ll say, “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” Then later on, after a few years pass by and we have the hindsight of 20/20, we are able to look back on certain circumstances and see why the Lord did what He did—or why He did not do what we thought He should do.

To be honest, I’m glad that I don’t always know what is going on around me. We may not know the things that are happening in the supernatural as well as the natural realm, about the plots that might be out there against us, or about those who want to destroy us. But we know this: the Lord is with us wherever we are.

Then we’re told in Isaiah 54:17, “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the Lord” (NKJV).

People may be able to lie and fool everyone for a time, but eventually it all will come to light. It all will be declared for what it is. The good thing is that even if people are plotting against you as a child of God, you don’t have to be afraid. The Lord is with you. He was there with Paul in his prison cell, and He is there with you wherever you are.

Fighting for More Than Changed Behavior In Your Husband/ Wife

Fighting for More Than Changed Behavior In Your Husband
JERRAD LOPES

“… so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” 1 Peter 3:1b-2 (ESV)

We were in the middle of another big fight.

Fighting seemed to be a normal part of our weekly routine during this season of our marriage. This one felt different, though.

I’d lost my job unexpectedly a few months prior, and my life seemed to be unraveling. Instead of drawing nearer to God, my wife and my kids, I pulled away. Like Eve back in the Garden, I convinced myself God wasn’t enough — that there was something other than Him that could satisfy my soul at a deeper level. And so, I pursued my own desires and dreams.

On this particular day, things came to a breaking point. We were standing in the middle of our bedroom, our voices growing louder. I could feel my heart rate rising as the conversation escalated. I was ready to stand my ground and put up a fight.

My wife stared at me and grew quiet as I said a few hurtful words. The look on her face changed, and I could see tears filling her big brown eyes.

I thought I was winning the fight — until she said these words which will forever live in my memory:

“Jerrad, I want you to know I’ve been setting my alarm for 2 o’clock every morning. I quietly get out of bed and go into the living room to pray for you. I’ve been praying God would capture your heart again.”

Then I realized she hadn’t come to win a fight. She had no more fight left in her.

I had no idea the sacrifice my wife was making to protect our marriage and family. While I was selfishly pursuing my own desires and pulling away from my family to deal with pain, she was in the living room, pleading to God on my behalf.

Hearing her words immediately reminded me of this Scripture in 1 Peter 3:1b-2: 

“… so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (ESV).

The Holy Spirit used my wife’s humble heart to begin drawing me back to the Lord that day.

Here’s the thing: At the core of my wife’s heart was her desire to see a change in me. She saw I was hurting, and instead of processing my emotions like a mature man, I acted like a child. As a result, I was deeply wounding her and others. In her frustration, she could have constantly pointed out my shortcomings and “nagged” me until she saw my behavior change.

But she wasn’t seeking changed behavior, she was seeking a changed heart.

We can all change our behavior temporarily. We can fool others, and even ourselves, into thinking we are doing better. But Jesus never set out to change behavior; He set out to change our hearts. 

This is what is so profound about what my wife did: By waking up every night and begging God to change my heart, she was humbly admitting she wasn’t the one in control. She recognized she doesn’t possess the power to change hearts, so she went before the One who does. 

I’m often asked by wives what they can do to change their husband’s behavior and get him to start leading their family spiritually. My answer is always the same: nothing. But God can.

Women, I urge you, fight for much more than changed behavior. Instead, pray for a changed heart. To not pray is to silently declare you have more power over your marriage than Jesus does. It doesn’t matter how strong you are; You cannot change hearts. Only God can do that, so go to Him. He is faithful.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the gift of my husband. I trust that You intentionally paired us together. Lord, would You capture his heart in new and fresh ways? I surrender him to You. I admit I am not in control and trust You to do what You will in his life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (ESV)

Jesus Sees You

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” - Matthew 6:26

Jesus Sees You   
By Adrian Rodgers    

Heavenly Father, you have created this world and called it good. Yet we are the ones made in your image. Let us never forget how much you love us.

Jesus’ disciples were way out in the sea, and Jesus was on the shore. But He saw them toiling and rowing. He never took His eyes off them.

Are you in the midst of a storm? Did you know He sees you right now? You say, “He doesn’t know where I am. He doesn’t know this difficulty. Why is He so far away? Why am I in the storm and He is on the shore?” Friend, He is there, and He’s praying for you. He’s up there on the mountain looking down. He sees right through the dark. You can’t see Him, but He sees you. You can say, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

My advice for you in the midst of your storm is to see Jesus, the great I AM, and see Him walking on the water. And that thing that looks like it’s going to be over your head is already under His feet. You’re seated in the heaven lies with Him. And you can’t drown with your head above water. He is the great I AM. You can put it down: you are guarded by His power.

Let’s Bring Gifts to God

Let’s Bring Gifts to God   
ARLENE PELLICANE

    “Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!” Psalm 105:1-2 (NKJV)

“Mom, I need some school supplies, hand sanitizer and some fruit!”

That seemed like an odd after-school request from my fifth-grade daughter, Lucy. It turns out she was collecting gifts for teacher appreciation week at school. Each day had a theme:

Monday — Treat your teacher to something sweet.
Tuesday — Bring hand sanitizer or wipes so germs will be gone.
Wednesday — Bring a school supply.
Thursday — Help create a fruit basket by providing a piece of fruit.
Friday — Write a thank-you note.

It got me thinking. What about having a “teacher appreciation week” for the Holy Spirit?

Jesus tells us in John 14:26 that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (NIV). Even more than a terrific earthly teacher, our heavenly Teacher is worthy of many, many thanks.

Our key verse, Psalm 105:1-2, calls us to praise and thank God with exuberance. Notice the exclamation points, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”

Using the creativity of teacher appreciation week as a guide, here are a few ways we might show appreciation to God at home and in our hearts:

Give thanks daily. In a world of grumbling and wickedness, our words of thanksgiving rise as a sweet fragrance before God. We can always give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)

Confess our sins to God regularly. Similar to how hand sanitizer kills germs, confession kills the power of sin to enslave us. First John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (NIV).

Donate supplies to missionaries, churches and/or ministries. We can tangibly show God our appreciation through our financial gifts. Generosity is one way to praise and thank God for His incredible goodness. There is a connection between grateful hearts and open wallets that contribute to God’s Kingdom.

Inspect your fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Is this fruit growing in increasing measure in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit? These character traits would certainly make a beautiful fruit basket to give to any teacher.

Write God a thank-you note. A few verses down from our key verse, the psalmist writes: “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders …” (Psalm 105:5a, NKJV). Remember what God has done for you, and write Him a note to say thanks.

When I was away on a business trip, I bought some T-shirts for my girls. When I returned, gifts in hand, I could tell they liked them. I waited for those magic words … thank you. I didn’t want to ask for the thanks; I just waited to see if they would remember. They eventually did. There have been many times in my life when I’ve been slow to express thanks, too.

On the bottom of Lucy’s teacher appreciation instructions, it read: Participation is completely optional, and students are not required to bring gifts. Isn’t that like our relationship with God?

For each of us, praising and thanking God is optional. We’re not robots required to bring gifts to God. How much more meaningful is the gift which is given voluntarily with great joy! Look around at creation, and think back on what God has done. Read about His wondrous deeds and character in the Bible. God has done great things for each of us. Let’s bring gifts of thanks and praise — not just for a special week, but every day of the year.

Holy Spirit, thank You for being my teacher, for instructing and leading me through this classroom called life. Thank You, God, for Your enduring love and perfect peace. I remember the marvelous works You have done in my life and in the world. I give You praise for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 108:1-4, “My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” (NIV)

The King's Table

The King's Table   
by Ryan Duncan    

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. – John 14:2 

One of my favorite Bible stories is 2 Samuel 2:1. The story begins a few years after David has finally become King of Israel. Before this, his life had been an endless string of running, fighting, and hiding, as he was mercilessly pursed by Saul, who wanted nothing more than David’s head on a spike. Now Saul was dead, and David would have been perfectly justified in dishing up some well-deserved payback on the royal family. Instead, he does something completely different.

David reaches out to Saul’s last living grandson, a poor cripple named Mephibosheth. Despite being Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth’s life hadn’t been that great. His legs had been broken as a baby, both his parents were dead, and he was living alone in exile. When he heard David was coming, Mephiboseth probably assumed that was it for him. Just imagine his surprise at what followed,  "Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table, and he was crippled in both feet. – 2 Samuel 9:7-13

The Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart, and I think here we can see why. The story of David’s compassion to Mephibosheth is in some ways a foreshadowing to God’s compassion for all of us. We are all the broken children of Adam and Eve, people who turned their backs on God. Yet instead of abandoning us, God has made a place for us at his table. He has brought us out of exile and taken us home.

  Whatever trials you may be facing, always remember that you have a place at God’s table.               

How Humility and Obedience Go Hand in Hand

How Humility and Obedience Go Hand in Hand   
by Jennifer Waddle    

Jesus humbled Himself many times and in many ways during His life on earth. At the age of twelve, He humbly obeyed His parents by leaving the temple and His “Father’s business” to return home with them. (Luke 2:41-52) He humbled Himself when being baptized by John, fulfilling all righteousness. (Matthew 3:13-17) And, Jesus served His disciples in humility by washing their feet as an example of servanthood to them. (John 13:1-17)

There was, however, no greater example of humility than that of Jesus’ obedience to death on the cross. He chose to humble Himself, despite the immense battle raging within His soul.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:36-39

In the face of intense sorrow, even to the point of death, Jesus humbled Himself in perfect obedience to the Father. He wasn’t afraid to ask that the cup be taken from Him—that God would perhaps deliver Him from suffering—but in the end, Jesus surrendered His will.

“Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Humility and Obedience go hand in hand. Without one, the other is nearly impossible. It’s like the example of a child, when told to clean their room, who stomps down the hall and slams the door. Eventually, the child has a choice. He can either humbly accept the parent’s instruction and clean his room, or he can remain stubbornly defiant.

We, too, have a choice. When called by God to do hard things, we can cross our arms in defiance, or, we can humbly accept the command. It may take some wrestling through prayer, just as Jesus portrayed in the garden of Gethsemane, but ultimately, true obedience will follow humility.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

You Have Clout with God

You Have Clout with God   
by Max Lucado    

You may find yourself in an impossible situation. You feel outnumbered and outmaneuvered. You want to quit. Could I ask you to memorize this promise and ask God to bring it to mind? Write it where you’ll find it. Tattoo it, if not on your skin at least on your heart: “When a believing person prays, great things happen” (James 5:16).

If you’ve taken on the name of Christ, you have clout with the most powerful being in the universe. When you speak, God listens. Jesus said, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action” (Matthew 18:19). Prayer is just the first step. God has power you’ve never seen, strength you’ve never known. He delights in answering prayer! And because his promises are unbreakable, our hope in unshakable!

What Are Phylacteries Anyway?

What Are Phylacteries Anyway?   
By Katie Westenberg    

These words in Matthew are the variety that I am often quick to skip over. Like a lengthy genealogy in the book of Numbers or a chapter of Levitical law I am tempted to skim over ancient words that are long lost in modern vocabulary.

What are phylacteries anyhow?

It turns out they were small scrolls of parchment containing the law. The Pharisees wore them around their necks and wrists as reminders - reminders to themselves and, most importantly, the world around them. These men valued the scriptures.

Around this time, the Pharisees began to think if a little was good, more is most certainly better and they started making their phylacteries a little bigger - larger reminders to themselves and again, the world around them.

I’ve never seen a phylactery in my corner of the world. It’s not exactly on trend to dangle law from your wrist these days or “lengthen our tassels”. But before we skip over this passage too quickly, it would be wise to look past the unusual words. Jesus was speaking less of trends and styles and more of a heart issue here.

Later on in chapter 23 he says “…you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy..”. These Pharisees with their phylacteries and with their lives were good at polishing and shining the outside. They were good at looking the part and saying the lines. But Jesus bids them caution, “first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Our bumper stickers never save us. The way we carry our Bible or share scripture quotes on social media will not save us. We live in an age where it is easier to be seen than ever. It is easy to apply filters, crop and edit our lives to near perfection. But isn’t that all only the outside of the cup?

It is quite easy to fool the world around us, but there is One who knows our hearts. And that is all He is really after in the first place.

It is easy to blame the culture, social media or whatever other distractions that tempt us to shine the outside of our cups. But even as times have changed, the temptations of our hearts have not. Phylacteries or cute hand-lettered scriptures quotes perfectly places in our homes, it is less about the cups we choose to shine and more about our determination to shine, to cleanse, the inside first.

Today, may we give him our hearts first and fully, seeking His praise rather than that of the world around us. (John 12:43)

The Side Effects of Fear

The Side Effects of Fear

By Dr. Charles Stanley   

Matthew 6:25-34    

Fear obviously produces anxiety, but it also creates chaos in our lives and even affects those around us.

Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.

Fear hinders us from becoming the people God wants us to be. When we are dominated by negative emotions, we cannot achieve the goals He has in mind for us. A lack of self-confidence stymies our belief in what the Lord can do with our lives.

Fear can drive people to destructive habits. To numb the pain of overbearing distress and foreboding, some turn to things like drugs and alcohol for artificial relief.

Fear steals peace and contentment. When we're always afraid, our life becomes centered on pessimism and gloom.

Fear creates doubt. God promises us an abundant life, but if we surrender instead to the chains of fear, our prayers won’t be worth very much.

What are you afraid of--loss, rejection, poverty, or death? Everybody will face such realities at some point. All you need to know is, God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision.

The Bible tells us that God will meet all our needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the splendor of lilies. How much more, then, will He care for us, who are made in His image? Our only concern is to obey the heavenly Father and leave the consequences to Him.

The Bible Says "Do Not Worry about Tomorrow" - How Do We Do It?

• The Bible Says "Do Not Worry about Tomorrow" - How Do We Do It?   
• • Rhonda Stoppe    
   “Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” … Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25, 34)
  The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible comments:

  “do not worry. Means not that should not think about or plan ahead but that we are not to be anxious. …Moreover, each day has too many unavoidable worries of its own for us to indulge in worries about the future as well.”

  The ESV Study Bible similarly explains:

  “If one makes the right choices (see vv. 19-24) there is (“therefore”) no reason that one should be anxious. Jesus gives two a fortiori (“how much more”) examples—“look at the birds” (v. 26), “consider the lilies” (v. 28)—to show that, since God cares even for the birds and the lilies, how much more will he care for his own. To be anxious, then, demonstrates a lack of trust in God, who promises that he will graciously care for “all these things” (v. 33; cf. Rom. 8:32). See also Phil. 4:5-6).

   The Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise) advises:
  

  “The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.”

  Anxiety over tomorrow’s concerns will rob you of the strength for today. Getting stuck in worry will steal your joy and render you ineffective for the work God wants to do through your life. If Satan can keep you immobilized by fear he can steal from you the zeal to serve Christ in this generation. Remember how the disciples responded after Christ was killed? After seeing their beloved Jesus crucified, their fear drove them into hiding. What if the disciples had become so consumed with worry that they stayed in the shadows until the day they died?
  Sometimes worrying about what others think of us can steal our zeal to serve Christ. What if Peter’s anxiety over his denial of Jesus or Thomas’ shame over his doubt stifled their testimonies for the rest of their lives. Would the gospel still have been proclaimed? Of course. But if they were imprisoned by worry, they would have missed out on all the incredible assignments God had for them. The same is true for you and me.

  Worry Plays Itself Out in a Number of Ways

  -Some people worry that God could never forgive them, so they don’t think they’re worthy to be saved or to serve Christ.
  -Parents fret over giving their kids everythingthey want or need. Forgetting the most important thing they can do for their children is to live a life so in love with God that it makes knowing and serving Christ irresistible to their kids.
  -Wives worry their husbands don’t love them enough. Husbandsfear their wives don’t respect them. So, they spend their energy holding one another emotionally hostage until the other gives them what they think they deserve. Only to one day find that their fear of mistreatment has driven a wedge between them and their spouse, creating a relationship characterized by manipulation and isolation. (For more read: Why Isn’t My Christian Marriage Working.)

Others fear financial ruin or want to appear successful, so they devote their lives to career and cash. Rather than blessing others with what they’ve been given, they hoard their wealth in fear of losing what they have earned.

-Some worry they won’t be able to retire so they spend their lives building their investments only to one day stand before God and realize that they invested in the wrong “retirement.”

Do you identify with any of the aforementioned worries? I know I do. Worry is not something that only happens to the weak or carnal Christian. It’s something that plagues all of us at different seasons of life. So, Let’s look at:

6 Practical Steps to Combat Worry

1. Pray

Often while facing worrisome circumstances Christians will pray, “Why God? Why me? Why us? Why now?” But this is not the right way to pray. Rather than pleading with God to show you why ask Him to show you how to walk through the trial in a manner that pleases Him and brings glory to Christ.

And remember, you’re not alone in your prayers. Romans 8:34 promises that Jesus, “…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Just as Jesus told Peter He was praying for him when Satan wanted to sift him as wheat, you can rest in knowing that Jesus is praying for you too.

2. Focus on God’s Attributes

Even David, who the Lord referred to as a man after God’s own heart, wrestled with worry.  David cried out, “For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up.” But when David felt surrounded by evil, and his heart failed him in fear, he didn’t remain stuck in anxiety. Rather, David looked to God for his help. He prayed, “Be pleased O Lord, make haste to help me! Let them be ashamed” (Psalm 40:12-17).

David also combatted worry by remembering that God was for him no matter what man may try to do. He said, “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11).

e apple of the Lord’s eye and was confident that God was aware of his troubles. And David knew that God was the only One he could turn to for help in his time of need.

The same God who watched over David watches over your life too. Hebrews 4:16promises that we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The reason David knew he could trust God was because David had spent a lifetime learning to know and love Him. The same will be true for you if you spend your life discovering the attributes of God through the pages of Scripture.

Because the best way to be victorious over worry is to know God’s character so well that when troubles arise, you’re ready to trust Him even when life doesn’t make sense.

3. Learn from Others

As a young wife and mother, I thought I was too busy to spend time studying the Bible. But when the anxiety of parenting weighed heavily on me and I looked to older women in my church for help. Rather than giving me a list of how to be a better person, they invited me to a Bible study.

My first thought was, These ladies don’t have a clue. I don’t need another Bible study. I need advice. I chuckle now because whenever I encourage young women to study God’s Word, they often respond to me in a similar manner. Fortunately, these women wouldn’t let me off the hook. They encouraged me to join their weekly study of the book of Philippians. While studying with these older women, my faith grew as they shared wisdom from their own stories and testified of God’s faithfulness.

And God’s Word began to transform my thoughts. Soon it became second nature to view life’s circumstances through a biblical lens. My husband noticed the difference and my parenting was different. Truth was washing over my mind exchanging worry for wisdom and pessimism for peace. As a result, I fell so in love with God through the book of Philippians that I’ve memorized much of it.

Philippians4:6, “Be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will rule in your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

4. Be Aware of Satan’s Schemes

Christians who don’t focus on God’s Kingdom tend to pursue comfort, health and prosperity. So, it’s easy for them to believe false teachers who promise that God wants all of His children to be healthy and wealthy. If you hold to this belief you can expect a rude awakening when life doesn’t go your way.

Be aware, Satan has ruined countless lives by seducing them to believe God won’t let anything bad happen to them––only to later deceive them into questioning God’s goodness when trials occur. To guard against the enemy you must be aware of his schemes.

Ephesians 4:14 warns, “That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

When Satan tempted Eve to distrust God’s motives, he got the foothold he needed to trick her into eating the forbidden fruit. And he wants to do the same to you so he can seduce you into rebelling against God (see 2 Corinthians 11:3).

After four years of watching my son have seizures, I recall how distressed I became. One day I told God, “I’m serving You and You won’t heal my son? I quit!” Thank God He brought me to repentance when the Spirit reminded me of a verse I’d memorized, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (2 Thessalonians 5:18).

5. Focus on Eternity

Colossians 3:2 reminds us to set our affections on things above rather than things of earth. When your thoughts are on Christ and His Kingdom your eternal perspective will help you make sense of worrisome circumstances.

We’ve all heard stories of believers who glorified God amidst unthinkable trouble. We think, I could never endure such trials. But you’d do well to realize that in every generation God entrusts heroes of the faith to suffer for the sake of the gospel. God knows that a watching world cannot deny the power of Christ when they observe His servants focused on His Kingdom and His purpose––no matter what the cost.

When Peter and the other apostles had been beaten for sharing Christ we read, “So they departed…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:41-42).

The MacArthur Study Bible says, “Like doomed gladiators, [the apostles] were ridiculed, spit on, imprisoned, and beaten; yet, God glorified His Name through them as He used them to build His Kingdom.”

Before you dismiss the apostle’s courage as something unattainable, realize the same Holy Spirit that empowered them empowers you too–if you’ve surrendered to Jesus as your Lord and Master. And as much as God used them to proclaim His gospel in their generation, He wants to draw others to Christ through you and your testimony for His Kingdom and His glory.

6. Trust Jesus

Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Remember when Lazarus died? Jesus didn’t come when Mary and Martha sent for Him. Rather, He waited until after their brother passed away. “Then Jesus said to [the disciples] plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.” (John 11:14).

When Jesus arrived, both Mary and Martha mentioned that if He’d come when they sent for Him their brother wouldn’t have died. What was Jesus’ response? Did he chastise them for questioning His methods? No, instead John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.”

David, the Psalmist understood God’s compassion when cried out, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then My enemies will turn back; This I know because God is for me” (Psalm 56:8-9)

This is the character of Christ. Even though He asks you to trust Him when life doesn’t make sense, Jesus feels your pain and grieves with you, even though He knows the good that will one day come from your trial. You can cast your worries at Jesus’ feet and know that He is praying for you; He is an ever-present help in your time of need. And you can rest in God’s promise that, in His timing, all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).