Friday, September 03, 2010
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:6-8
This is probably a very familiar passage to you, but I want to consider it for a moment if I may. The verse says, "Be careFUL for nothing". We get all messed up and lose our peace and joy because we are FULL of care. We fail to take EVERY care to Jesus. We think that we will not bother Him with the small things, we will take care of them for ourselves. That is when we get FULL of care!
You cannot have the "peace of God" until you are empty of care. You can have peace WITH God and be FULL of care. There are many Christians who live with anxiety and fear daily because they have lost the peace of God.
Look with me for a moment at Mark 4:36-38: "And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?" The disciples waited until their ship was full to ask Jesus for help. They waited until they could not handle the problem to ask for help. How often do we fail to go to Jesus with EVERY care?
I want to encourage you today to take your every care to Jesus. He is ready and willing to go through the storms of life WITH you and to give you His peace. You can trust the Lord!
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:6-7