In Philippians 4:6-7 I read, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)
If I’m feeling overwhelmed or confused about a decision that I’m trying to make, I’m likely caught up in myself and not listening to or for God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if I’m feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in my life.
As a grandparent, I don’t want my grandchildren to feel pressured or confused when I ask them to do something? No, I want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God the Father wants the same thing for and from me.
The only time pressure could be legitimate is if God has told me to do something and I keep saying “no.” Then the pressure will build. But there’s always peace when I say “yes” to what God’s asking me to do.
Satan wants to drive me compulsively, but God wants to draw me compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of my compulsions and use them to drive my life. But God is my Good Shepherd. He wants to draw me toward himself and peace.
Ninety percent of what God wants to say to me is encouragement. If negative messages are all I ever hear from God, something’s wrong. The wires have been crossed. If I feel like God has told me to do something but I’m increasingly anxious because of it, then something’s not right.
The Bible tells me to, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
In summary, I am to not worry about anything; instead, I should pray about everything. Tell God what I need, and thank him for all he has done. Then I will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything I can understand. His peace will guard my heart and mind as I live in Christ Jesus". If I’m feeling overwhelmed or confused about a decision that I’m trying to make, I’m likely caught up in myself and not listening to or for God’s voice. He is not the author of confusion. If I’m feeling confused, It’s not God’s voice speaking. I don’t want my grandchildren to feel pressured or confused when I ask them to do something? I want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God wants the same thing from me. The only time pressure could be legitimate is if God has told me to do something and I keep saying “no.” Satan wants to drive me compulsively, but God wants to draw me compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of my compulsions and use them to drive my life. But God is my Good Shepherd. He wants to draw me toward himself and peace. Ninety percent of what God wants to say to me is encouragement. If I feel like God has told me to do something but I’m increasingly anxious because of it, then something’s not right, it’s not from God.
Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, but Paul’s advice is to turn worries into prayers. If I want to worry less, then I need to pray more!. Whenever I start to worry, use that as a key to stop and pray. God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. My citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, my destiny is set, and I can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard my heart against anxiety.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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