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Listen while you read: "Saviour While My Heart Is Tender"1 (Lyrics) |
Perhaps you are like me. I have a good imagination and can let it wander with ease into conjuring up worst-case scenarios and doom-and-gloom pictures.
I was well aware that Jesus told us not to worry.
Matthew 6:25a,27 – That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (NLT)
When I noticed that my thoughts were bleak, I would remember that we are not supposed to worry, and then, I would feel guilty.
Bible study of the first chapter of John brought a couple of verses to my attention that gave me a clue about what I could do with worried thoughts and the subsequent guilt. They reminded me that God the Father, the One Who created the universe through the Word (Jesus Christ), cares for me as His child:
John 1:4 – The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. (NLT)
John 1:12 – To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (NIV 2011)
Greek word study showed me that "name" can mean person and presence. "Believe" refers to trust and commitment.
These days, when I notice a worst-case-scenario thought, I counter with, "I am committed to trust the person and presence of Jesus. I am in Christ as God's child, and He cares for me." My expanded concept of the person and presence of Jesus as God, creator, and owner of the universe brightens up the darkest imaginings, and trust wins. Looking to the person and presence of Jesus, the Word, in John 1 is my cure for worry. Turning my thoughts to Jesus sets my active imagination to expect His blessed best.
Do you have a worry today? May I suggest some hope? Let's think about the person and presence of Jesus instead.
Prayer: Father in heaven, in the name, the person, and the presence of Christ, we give thanks for Your gracious, tender care. We ask You to remind us of what You and Jesus are like. In every moment of our lives, may we show others Your kind of love. Amen.
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Friday, April 19, 2024 – In Middle East — Thank you for praying for our Bible Study. We are having great times of fellowship and growing in His Word. Pray for God to make disciples who will be sensitive to His leading to share with others who will also trust in Him and share Him.
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Amen sister!
Good reminder Pat. I need it regularly.
Pat – thank you for your thoughtful meditation today.
God bless.
Hi, Pat: Thank you for your message today. I’ve sent it on to my sister. Then I thought ‘Why not send it to other, too?’ So, your very needed message is being sown way out there!
I like it! I agree with you 100{8395b6ce96fcf25a14d80edc3b65c36a8995b6c1ba5f8c16ac11d8adaa79f35b}, and this very same idea has kept me worry free for this past year. I promised the Lord, with His help I would let nothing disturb my peace or my joy. And what a difference it has made in my life.
Good case about not to worry Pat. Jesus told His disciples many times not to worry or fear. You are right we need to hold on to that.
Thanks for the devotional.
Dear Pat,
Your devotionals always encourage me to keep my eyes on Jesus. Yes, He is the answer to all our worries!
May the Lord continue to use your writing for His glory.
Blessings.
Dear Pat: I receive much insight when I daily read Devotions like yours based on the various everyday problems we humans create for ourselves, in this case, worrying. The sentence based on Matt. and I paraphrase, “…can all my self-conjured anxiety add a single moment to my life on Earth?” Of course not. Still, each time I visit that hospital room I watch my wife’s Earthly life slowly disappearing from me. Then I cease my worrying for I know her spirit, her soul, will soon be with our Heavenly Father and His Son. I have told Him that she is such a precious creature to me.
So thank you Pat for choosing a subject so common to every human being and giving me the opportunity to tell some other human of the burden of sorrow I feel at this moment.
Thanks Pat for your Devotion and the reminder about not worrying. When facing any trial (real and imagined/anticipated), we always allow worry and fear to creep into our minds…and yet if we’d just take a breath and remember God is ever-present and therefore watching over us, we would relax and fear would vanish.
This is something I believe and know to be true — what have I to fear when God is always with me? And yet, I still at times have fear…and then must remind myself that God IS there with me! As our Heavenly Father knows, His children do let fear/worry/doubt upset us until we seek His help and Loving Father that He is, He is there!
Do continue to write.
God bless!