PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
THEME OF THE DAY. FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY. Anxiety is a big deal in our worlds, our lives, and with our Lord. Concerning the Lord’s position on anxiety, take time and read from His Sermon on the Mount what He says (Matthew 6:25-34). In just nine verses, He would command us “Do not be anxious three times (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34). The seriousness of anxiety in the lives of Christian is this; it is sin. And if we are allowing it to control us instead of fighting against it, we must own it and confess it for what the Lord says of it. It is disobedience.
In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul would also remind us that anxiety is sin. He writes, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Notice not only the emphasis on obedience but the wide-range of application – anything. We cannot justify anxiety over what is happening in our world, our families, or our personal battles in our hearts. But let’s be honest. All of us fight anxiety in some form and to some degree. It is part of the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden. Yet, always remember when God gives a command, He also gives the strength to obey the command. And He always comes with various means of help to be freed from whatever is defeating. In today’s case, it is the freedom from anxiety. The help comes from the pen of a pastor who lived and ministered in the mid-19th century in England. His name was James Smith. He wrote a two-volume devotional titled “Daily Remembrancer Morning” and “Daily Remembrancer Evening.” Simply stated, his writings are pure gold. Here is what he wrote for the morning of January 6th. Drink deep from the refreshing wells of his insight and instruction.
JAMES SMITH, “The Lord careth for us. He knows our wants, and has promised to supply them; our foes, and will deliver us from them; our fears, and will make us ashamed of them. All creatures and things are in His band, and at His disposal; all circumstances are absolutely under His control. He directs the angel, feeds the sparrow, curbs the devil, and manages the tempest. He is the Father. His love to thee is infinite. Thou art His delight. His dear son. His pleasant child. Will He neglect thee? Impossible. Cast then thy cares upon Him. Tell out all thy desires, fears, and troubles to Him; let Him know everything from thee, keep nothing back; and then in the confidence of faith expect Him to fulfill His word, and act a Parent’s part. Bless Him for all He has given, for all He has promised; plead with Him for all you may need; but never for one moment, or under any circumstances, distrust Him. He cannot love thee more. He is a present help. He will make all His goodness pass before thee. He will rejoice over thee to do thee good, with His whole heart, and with His whole soul.”
Wasn’t that so good? Meditate upon its Biblical truth and the chains of anxiety will be broken as we see the Lord for who He is and what He does in our lives that cannot but drive anxiety from our hearts.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to cast my cares on You and not take them back, remembering they are too heavy for me.”
QUOTE: “We are commanded not to be anxious and with all commands, God gives strength to obey it. Even this one.”