"Offer it up!"
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What a precious treasure is here in this scripture message! It is an especially important message for those who, like me, tend to carry around a little knotty ball of anxiety in the pit of our stomach all the time. Even when things are going okay, the troll under my emotional bridge keeps reminding me that sooner or later, things are bound to get all fouled up again... and the spiral of worry, anxiety, and depression takes control. When I was a child, I remember my mother used to say, "Offer it up!" But I didn't understand what that meant. I thought that meant just suffer through, and through the suffering you will learn to be "like Christ." So I just wound the little anxiety ball tighter and tighter and tighter. But what she really meant, and what I finally think I am learning, is to offer up the worries in prayer. And then let them go, really give it to God. When anxiety seems to be overtaking our lives, if we can just stop, remember the promises in this verse, and let God have control of our lives, the worries of the world hold no power over us. The leap of faith required to do this is to know that God cares, and in God's love we must release our cares and concerns, and let the worry ball start to unravel and begin really living in the peace "that transcends all understanding" that is our promise. That's what I'm talkin' about!
Precious Jesus, you took the sins of the world to the cross, and you gave us new life through your death and resurrection. So why do we sometimes have such a hard time letting things go? Why do we keep on making the same mistakes and dumb choices, living in pain when we could be living in your peace instead? Help us overcome old ways of thinking and acting, help us see beyond our childish understanding so we may grow into mature followers of your way, help us to really understand the promises you have made to humankind, and give us the courage to believe with our whole being!
We lift up Garry Lewis Simmons, Albert Cornelius, Michael Seay, Michelle Bond and her children, Candice Gilmore and her sons, Shannon Kendrick and her family, Tabitha Carter and her daughter, Barbara Hobbs, her husband and son, Ollie Clark and her children, Lashonela Mathis, her children and family. Nurture them in your great love, provide for their needs and guide them in your way to peace beyond our understanding, we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
What a precious treasure is here in this scripture message! It is an especially important message for those who, like me, tend to carry around a little knotty ball of anxiety in the pit of our stomach all the time. Even when things are going okay, the troll under my emotional bridge keeps reminding me that sooner or later, things are bound to get all fouled up again... and the spiral of worry, anxiety, and depression takes control. When I was a child, I remember my mother used to say, "Offer it up!" But I didn't understand what that meant. I thought that meant just suffer through, and through the suffering you will learn to be "like Christ." So I just wound the little anxiety ball tighter and tighter and tighter. But what she really meant, and what I finally think I am learning, is to offer up the worries in prayer. And then let them go, really give it to God. When anxiety seems to be overtaking our lives, if we can just stop, remember the promises in this verse, and let God have control of our lives, the worries of the world hold no power over us. The leap of faith required to do this is to know that God cares, and in God's love we must release our cares and concerns, and let the worry ball start to unravel and begin really living in the peace "that transcends all understanding" that is our promise. That's what I'm talkin' about! Precious Jesus, you took the sins of the world to the cross, and you gave us new life through your death and resurrection. So why do we sometimes have such a hard time letting things go? Why do we keep on making the same mistakes and dumb choices, living in pain when we could be living in your peace instead? Help us overcome old ways of thinking and acting, help us see beyond our childish understanding so we may grow into mature followers of your way, help us to really understand the promises you have made to humankind, and give us the courage to believe with our whole being!
We lift up Garry Lewis Simmons, Albert Cornelius, Michael Seay, Michelle Bond and her children, Candice Gilmore and her sons, Shannon Kendrick and her family, Tabitha Carter and her daughter, Barbara Hobbs, her husband and son, Ollie Clark and her children, Lashonela Mathis, her children and family. Nurture them in your great love, provide for their needs and guide them in your way to peace beyond our understanding, we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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