It’s tough to go through life without worrying. I’m just as guilty as the next person. But, it’s not time well spent. It’s a control issue, isn’t it? If we can only trust in the Lord that we say we believe in, we could find that peace that passes all understanding. But we let doubt invade our thoughts.
Do you ever feel like the person in the cartoons that has the devil sitting on one shoulder and an angel of the Lord on the other? They fight back and forth vying for your loyalty. Well, that battle is real! It’s spiritual warfare and God and Satan are sparring over us.
Beliefs are choices. First you choose your beliefs. Then your beliefs affect your choices.
-Roy T. Bennett
We have a choice to make. We can let ourselves get bogged down with the darkness that worry brings into our lives and the misery it causes us or we can give control to God. That’s how we show him that we trust him. How do we get to the place we can do that? Well, our pastor says that we have to trust the process: prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Every one of us can talk to the Father. It doesn’t take a miracle to get him to hear you.
You’ll find yourself in the place you let your thoughts go. You can focus on the darkness that Satan suggests when he puts those doubts in your head or you can shake it off and take the higher path. Look for the counsel of God the Father who you know loves you and wants what’s best for you.
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:7
That’s what I want, the peace of God. But we don’t have the capacity to make sense of this kind of peace. It comes with great power and purpose. In order to grasp it, our minds must be on the things of God.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
Phil. 4:8
As believers in the one true God, our thoughts must be on the things of God. So we can’t let our attention be focused on dishonorable things and permit them to control our thoughts.
So if what you’re consuming isn’t refreshing your soul, making you wiser, giving you joy giving you clarity, you’re not focusing on the things of God. If it’s making you angry and looking to pick a fight or tear someone down, you might be focusing on the wrong things and you don’t have peace.
Your worries will steal your joy and that’s not what God wants for you. There’s a war going on for our hearts and minds. You know where the good is. Shake off the demons trying to take your joy and go to God. The best way I know to do that is to take your worries, fears, troublesome thoughts to God in prayer.
If you will truly believe that he is who he says he is and run to him, he’ll already be there with open arms. He’s been there all along waiting for you to invite him into your life.
Believe it.
You can listen to Jon Porter’s entire sermon here. It’s definitely worth the time to hear his message.
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 