Devotionals

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Me Worried?

The most troublesome quandary about being anxious is that the malady returns again and again to haunt even the staunchest of believers. The enemy knows where and when we are weakest; and just as with Eve in the garden, he uses those moments to cast doubts, such as “Did God really say . . . ?”

These are the steps I take to shore up my faith during such times when strange thoughts and fears go bump in the night. This is not a magical formula nor is it a quick fix, it must be carefully laid out in my mind until God’s peace prevails in my spirit.

It is God in Whom I am to put my trust, so I ponder just what that means. “Even the winds and waves obey Him . . . By Him all things are held together . . . God is love . . . There is no fear in love . . . He sits on the circle of the earth and watches over the inhabitants . . . He is mighty in power . . . Yet, aware of the most intimate details of our lives . . . He is able . . . When I am weak, then He is strong . . .”

After I make absolutely certain I have a really clear renewal regarding the power of my God, I think about why He allows trials into the life of His children. “For eternal, not temporal, reasons . . . Because it is through trials that our faith actually grows stronger. . . Trials work out His character in us . . . We gain confidence in the true nature of our God . . . We obtain wisdom, empathy, and compassion for others. . . We stop relying on our own strength and seek God’s . . .”

Then I begin to think of all the trials there are on this earth, too numerous to list. Then I think of the trials I have endured which are actually very few, comparatively. I think of all my blessings, including the minutiae, which are supplied the hand of God. “He sends the rain and waters the earth . . . He oversees the harvest . . . The sun rises at His command . . . He speaks and creatures bring forth their young . . . It is God that gives us strength . . . He supplies all our needs . . .”

Then I think on God’s ways of dealing with His children. “With a love that exceeds that of a tender earthly father . . . With compassion . . . With mercies which are renewed every morning . . . With faithfulness . . . With loving kindness . . .With wisdom and understanding for our own individual personhood (that He created). . .”

I concentrate on the Scriptures that give commands about being anxious. “Take no thought for tomorrow . . . Can worry add one inch to your height . . . Fear not . . . Put your hope in God . . . Not by might or power, but by His spirit . . . Be still and know that I am God.”

I remind myself of God’s promises. “Waiting on the Lord will renew your strength . . . Shelter can be found in Him . . . He gives peace to those who tenaciously stay focused on Him . . . He is greater than any earthly power . . . He responds to our prayers . . . He is a very present help in time of trouble . . . He guards our path . . . He will never leave us or forsake us . . . . He stays the same yesterday, today, and forever . . .”

Lastly, I think about Scriptures telling us that God inhabits the praises of his people and I work on praising, in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine . . . What a friend we have in Jesus, all our griefs to bear . . . How firm a foundation is laid for your faith in His excellent Word . . . Through many dangers toils and snares, I have already come, ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home . . . Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone . . . Moment by Moment I am kept in His love . . . It is well with my soul . . ."

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.

~Deborah Kaye McDade~
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