The instances of mass murder, hate crimes, and terrorist attacks (many of them being all three) over past few weeks, in fact the past few years have caused many of us to be afraid of being in crowds, going to certain places like shopping malls, even church. When these things happen we realize that we are not in control of much in our lives and that generates fear. It's at those times we yearn for peace. The kind of peace we had as young children when our parents, grandparents, a guardian, or even social programs took care of everything. We didn't have to worry about anything.

Over the next few days I'm going to share 5 prayers for you to pray at those times when you're having trouble with trust or finding the words to pray above the scary times. It's at those times you want to know the peace of God which passes all understanding.

A Prayer for Peace Within

Oh Lord, sometimes my insides feel like a battle zone, where missiles are falling too close to home. Other times I'm caught in an endless storm, with thoughts flying out of control. Confusion reigns, and defeat creeps in to steal my joy. I need your peace—the deep-down-in-your-heart kind that stays with me day and night and speaks confidently into the wind. Calm my anxious spirit, Lord; all the attacking "if-onlys" and "what-ifs" fill me with needless worry.

I know that trust is a big part of experiencing peace and that fear has no place in my life. Most of the things I worry about or dread don't even happen. So I'm declaring my trust in you. I'm releasing the reins of my life again and asking you to take control. I may need to pray this same prayer daily, but I'm tired of the frenzy of life that leaves my schedule and my thoughts without any margin. I need more of you, Lord, and less of me.

I surrender and admit: I can't control people, plans, or even all my circumstances, but I can yield those things to you, and focus on your goodness. Thank you today for every good gift you've given, every blessing you've sent, all the forgiveness I did not deserve, and, yes, for every trial you've allowed into my life. You bring good out of every circumstance if I'll only let go and believe you. I know that when I pray and give thanks instead of worrying, you have promised that I can experience the kind of peace that passes all understanding. That's your kind of peace, Lord. And it's the kind I crave.

Whenever I’m stressed, anxious, or afraid, help me remember to run to you. You're the only one that can calm my fears and end my fretful behavior. Whether in trivial or heavy matters, I know you will not only give me peace; Lord, you will be my peace. And when I draw close to you—in prayer, in reading your Word, in helping another, in taking my mind off myself—you will be there, up close and personal.

I can't handle these times alone, Lord. Will you speak peace and calm my storms, or hold my hand while we walk through them together? Will you bring the reassuring wisdom of those who have come through similar times into my life? Thank you, Lord. I'm trusting you.

In the name of the One who makes the wind and the waves stand still, Amen. ~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan

​Psalms 136:1‭-‬26 CEV Praise the Lord ! He is good. God's love never fails.  Praise the God of all gods. God's love never fails.  Praise the Lord of Lords. God's love never fails.  Only God works great miracles. God's love never fails.   With wisdom he made the sky. God's love never fails.   The Lord stretched the earth over the ocean. God's love never fails.   He made the bright lights in the sky. God's love never fails.  He lets the sun rule each day. God's love never fails.  He lets the moon and the stars rule each night. God's love never fails.   God struck down the first-born in every Egyptian family. God's love never fails.   He rescued Israel from Egypt. God's love never fails.  God used his great strength and his powerful arm. God's love never fails.   He split the Red Sea apart. God's love never fails.  The Lord brought Israel safely through the sea. God's love never fails.  He destroyed the Egyptian king and his army there. God's love never fails.  The Lord led his people through the desert. God's love never fails.  Our God defeated mighty kings. God's love never fails.  And he killed famous kings. God's love never fails.   One of them was Sihon, king of the Amorites. God's love never fails.   Another was King Og of Bashan. God's love never fails.  God took away their land. God's love never fails.  He gave their land to Israel, the people who serve him. God's love never fails.  God saw the trouble we were in. God's love never fails.  He rescued us from our enemies. God's love never fails.  He gives food to all who live. God's love never fails.  Praise God in heaven! God's love never fails. (emphasis mine)

Face Your Failures With God's Goodness

One stumble does not define or break a person. Though you failed, God’s love does not. Face your failures with faith in God’s goodness.

He saw this collapse coming. God could see the upcoming mishaps. Still, he tells you what he told Joshua.
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My servant Moses is dead. Now you must lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I'm giving to all of you. (Joshua 1:2 CEV)

There is no conditions in that promise. No fine print. No performance language. God’s promises don't depend on your perfection. It depends on his.

In God’s hands no defeat is a crushing defeat. Scripture says;

If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure.  The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won't fall. (Psalms 37:23‭-‬24 CEV)

Put your faith in the One who is always faithful! - From God Is With You Everyday by Max Lucado.  

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Have you ever felt like the more you do the more there is to do?  It seems as if the pile keeps getting higher rather than lower; the working hours get longer and longer although you’re working harder and harder?  All of us have probably been there and some of you may be there now. You have gotten yourself on a treadmill and you’re running at an unrealistic and unsustainable pace. If you continue you will burnout, pass out, stress out, and probably become depressed.  How do you get off the treadmill? The answer is to simplify your life by seeking first the kingdom of God. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well it’s not. This series of posts, “Simplify Your Life by Seeking First the Kingdom of God,” as as much for me as they are for you because I have a tendency to overdo it.  I justify it by saying, “after all I’m doing God’s work, work for the Kingdom”. Notice I said “working for the Kingdom,” not “seeking the Kingdom.”

Think about the times when you’re exhausted or completely drained and empty; during those times you have nothing else to give to anyone or anything..  What does that feel like? My guess is that you feel resentment. You resent something or someone. Martha resented her sister Mary when Jesus was visiting their home.  Martha was busy being the perfect hostess, making sure that everybody had everything that they needed, running around making sure that everybody was happy. Mary, on the other hand was spending time listening to Jesus.  Martha was upset. 

 Luke 10:38-40 (NKJV) 38  Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
 To Martha it was like “Jesus, don’t you care that my sister isn’t helping me?  After all I’m trying to prepare for you and your disciples.”

 How does Jesus respond? 

 Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV) 41  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Instead of shaking your fist at the world and those around you because you have worked yourself into a lather or continuing to complain that you don’t have any help, maybe it’s time to sit and spend some time with God meditating on His word.  We all, me included, want to get it all done right now and if nobody is there to help us we become resentful, not realizing that we are the ones putting the pressure on ourselves to get it all done. The answer may just be to let whatever it is you’re doing wait or even go undone until you spend some time in a quite undisturbed conversation with Jesus.  
Psalm 119:15 (NKJV)  I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
 
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) 28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Think back to a time when your life was simpler.  You were rested, creative, playful, and prayerful.  It’s possible to recapture that time.

 “We must release everything to Him. We can't keep anything.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

 Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 “That's hard and we can't do that within ourselves.'' 

We can only do it through the Holy Spirit. I'm praying that you can continue to stay strong.  That you really allow the Holy Spirit to hold you. Let go and trust everything to God.”
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1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV)   But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

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Complicated

Editor’s Note:  The following includes edited excerpts from the book The Bright Life by Jen Wise

When we were young our faith felp simpler.  We knew that God loved us. We knew that Jesus provided forgiveness of our sins.  We knew that the Holy Spirit lives in us. That was enough.  

We never felt that our prayers needed to impress. We just knew we could open our hearts to God. We never questioned if God hears our prayers, if our prayers matter, or God’s providence. We just knew He wanted to hear from us, He cared. Simple.
We didn’t question God’s forgiveness. We never wondered if God really loved us — of course He did, He said He did. We never wondered if He would forgive us — of course He did, He said He would.We knew that we weren’t perfect, but knew we were perfectly loved. Perfectly forgiven and made clean. Simple.

But somewhere along the line though things changed. We run into harsh realities about other people’s expectations, we come face-to-face with strange and conflicting opinions, we find ourselves under all sorts of pressure to perform and perfect someone else’s version of a Christian life. Suddenly it’s not so simple anymore. We enter adulthood with a heavy load of spiritual baggage, struggling to carry the weight of it all.
Just resting in God’s love and forgiveness doesn’t cut it anymore. We hear that;

• A good Christian needs to begin every morning with extended Bible study and prayer. 
• A good Christian needs to be in church several days a week, serving on multiple volunteer teams, and chasing offering that promises to be deep. 
• A good Christian knows and uses Christian jargon, memorizes loads of Scripture, and is comfortable praying out loud in front of church groups. 
• A good Christian always smiles, never yells, always gives, and never gets tired of it.

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We’ve made faith too complicated

We may even deceive ourselves into thinking that our spiritual life is deeper, more holy, if we attend all of the events, learn all of the theology, and master the art of thoughtful prayers for every occasion. But we couldn’t be more wrong. 

When the disciples were arguing over who would rank highest in God’s kingdom Jesus said;

Matthew 18:2‭-‬5 MSG For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

Remember when we weren’t obsessed with proving ourselves? Remember when we didn’t worry about whether we were doing enough to keep God happy? Remember when we could rest in God’s love without a mental tick list of religious to-dos? We can return to those simpler times, simpler ways. We can return to square one.

This doesn’t mean that we should halt any “religious” related activities. Volunteering in our churches, serving meals to the hungry, studying our Bibles — these are all good things. These are enriching and natural practices in the Christian life. But when we try to place our security, value, and our identity as God’s children in our ability to keep up a routine, rather than in Christ alone, we’re carrying a burden too great, never intended for us. And all of this heavy lifting doesn’t amount to anything in the end.

In fact, 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that we can keep up our religious routine, impress our peers, teach Scripture, feed the poor, and yet if our actions are rooted in just that, actions, it’s all worthless. We will never find rest in the routine. We will never find peace in these practices. 

1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
 
Simplicity is a gift of God.  

A gift given so that we might see the value in seeking Him first in all things.  Faith, hope, and love. It’s simple. It’s square one. Let’s return to our roots. Let’s start there.
Don't overthink it!

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​This post is not a rant about gun control although those of you who know me know my position on gun control.  It’s not a rant about race relations in this country although those of you who know me know my position on race relations. It’s not a post to defend my political or social or moral ideologies, although those of you who know me know my positions on these things.  It is not a post to defend my religious beliefs or to convince you to accept them.  I’m not going to ask if you are saved or want to be saved in this post. This post  is a plea to all of us white, black, red, yellow, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, independent, Christian, non-Christian, atheist, straight, gay, all of us to take a look at ourselves and this nation.

Events of this past week, past few months, in fact over the last few years, have really pointed out the divisions that exist between us here in this country and throughout  the world.  Divisions of race, gender, religion, politics, and on and on.

In The Sermon on the Mount  which is in chapters 5-7, of Matthew, Jesus said that we should agree with our advisory.

Matthew 5:25-26 (NKJV)25  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.26  Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Later in this same sermon Jesus said that not only should you agree with your adversary, but that you should also love your enemy.

  Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

 He was even more specific than that at another time. When He was asked what was the greatest commandment;

  Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)37  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'38  This is the first and great commandment.39  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

To make it plain He went on to describe,  exactly who that neighbor is that we are to love. 

In His parable that neighbor actually turns out to be an enemy.  We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan.  

Luke 10:29-36 (NKJV) 29  But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"30  Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.31  Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.32  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.34  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'36  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
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The Power of Persistent, Spirit-led Prayer
 
Editor’s Note:  This post was written for Faithgateway, Devotions Daily by Tom Tarrants who at one time was a domestic terrorist fueled by racism, anti-Semitism and far-right ideology.  He was captured, convicted sentenced to 30 years in prison, after being shot during an arrest for a domestic bombing attempt.  Tom was redeemed by the love of Jesus and delivered from the hatred that consumed him.  He is now Co-Pastor of Christ our Shepherd Church, an inter-racial church, in Washington, D.C. He has a story for this nation and those who, like he once was,  are consumed by a hatred of people who don’t look like, think like, act like, or worship like you.  The post was written in the aftermath of the last few weeks of senseless murder committed by people fueled by hate.

The post is an excerpt from Tom's new book, Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love,

A note from the author:

After another weekend of devastating mass shootings across America and the senseless loss of dozens of lives, our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and our minds ask “Why?” and “What can we do?” 

As for “Why?,” these things are happening because as more and more people reject God and His ways, the foundations of society are crumbling. When David found himself in such a situation, he asked, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).

As for “What can we do?,” the first and most important thing Christians can do, as David did, is to remember that we have hope in God. We must turn to Him, cling to Jesus and the Scriptures, and seek daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This puts us in a position to be used by God.

One way He will certainly use us is to love our neighbors, regardless of race, ethnicity, or political views, and to wisely and winsomely share the Gospel wherever we can. In relation to events like the recent massacres, this will require individual Christians, pastors, and churches to recognize, reject and expose the seductive power of ideologies that exploit prejudices and stimulate anger, hate, and racism. We must not allow these evils to quietly infiltrate our churches or communities.

But love doesn’t stop there. It goes on to build friendships with people who are different from us. This enables us to see life and the world from different points of view and shed cultural blinders. Once our blinders are off, we will see how to better love our neighbor, not just in word, but in deed and truth.

Another extremely important thing we must do is to pray. “The prayers of a righteous person has great power” (James 5:16). First, we need to pray for the victims’ families. More broadly, we need to pray for America to turn back to God. And since the church is the soul of the nation, we need to pray for revival and reform of our churches.

We can also pray for those involved in hate and terrorism. Prayer was one of the vital keys that led to my deliverance from racism and domestic terrorism many years ago, as the following story describes.

An exclusive devotion from Thomas A. Tarrants, author of Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love.

I was raised going to church on Sundays, and at the age of thirteen I made a profession of faith in Christ and was baptized. What a sigh of relief I breathed, relieved of the fear of going to hell. The only problem was that I wasn’t actually born again.
                                                                       
Proverbs says,
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. — Proverbs 14:12 ESV
 
That described me. My profession was motivated by fear of hell, not the love of God and not repentance for my sins. I was still on “the way to death.”

Several years later, that became obvious. It was the 1960s, and the civil rights movement was gaining momentum. I joined with others in fighting against it, became indoctrinated into racism, anti-Semitism and far-right ideology, then got involved in terrorism. The results were tragic: I was ambushed in a bombing attempt and shot four times at close range by police; my accomplice was killed. I was sentenced to thirty years in prison but escaped six months later with two other inmates, one of whom was killed when we were recaptured.

Back in prison, I was locked up by myself twenty-four hours a day in a 6’x9’ cell in the maximum security unit. Little did I know that in the two years since the bombing attempt, a group of godly, praying women, led by the Holy Spirit, had been praying together each week for my salvation. With nothing to do but read, I began a search for Truth that took me into classical philosophy and then into the Gospels. I didn’t turn to the Bible in search of God or for solace. I saw myself as a patriot fighting for God and country and thought my relationship with God was fine. But as I read God’s Word, my eyes began to be opened to spiritual reality. My sins began coming to mind one after another, and there were many. I felt a deep sorrow for what I had done and tears of repentance began to flow.

One night I got on my knees and prayed a simple prayer to Jesus, rooted in the hope of the Gospel, asking to be forgiven and giving myself to Him if He would have me (John 3:16).

Something deep inside of me changed.

When I awoke the next day, God was real to me in a way I had never known before. And I was alive to Him, reborn by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). I had a strong desire to read the Bible, to pray, and to live for God. Reading the Bible for hours each day filled my mind with Truth and this brought increasing knowledge of God, new ways of thinking and many changes in my life (Romans 12:2). Prayer gave me regular communication with God, and I began to see answers, which strengthened my faith. God gave me love for people I had once hated, and friendships developed across racial, ethnic, and political lines. However, I also struggled in my Christian life, at times knowing the right thing to do and wanting to do it, but not having the power to do so (Romans 7:19). Eventually, I came to see that

wholehearted surrender to God (Romans 12:1) and the daily filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) were the key to growing in grace.

A couple of years before I got out of prison, another group, this time women and men, began to pray for my release, believing God had work for me to do in the free world. After serving eight years in prison, I was paroled to attend university. From there I moved to the Washington, DC, area and became involved in campus ministry, then pastoral ministry in an inter-racial church, and finally a ministry of teaching, disciplining and spiritual mentoring. Along the way, I also earned a master of divinity degree and a doctorate in Christian Spirituality.

It has been almost fifty years since God rescued me from a way that seemed right to me, but was actually the way to death, and I have much to be thankful for. What a wonderful heavenly Father He is! He has been very kind and patient with me, convicting of sin when needed, forgiving as I repent, strengthening me for fresh obedience, showering me with blessings and steadily fulfilling His purposes for my life. It has not always been easy, of course, but He has always been faithful and carried me through the trials and tribulations of life.

There are many around us today — family, friends, and colleagues, as well as seemingly hopeless people like I once was — who are on the road that leads to death. Peter tells us that,

the Lord is not… wishing that any should perish but wants all to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9 ESV

But for that to happen, they need to hear and accept the truth of the Gospel, which is
the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. — Romans 1:16

And they also need the Spirit-led, persistent prayers of God’s people, who will band together and keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking until God answers (Matthew 7:7).

Written for Devotionals Daily by Thomas A. Tarrants, author of Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love.

Tom is also the author of The Conversion of a Klansman, and is co-author, with Dr. John Perkins, of He’s My Brother 

Editor’s Note:  This post includes edited portions of posts written by Laura Story (I Needed to Give Up), and Peter Briscoe (A Prayer for Faithful Dependence)

I Needed to Give Up
By Laura Story, author of I Give Up 

Who wants to give up? There are no great war stories about the guy that gave up, and I bet none of you reading this have ever sat on the sidelines of your child’s sporting event, yelling, “Miss that shot! Let the other team score one this time!” Giving up, surrendering, letting go… every one of these terms has a negative connotation. Who in their right mind would want to give up?!

There was a woman in the Bible who also had a health condition. The disciples referred to her as “the bleeding woman”, which I think is quite an unfortunate title. But this was who she was. She had lived with an incurable hemorrhage for 12 years and every remedy she sought left her worse off physically and destitute financially. So imagine her life: ceremonially unclean in her culture, impoverished, lonely and almost hopeless. I say almost, because on that fateful day, she heard that Jesus was passing through her town. So, breaking every rule and social norm, she pushed through the crowd and grabbed onto the hem of His garment. And immediately she was healed. Not only did she receive healing, Jesus would not rest till she identified herself.
 
“Who touched me?” He insisted.
 
The Scriptures say she fessed up, telling him her whole story. And his response?
 
Take heart, daughter. Your faith has made you well. — Matthew 9:22
 
And in a moment, she was no longer the bleeding woman but a highly treasured daughter of the King.
 
When we reflect on what made this woman well, it wasn’t her years of efforts, her accumulated resources or her social status.  It was her faith. Her faith made her well. But what exactly does this mean? And for men and woman like ourselves who also struggle with incurable sickness and insurmountable circumstances, what does it look like for us to have this kind of faith?
 
I believe there are two aspects of this woman’s faith that led to her healing. First, she knew that He could. She knew enough about Jesus to know that her best chance at freedom from her hopeless situation was to get to Him. Maybe she had heard stories of miracles He had performed in other towns. Maybe she knew His claims to be God’s Son and had grown up hearing about God working on behalf of His people throughout history. Either way, her faith began with a strong belief that God can. But that is not the only aspect of faith that this woman displayed.
 
She also knew that she could not. This woman was about as rock bottom as any person could get. She was done pretending that she could fix her own problems. She was done looking to remedies, self-help books or making deals with God. Yes, her faith attested to Jesus’s ability, but it began with an admission of her own inability. Basically, she had to give up.

In what area of your life do you need to stop trying and just give up? What possession, relationship, past sin or future insecurity do you need to let go and trust God with? I cannot promise that God will heal you instantly or that your problem will disappear but there is a deeper healing that happens in our hearts when we learn to trust Him enough to simply let go, to simply say, “I give up”.

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A Prayer for Faithful Dependence
By Pete Briscoe

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” - Isaiah 41:13
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Jesus doesn’t work harder for those who try harder. So if you’ve been busy muscling up some stellar faith, hoping someday you’d have just enough to have just a little more Jesus, you can stop. Jesus isn’t concerned about the quantity or quality of your faith. He just desires to be the object of your faith.

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God... (Galatians 2:20)
When we depend upon someone other than Jesus, we are going to be disappointed. Our society offers a buffet of choices: health and wellness, dead people, spouses, careers, IRAs, and even pastors. All of them are imperfect and totally unqualified to become the object of your faith.

How about today’s gurus? They’re simply preaching secular legalism – teaching a different list of rules, but rules all the same. Rules can’t hold you up.
I remember my elementary science teacher explaining the human skeleton. If all went well, I’d never see my own bones; but without them, I’d be nothing more than a blob of flesh and muscle on pavement. Same goes with faith. People are always looking for a visible object of faith. Yet, it’s the ascended Christ and the invisible but indwelling Spirit who hold us up in this faith journey.

In fact, Scripture teaches that faith is produced by God’s Spirit in us. We have no control over its volume and quantity in our lives. But we do get to choose whom we trust.
What are you facing today? In whom or what will you put your faith?

Almighty God, renew our hearts so that we may give your words to others. Hold us up in faith and lead us in righteousness. Father, as we begin each day, remind us to place our full dependence on you. You are the author of all things, and through you we are blessed. Amen.

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Psalms 139:1‭-‬24 HCSB Lord , You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord . You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night” — even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You. For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You. God, if only You would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me — who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely. Lord , don’t I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You? I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
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Staying In His Presence

Have you ever really thought about the fact that no matter where you go, you cannot escape from the presence of God because He is omnipresent?  God is everywhere at the same time, all the time.  

There are times we struggle with our flesh, with the trials that the world, and with our enemy Satan and his army of demons.  At other times we may even find ourselves engaging and indulging in the desires of the flesh.  

It's at those times that being in the presence of the Lord is the safest place to ever be.

Here is what David says in Psalm 139;

Psalms 139:8‭-‬9 HCSB If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,

That means that anywhere you go;

Psalms 139:5 HCSB You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.

There have been several times in my life that I have wandered away from His presence, and that is what the enemy wants you to do. It’s his strategy to isolate us from Him. But I am thankful to Jesus that  He is a God who comes looking for the lost sheep. He even leave the other sheep to find you.   

Matthew 18:12‭-‬14 HCSB What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray?  And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Away from His presence, we are lost. However, when we repent and return to Him, He accepts us the way we are.  The believer’s life is one of coming and running to Jesus again and again. Quickly repenting and returning to the presence of Jesus is a key of Christian life.

If you are feeling distant from God, make it a point to come close to Him and He will come close to you. 

Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)16  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. 

Hebrews 7:25 ESV Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)6  Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. 

James 4:6‭-‬8 HCSB But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! (emphasis mine).

Drawing near is a restoration of what we were designed to enjoy forever.   God’s near­ness is not out of reach. He is present right here and now.
 
Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)1  God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  
 
Our responsibility is to draw near to Him in humility, prayer, and repentance … and God will reciprocate.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB)6  Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” 

Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
5  Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. 


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In the past couple of weeks I’ve written two posts urging you to stop comparing yourself with others ( “Stop Comparing Yourself With Others God Doesn’t’ and “Be Unoffendable”) . The point of those posts was that God made each of us unique, and as such we have no reason to compare ourselves with anybody else. 

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)14  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 

God created each of us for a purpose that He uniquely designed for each of us.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT2)10  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

We should not be concerned with what others are doing or not doing in their relationship with God. 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. (emphasis mine). 

We most often compare ourselves to others out of our insecurity. We want to make ourselves feel better. We compare ourselves with others because of our competitive or perfectionist nature. We want to be right, perfect, or just better than the other person.  Our own insecurity often causes us to look for ways to feel superior. 

Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT2)4  Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.5  For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 

What if we relied on God’s opinion of us before we had a chance to listen to our own, or others’ opinions?  Be content with God’s evaluation of you.

Romans 4:24-25, 5:1-2, 8:1 (NLT2)24  for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.25  He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.  1  Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.2  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 1  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  
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Stop Comparing Yourself With Others...Be Content With You

When you’re content in your relationship with God you can resist the temptation of the enemy to compare yourself with others.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT2)11  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.12  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (emphasis mine)

Learn to Be Content
By Rick Warren

1 Corinthians 4:7‭-‬8 MSG  For who do you know that really knows you , knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. Without bringing either Apollos or me into it, you’re sitting on top of the world—at least God’s world—and we’re right there, sitting alongside you! (emphasis mine)
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Instead of focusing on what you don’t have and what didn’t happen, you can choose to be grateful for what you do have and what has happened. This doesn’t come naturally, not even for the apostle Paul, who said, “I have learned to be content.” Being content is a learning process.

It’s hard to admit we struggle with envy because it’s such an ugly emotion. When you’re envious of others, you really want them to fail, because it makes you feel better that they don’t have more than you. That’s pretty crazy, isn’t it? If we can learn to be grateful for what we have, we can begin to get rid of these feelings of envy.

It’s important to understand that envy is not about having a desire or a dream or a goal. It’s good to have those. Envy is not about looking forward to something or hoping that something can happen in your life or even wondering if you should have something. Instead, envy is resenting somebody who has already obtained what you desire or who has reached a goal you have yet to attain. Envy says you can’t be happy until you get that desire or reach that goal. Envy is not being grateful for what you already have

The Bible tells us that we already have more than we need and far more than we deserve. Every good thing in our lives is a gift from God, and it is up to him to decide when and how he blesses us. It’s up to us to choose to be grateful and make the most of what we’ve been given.

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I recently wrote the post “Stop Comparing Yourself With Others God Doesn’t’.  In it I quoted;

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. (emphasis mine). 

I said in that post; While we may not set out to exalt ourselves when we compare ourselves to others, we certainly don’t do it to make ourselves feel inadequate or inferior.  We most often compare ourselves to others out of our insecurity. We want to make ourselves feel better. We also compare because of our competitive or perfectionist nature. We want to be right, perfect, or just better than the other person. 

I also said;  Rely on God’s opinion rather than the opinion of others. Our own insecurity often causes us to compare ourselves with others, looking for a way to feel superior. But what if we relied on God’s opinion of us before we had a chance to listen to our own, or others’ opinions? Quietly thank God that He sees your heart and actions and He knows the real story. If someone is bragging about their own abilities, don’t start comparing their talents with yours. Instead, quietly say “This doesn’t matter, God. Help me to be content with Your evaluation of me over anything else.” Sometimes we have to tell ourselves what to think in order to keep our minds from going in the wrong direction.

We’re human so we are going to occasionally compare ourselves with somebody.  In my post on comparison I said that we do it because we’re insecure and want to make ourselves feel better, and because of our competitive or protectionist nature.  We want to be right, perfect, or just better than the other person. Comparison can also cause us to become angry, bitter, jealous, and resentful.  

What’s The Answer To Resentful Comparison?

The answer to overcoming resentful comparison is complete trust in God.   Brant Hansen says in his book Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better;
 
When your complete trust is in God you become unoffendable.
  
Choosing to be unoffendable means choosing to be humble. Not only that, the practice teaches humility. Once you’ve decided you can’t control other people; once you’ve reconciled yourself to the fact that the world, and its people, are broken; once you’ve realized your own moral failure before God; once you’ve abandoned the idea that your significance comes from anything other than God, you’re growing in humility, and that’s exactly where God wants us all.

It’s contrary to seemingly everything in our culture, but the more we divest ourselves of ourselves, the better our lives get. Jesus told us as much. He said if we’d give up our lives, for His sake, we’d find real life.

When we surrender our perceived “rights,” when we let go of our attempts to manipulate, we find — surprise! — joy.

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Throughout my life there have been many times of severe trial and tribulation.  There were times when I didn’t know which way to turn. The times when I was out of work with no prospects for employment in the immediate future.  The time when my wife who had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer was hospitalized and transitioned to be with the Lord in less than a month. It was at those times God taught me a painful, yet incredibly valuable lesson.  The only way to experience peace and be free from anxiety is to cast ALL your cares on Him.  

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.5  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

1 PETER 5:6‭-‬7 AMP Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

This means to throw your cares with all your might at the feet of Jesus.  Be certain that God not only cares but His is fully capable of handling all your requests even if more cares and concerns keep popping up.

I’m not talking about some cares, not the most pressing cares, but all you cares.   God wants you to bring all your cares, fears, and worries, big and little, and cast them all upon Him.

Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV)29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.31  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
If God cares so much about  the sparrow, then he cares infinitely more about you, and if God cares so much about me, then there is no care too small or too big for Him. You might think that God is way too important to care about you and your little anxieties, but God is telling you that he cares for you.

One of my favorite preachers, Charles Spurgeon, puts it like this; “It does not matter how heavy troubles are if you can cast them on the Lord. The heavier they are, so much the better, for the more you have gotten rid of, and the more there is laid on the rock.”
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​To Cast Your Cares You Must Humble Yourself
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Do you believe that God cares for you? Do you believe that he loves you? Do you believe that he is concerned with all the details of your life, big and small, mundane and massive?

If you do then humble yourself and cast all your cares on Him. Run to him with all your fears and worries. Let Him do all the heavy lifting.  The truth is, you simply can’t cast all your cares on Him if you’re proud.

When you’re proud, you believe that you have the necessary strength to deal with all the cares and anxieties that come your way. . You don’t cast all your cares on God because you think you can handle them on your own. You think; “I don’t need God’s help. I don’t need His strength. I don’t need his wisdom or guidance.”

It is arrogant to keep your anxieties to yourself and not give all your worries and cares to God. Proud people try to take matters into their own hands. Humble people trust God.

James 4:6-10 (ESV)6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. You are not Superman. 

Cast All Your Cares Upon Him, For He Cares For You

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.5  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
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​9 Ways To Cast Your Care & Rest In God

1.  Give Thanks

Offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. Use your words and imagination to recount the many blessings that God has given you instead of using them to predict a hopeless future.

Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)1  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)15  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 


2.  Less Worry, More Prayer

Pray without ceasing can be as easy as quietly in your own heart asking God to move on your behalf. Try this before going into your next meeting at work or when a worrisome thought tries to creep in.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)16  Rejoice always,17  pray without ceasing,18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

3.Regular Devotional Time

Have you had your appointment with God today? A daily visit with the Lord no matter how brief can change the direction of your entire day. Daily visiting with Him builds trust at the depth of who we are…allowing His love to anchor our souls.

Psalms 59:16 NKJV But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.

Psalms 63:1 NKJV O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

4.  Draw On Joy

The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength and that there is joy in His presence. Possess and benefit from the presence of God. Enjoy reveling in His nature and becoming more like Him.

Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalms 16:11 NKJV You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I Peter 1:6-‬9 NKJV In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

5.  Spend Time With Encouragers

Don’t have an entourage of negative people around you. Do your best to surround yourself with people of like-mind and heart. Regular fellowship with encouragers helps to remove some the stinky  gunk of life that tries to take our eyes off God.

I Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one  another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Proverbs 27:17 NKJV As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Colossians 3:16 NKJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

6. Arrest Your Thoughts

When you take something captive, you take authority over it and detain it. We have to take this position with our thought life otherwise if we just go with the flow, we could fall victim to the enemy’s fiery darts. Don’t take ownership of every thought, question the source.

II Corinthians 10:4-‬6 NKJV For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Philippians 2:5-‬8 NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and  coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

7.  Think On These Things

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 

Enough said.

8.  Sabbath Rest & Blessings

This is more than an Old Testament commandment.  This is essential to regulate the human mind, body and spirit. We’re not robots designed to just go, our Creative design requires a regular rhythm of rest.

Exodus 20:8-‬11 NKJV “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In  it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stronger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

9.  Playful Worship

Dance, sing, and play in the spirit. Sit down in your heart and just be. Learn to have fun in the spirit with a child-like faith that enjoys spending time with the Father.

Romans 14:17 NKJV for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 18:2-‬4 NKJV Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Psalms 149:1-‬5 NKJV Praise the Lord ! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.

A Prayer To Cast All Your Cares On God

So Much In My Life Is Broken. I Have So Many Concerns And Cares, And They Weigh Me Down. While I Desire To Cast My Cares Upon You, I Find I Usually Pick Them Back Up Again, And They Only Add More Anxiety And Stress. Please Help Me Learn To Cast My Cares On You As I Learn What It Means To Rest And Trust In You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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