Worry-Free Living!
 
 "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"
 Philippians 4:6-7
 
In this Scripture passage the apostle Paul is earnestly asking us to gather all our fears, struggles, and cares of this life and with thanksgiving, present them to God. Additionally, we are to walk away with a heavenly peace, no matter the circumstance, with thanksgiving within our hearts and minds.
 
Your concerns, your families concerns, your church’s concerns -physical, mental, spiritual – that you face every day-
 
Paul said to give all of them to God thru Christ Jesus
Sincerely pray and supplicate with complete thankfulness
With your mind and heart rest completely in the peace of God. 

The aged apostle is simply saying, as a child flees to his fathers arms for peace, safety and strength, so are we to flee to the heavenly Father and lay the burdens of life completely on Him.  Then with our hand within His, face those burdens with a newfound peace and unspeakable joy.
 
How?  “And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.   Phil 4:7
 
Whose peace shall comfort and sustain me?     God’s
Who shall keep my heart and mind from worry and heartache?     God.
Why will God do this for me?     Because of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
 
You are His child. Run to Him.  Confess your worry to Him. Rest, with thankfulness, in the peace and joy that God has already placed within you.
 
Beloved, God knows the battles we face; He understands the fears and worries that attack our mind;  Give them, all of them, to Him.
 
Jesus said to “Cast your cares upon me for I care for you”
 
 
Study  Philippians 4:4-8  and think of ways you can apply these verses to your situation today. 
 
What should our attitude be during these times of uncertainty?
 
What should we be focused on above all else?   
 
Where does our strength and help lie?
 
 
Praise Him!

But the greatest of these is…Love

The greatest commandment…

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.       - Matthew 22:37-39

We are told that “love is a many-splendored thing” and that “love makes the world go round” For love we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. The greatest memories of our life include the memories that love alone produced. It is overpowering to remember the time I first realized that God’s love to me did not depend on who I was or what I did - but was unconditional. I remember with joy the realization that the person I loved and would eventually marry, truly loved me and was willing to devote the remainder of her life to proving it.

God made us with the innate desire to love and to be loved. This desire came straight from His heart and is no clearer seen than in John 3:16 which states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 13 exalted love when he indicated that all human accomplishments that are not motivated by love are, firstly and lastly, empty. He concluded in the last verse that only three characters will remain: “faith hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. The distinguishing characteristic that Jesus Christ wanted his followers to have was love. In all situations, in all relationships & at all times, the Christian was to move, speak, and walk from the foundation of love.

The greatest need of all, in this time of hardship, is for each of us to realize God's unconditional, unmerited  love toward us and to graciously extend this same love to all that are around us. To purposely make a difference in their lives as He has made a difference in ours.

The songwriter F.M. Lehman, writing about the love of God stated,
       “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell…Oh, Love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure-The saints and angels song”.

Think about God’s unconditional love to you and let that be a springboard for all other relationships.

Take the time this week and meditate upon the “Love of God”.  Slowly read these scriptures first. John 3:16, Romans 5:5-8;
Think of ways, especially in these times, to place into practice the command to “love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul and mind”.   List them and use them
Text, call or write a note of encouragement to someone today!

Love is like the five loaves and two fishes.
It doesn't start to multiply until you give it away.


Pastor  Rudy