I need to abandon all thoughts and cares (as in anxiety or worrying) about what others are doing and just focus on the Trinity and what they want me to do. They will handle everyone else; they'll handle what's going on in the world. They'll guide and direct me and they'll never leave me or forsake me. It fills me with peace and love for everyone.
Monday, Ohioans find out what "the plan" is for our state beginning May 1st. So, many of us will start adjusting to yet another "new normal" and it will be hard and anxieties will rise, tempers may flare, and tears may even fall. We just need to keep in mind that everything happens for a reason and all things work according to His plan and happen in His time.
If you aren't feeling this way, maybe take some time this morning and find an encouraging bible verse that fills you with hope. Meditate on God's words. Here are just a few that may help:
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
Psalm 130:5 NKJV
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 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.
1 Peter 5:10 NKJVFinally, I want to share this passage which I believe, reveals the answer to our prayers for the week:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For“He who would love lifeAnd see good days,Let him refrain his tongue from evil,And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good;Let him seek peace and pursue it.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,And His ears are open to their prayers;But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,1 Peter 3:8-18 NKJV
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Please join me this week in praying for how we, as individuals of the Church, deal with the unsaved. Pray that the Spirit will guide us to portray the characteristics of Christ when our own human instincts are to act and react in a not-so-Christian way sometimes. Let’s also pray our hearts are softened toward those who test our love and patience.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
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