Page 55 - Living Light - A Message of Joy!

Friday February 2 - Do not be anxious!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Anxiety is very much a blight of our current age. Our culture feeds into this increasingly and most people are powerless before its onslaught. Except us – because we have the antidote, if we only knew it! The verse says it all; to paraphrase, ‘don’t worry... talk to God.’ And this is not meant to be a last resort, but rather ‘in every situation’, which implies that prayer should always be our first port of call.
One such person in the Bible who had every reason to be anxious was King Jehoshaphat, who faced the mighty armies of Moab and Ammon, intent on the kingdom of Judah’s destruction. Prayer was his first course of action and he did so before all the people at the Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 20:5-12). He was immediately answered by a prophet, who told him not to be anxious, because the victory was the Lord’s. They wouldn’t even have to bear arms, as the enemies of Judah managed to annihilate each other! It took the most amazing faith and trust from the king to act on what the prophet said, but the Lord delivered – and anxiety, as well as the enemy, was defeated.
Do we have such faith? We do, after all, serve the same Lord. Let us kick anxiety into touch and learn to trust the Lord and him only!
Father in heaven, please deal with the situation that is currently troubling me. I trust you. Amen.
Saturday February 3 - The peace of God
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Are we still standing firm, as we reach the end of this week? We may have faltered, as we are only human, but one thing we can always hang on to is that God will never let go of us. He fills us with this supernatural peace, that no-one can really understand or explain, and by doing so gives us protection both in our heart, the seat of our feelings, and our mind, the seat of our intellect. We are covered; isn’t that a good reason to rejoice?
Peace is a word much bandied about in our society. Everyone wants it but only God can deliver it in its fullest sense. This should give us every incentive to speak into the hearts of those who do not have this peace, who may strive for it but never find it until they discover their Messiah. If we need a reminder, then let these words prompt us: ‘For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety”, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape’ (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
As we finish this week, may we find peace in our hearts and strive harder to introduce others to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.
Father in heaven, please help me tell others of the peace that only you can give. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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