Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Things That Help Us Stay The Course

There is still an almost solid white covering on the ground in the forest as I write this today. In places the architecture of nature pierces the snow, reminding us that it will be ready and waiting when warm weather returns. As I looked at it this morning it reminded me of our lives. We are ever seeking to please God. Mostly we do well, but there are those patches that stick out from time to time that show we are still human, that we still make mistakes, that we still sin. As I thought about this I wanted to think of something that could be helpful to keep us on track. It reminded me of a scripture from Paul.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Here we see Paul telling us that we rejoicing and prayer will bring the peace of God into our hearts and minds. So, one thing that makes sense to do is to praise God and offer up thanksgiving, and don’t hold back. In this we are to use grateful or thankful language. Then Paul offers up a list of things to think about, which he states they have heard and seen, and God will be with us. It appears that hearing and seeing are also important. If we want to have the peace of God in us and God with us, we need to develop a pattern for ourselves that looks like Paul’s description. It could start with reading a scripture, thinking about the good God has done, and praising and thanking Him while making our requests known to him. Our God always responds, and will give us His peace.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High King! We thank You and ask that You let Your kingdom reign here on this earth today, Yahuah (Lord). Send the latter reign now. Let Your overflowing provision come to us today, Yahuah (Lord), that it might overflow to others through us. Smite our enemies that they might not overrun us, and turn them back. Deliver us from that evil. Show us a sign for good that all men would know that You alone have done this, that You alone are God. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.