Obedience Without Anxiety By Rick Warren “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision that you’re trying to make, you’re probably caught up in yourself and not God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33a NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if you’re feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in your life. If you’re a parent, do you want your kids to feel pressure or confused when you ask them to do something? No. You want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God the Father wants the same thing for and from us. The only time pressure could be legitimate is if God’s told you to do something, and you keep saying “no.” Then the pressure does build. But there’s always peace when you say “yes” to what God’s asking you to do. Satan wants to drive us compulsively, but God wants to draw us compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of our compulsions and use them to drive our lives. But God is our Good Shepherd. He wants to draw us in toward himself and peace. Peter Lord used to say, “Ninety percent of what God wants to say to you is encouragement.” If all you ever hear from God is negative messages, something’s wrong. The wires have been crossed. If you feel like God’s told you to do something but you have increasing anxiety because of it, then the wires are crossed. Something’s not right. The Bible us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). Power Verses: Amplified Bible Philippians 4:6-7, 6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison andmount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 33 For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people), Just A Thought: As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; He knows them better than we do; but He will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on Him. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in His favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and to keep a good name; a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. The way to have the God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other, neither men, words, nor deeds. Reference: Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary Talk It Over: * What decision do you feel troubled or anxious or worried about? * Do you believe this is something God told you to do?According to Philippians 4:6-7, what do you need to do? * What has God told you to do that you haven’t obeyed? * What has been the effect? Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6, 5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize,and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. In Reflection: 💡 Predestination is God’s foreordination of all events and circumstances for the good of His people and the glory of His name. 💡 Believers are called to reflect upon the words and works of God as they are made known through Scripture and to avoid speculation based purely upon human reason. 💡 God knows all human thoughts. 💡 The omniscience of God is that attribute by which He knows all things past, present and future. What is hidden from human sight is still known by God. 💡 God wants His people to turn to Him in prayer, individually and corporately, in times of need or crisis, and to bring requests to Him as a Father. 💡 Praise and thankfulness are important elements of worship, which also includes confession of sin, the reading of Scripture and music. 💡 Prayer embraces praising God for who He is, thanking Him for what he has already done, and looking forward with joy to what He has planned for our future. 💡 Scripture stresses the importance of regular worship, while at the same time recognizing that believers may worship God spontaneously. 💡 God wants His people to turn to Him in prayer, individually and corporately, in times of need or crisis, and to bring requests to Him as a Father. 💡 Thanksgiving is the offering of thanks, especially for gifts received. 💡 Scripture emphasises the importance of giving thanks to God for all His gifts and works, both as an expression of our dependence upon him and gratitude to him. Reference: Dictionary of Bible Themes
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 13:32:07 +0000
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