Of all the things to bring me encouragement today....I was in the car mindlessly thinking and I had the radio on. Katy Perry's song "Firework" was on and I wasn't really listening to it, but then my mind tuned in when the line played that says: "If you only knew what the future holds. After a hurricane comes a rainbow." It was just a reminder to me, and weird to me that that was the song that had to remind me of this, that I need to stop worrying about everything I worry about. I may feel like I'm in a hurricane, but I need to remember that there is a rainbow on the other side of it. I can't control a hurricane - when it comes, what it brings - just like I can't control most of the things I worry about, but I need to remember to look past it - to look to what the future really brings - to look to how God can use this hurricane to do amazing things.
Then tonight, I open up my Phillippians commentary devotional that I have been doing, and the topic of the day -- "You Don't Have to Worry!" Crazy!!! God really knew what He was doing today because I really did need the reminder. Worry does not solve anything. The book described worry in various ways -- to be pulled in different directions; wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstnaces, people, and things; the greatest thief of joy. I know how worry feels. I know it brings you down - to the point of feeling physically ill. Worry helps no one. It only defeats us into thinking we are worthless, we can't fix what is happening, we can't control what is happening, we are just helpless. We need to focus on what we can do. We can stop worrying. We can focus on God and remember his all powerfulness can handle any of our problems. The book pointed that out - the first step is right praying as laid out in Phillippians 4:6-7 - and the book said that the first step to right praying is adoration - seeing the greatest of the majesty of God and realizing that He really is big enough to solve our problems - even in ways we would never ever imagine. I forget this a lot. I hate being out of control and I worry when I feel out of control and helpless in situations. But I need to focus on the One who is ALWAYS in control. He knows my future and what will happen. As Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." How much clearer can God get with us??? He has given us hope and a future to look forward to. He has given us peace. All we have to do is accept it. All we have to do is give up control and let Him lead us. We need to think on the list of Phillippians 4:8 and not on the worries of this world that are temporary. We need to learn and RECEIVE as Paul points out in verse 9. We need to receive the truths of God inwardly and live them out in order to have the peace of God. And the peace of God is really all we need. Every day I want to strive to have the peace of God and not to be caught up in my worries, in my inconsistences, in my faults.
Phillippians 4:4-9 --> 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
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