Trustworthy

Happy Sunday!

It's the first few days of the new year, and the new decade.  Already we have seen and heard things that can make us sad, and anxious.  In times like these, it pays to go back to the Word of God.

Philippians 4:4-9 says, "Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice! Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One. Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you."(Voice).

The Apostle Paul knew from experience how to make it through trying times.  He wrote to the Corinthian church about what he endured.  2 Corinthians 11:23-27 says, "They say they serve Christ?
But I have served him far more! (Have I gone mad to boast like this?)
I have worked harder, been put in jail more often,
been whipped times without number,
and faced death again and again and again.
Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods.
Once I was stoned.
Three times I was shipwrecked.
Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day.
I have traveled many weary miles and
have been often in great danger from flooded rivers
and from robbers and from my own people, the Jews,
as well as from the hands of the Gentiles.
I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities
and from death in the deserts and in the stormy seas
and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not.
I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights.
Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food;
often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm."(Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  The same man that went through all these trials is the same man encouraging us that we can still find reasons to rejoice.  He knew it is possible to "fill your minds with beauty and truth".  We can make up our minds to trust God no matter what we see or hear.  Psalm 37:40 echoes this same sentiment, "And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they TRUST in him."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia