Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Philippians 4:4-7 – Guard Your Hearts And Your Minds – Growing As Disciples
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
Unexplainable Peace
You are a very gifted worrier. That doesn’t sound like a compliment. It’s not. You have the ability to worry about things from every angle. You can see problems long before they will become problems, if they ever will. Do you like to worry? No, not at all, worry stresses me out. Yes, I can see that it does. When would you like to make a commitment to stop worrying? I’d like to make that commitment right now, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Would you like my help? Yes, I would. That’s good because you will never be able to stop worrying by your own efforts.
Let’s start with a question. Go ahead. Who is in charge of your life? What do you mean by that? Who controls your future? Is it you or is it me? I’d like to say that it is you. You’re cautious with that answer. Yes. I am. Why is that? I think that my worrying is a pretty good sign that I think I’m in charge of my life and it’s destiny. Yes, it does. You have a choice. Of what? Who are you going to trust? Are you going to trust me or are you going to trust yourself? I want to place all my trust in you.
Trusting me will require a change in your thinking, attitudes and actions. I’m willing to change. I’m sure that I will need your help to change. Yes, you will. Lets talk about where you will need to change. What would you like to change about my thinking and attitudes? I want you to consider who I am and all that I have done for you. You have been given so much. Yes, I know. I have done so much for you. Yes, you have. What do you think will happen when you think deeply about all the blessings that you have received from me? I think that I will be filled with joy, gladness and thanksgiving. Yes, you will. As you give joy filled thanks and praise to me, what will you become more aware of? I will become more aware of your presence with me. Yes, you will. You will know that I am right by your side and ready to help you. With my help you won’t be tempted to take control and worry about your life.
Before something becomes a worry for you, I want you to do something. What’s that? When you start to have a concern about something I want you to turn that concern into a prayer. Can you do that? Yes, I can. Your past worries have been pretty specific haven’t they? Yes, they have been. I want your prayers to be even more specific than your past worries have been. Why is that? I want you to know that I am hearing and answering your prayers. I also don’t want you to leave any room for worry. Give all the details to me. Do you know what will happen then? Yes, I think that I do. What’s that? I will have a peace from you that will defy all explanations. Yes, you will because your heart and mind will be guarded in Christ Jesus. For that I am eternally thankful.
Lord, thank you that I can bring to you in prayer anything that causes me anxiety. I know you are with me to help me through every difficulty in life. Thank you for loving-kindness. You give me joy and peace that is unexplainable! Amen
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