Don’t Panic

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessary wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, being in the right place at the right time.” [NLT] Life Application Bible

It might be difficult to understand, but the fastest, the strongest, the wisest, the most skillful, or the most educated people don’t always come out the winner. Sometimes things that happen in life may look like it isn’t fair.

Don’t panic… God is still in control.

The wind and the sea obey…because God is still in control.

 Mark 4:41 “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him”  

Sometimes things don’t always go as planned, and a person experiences setbacks or disappointments. These obstacles should not stop that person from pressing on.

Don’t panic …because God is still in control.

Peace can be found in the midst of a storm or any negative situations that we face.

Because God is still in control.

Giving into the feelings of panic or anxiety in a moment or time of a crisis, can cause a person to make decisions on impulse.

Decisions that are made impulsively often produce impulsive results. Many times, these results may not in a person’s best interest and can also affect others around them. 

Scripture will help with making wise decisions in a time of difficulty.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” [NKJV]

Panic can distract a person’s reasoning and their actions.

Colossians 3:23 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” [NLT] Life Application Bible

Panic can distract a person’s focus.

Philippians 3:12-13 “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Vs 13 No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. [NLT] Life Application Bible

Panic can distract a person from seeing what is in their future, by remembering and holding on to their past.

“Lord Jesus, help us not to panic when we encounter storms or difficult times in our lives. I thank you for the victory in your precious name…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev

God’s Perfect Timing

2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” [NKJV]

God’s timing is always perfect, He is never too early, and He is never too late.

Approximately 8 months ago, I received words of encouragement from an individual that works in the medical field. Those words inspired me to make some much-needed changes in my lifestyle. These changes that I made, based on the words of encouragement I received, helped me with turning around a diagnosis I received from my doctor.

To show my appreciation to this individual, who gave me the words encouragement, I gave them a daily devotional and a thank you card. Inside the card I wrote “thank you for your words of encouragement, they were greatly appreciated.”

Upon receiving the devotional and reading what I had written inside the thank you card, this individual responded to me saying “you don’t know how much this means to me. I have been going thru some difficult times lately and what you just gave me is what I needed right now “it is right on time.”

When we allow God to lead us with what we say or do, not only will it always be “right on time”, but it will also be a blessing to others.

I encourage those of you who might doubt the timing of God to read the scriptures listed below, and by faith believe that “God’s timing is always perfect.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” [NIV]

1 Peter 5:6 ^“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” [NKJV]

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” [NKJV]

Psalm 31:15 “My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me.” [NKJV]

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. [NKJV]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ^“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” [NKJV]

 

Father in heaven, thank you for your timing that is always perfect, in Jesus’ name…Amen

Continuing in His service…Rev

He didn’t compromise

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

A definition of compromise is; “to accept standards that are lower than desirable, or to weaken or give up one’s principles, values, or ideas as for reasons of expediency.”

The 6^th chapter of Daniel gives a detailed story of how Daniel rose to a position of authority over others.

Daniel was a favorite of the king. He had experience, wisdom, a sense of history, great leadership abilities, a positive attitude and revelation from God. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”

Individuals who desired to have the favor of the king but didn’t, plotted against Daniel to have him cast into the lion’s den; Vs 7 “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”

Daniel not only refused to “compromise” his daily custom of praying, he continued to do it in front of opened windows where he could be clearly seen by others.  

He could have easily “compromised” and gone to a different place to pray or close the windows to not be seen by others.

Often times it might cost something to stand up for the values that a person has. As we see in the story of Daniel, the price that might be paid can be the threat of losing one’s life.

Daniel 6:16 “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.”

On several occasions I have heard the term “count the cost.” Daniel did not hesitate to “count the cost” when he heard that the writing was signed, he immediately went to his regular place of prayer and started praying.

Daniel was saved from the lions because of God’s intervention; Vs 22 ^“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

This fate that should killed Daniel, wound up destroying those that had plotted against Daniel along with their families; Vs 24 ^“And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.”

God gets the glory out of it all; Vs 26 “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.”

On any given occasion, a person will be given the opportunity to compromise the values that they have. Like with Daniel, when we trust and have faith in God to protect and deliver us, there is no need to “compromise” or worry about the outcome of not compromising.

Lord Jesus, we stand on your word that you “Will never leave us or forsake us, and you are a friend that sticks closer that a brother. May we always be reminded of the example that was set by your servant Daniel. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev