“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Philippians 4:6 NKJV
Welcome to the 2nd weekly devotional recap of 2024! This week, we emphasised forgoing worries and insecurities and embracing the peace of God. We also learned to war with prophecy by being tenacious.
On Monday, we learned that peace is a fruit of our newborn Spirits (Galatians 5:22). As believers, our peace is not dependent on our experiences but on the Holy Spirit within us. Therefore, anxiety and worries should take the backseat to our trust in God’s word. To activate peace like no other, we ought to pray and give thanks to God in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Tuesday’s devotional reminded us that when we received Jesus, we received peace (John 14:27). And this peace gives us the backing to sleep amid a storm as Jesus did (Matthew 8:23-26). In difficult seasons, prayer and the word of God are sure ways to remain at peace. Dear believer, you can trust God with your life because being on God’s side means being on the winning side (Romans 8:28).
We learned on Wednesday that focusing on our insecurities can hinder us from reaching our full potential in God. God used insecure or perceived weak men in the Bible like Jeremiah and Moses, but first, He worked on their minds to see beyond those insecurities (Jeremiah 1:4-19, Exodus 3:11-12). You must find your identity in Christ and boldly call yourself what God has called you (1 Peter 2:9).
On Thursday, the instruction was to erase our worries. As long as we live, there will always be something to worry about. However, God’s faithfulness to us in the past is proof that He can and will secure our present and future. Our conviction in God’s ability should supersede our feelings.
Be like Jesus and cast all your worries and fears on God, the one who has the power to strengthen and help you (Mark 26: 38). Furthermore, reflect on God’s goodness to you in the past and replace worrying with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
We ended the week with a lesson on tenacity. In this new year and beyond, you must insist on God’s word and confront failure resiliently. Hold firmly to the word you have received even if it takes several years and multiple hurdles like Abraham and Joseph did (Genesis 21:5, Genesis 37). If things don’t work out the first time, go again and again until they do!
As you trust God and His promises, may you experience His peace and witness all He has said concerning your life this year and beyond.
Have a blessed weekend, family!
Bible Reading catchup: Read the chapter you may have missed this week. We are rooting for you!