07/09/2025
Midweek devotion from Pastor Doug...
🙏Midweek thoughts from my heart to yours from God’s wonderful Word…From Philippians 4:6-9 we read, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made .known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
CERTAIN TRUTHS FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES. Believe it or not, there is a community in rural Texas called, “Uncertain”. It’s true! Can you imagine if you lived there and you met someone for the first time and they ask, “Where are you from?” And you reply, “I’m from Texas.” Then they ask, “Well, what part of Texas?” And you answer, “Uncertain.” Then they look at you and walk away thinking your elevator doesn’t go all the way up! 🤓 Having to tell people where you were from would certainly make it awkward to live in Uncertain.
THE DAY IN WHICH WE LIVE. The truth of the matter is we all live in a place and time that could be described as being uncertain. It seems that in every realm of life there is not a whole lot we can depend upon any more. Whether it’s the economy, our political leaders, or just simply the future and what may or may not happen tomorrow, we live in a time of uncertainty.
FIVE TRUTHS FOR SHAKY TIMES. Thank the Lord there is still one place we can turn to for the days in which we live! The believers Paul was writing to in Philippi were going through desperate times. Their very lives were being threatened because of their faith. The Lord inspired Paul to instruct those believers to practice five things that would see them through the difficulties they faced. Let’s do the same by deciding to….
1. WORRY ABOUT NO THING. Again, God’s Word says, “In nothing be anxious…” You might say, “Pastor, that’s easy for you to say…your’re the preacher!” But it’s not Bro. Doug who’s saying that. This was Paul writing from prison awaiting his ex*****on. We need the peace the Lord gave Paul in that rat infested dungeon he wrote from. There are three reasons we shouldn’t worry: Worry is wasteful. The best thing you can say about worry is it’s a waste of time. Worry is harmful. Worry will drain you emotionally, physically and spiritually. Worry will do to your insides what sand will do inside machinery. And, Worry is sinful. Worry is a choice. “be careful (anxious) for nothing…” is a command to obey. To worry about anything is to doubt in God. When we worry we’re literally saying, “Lord, I don’t think you can take care of this problem!”
2. PRAY ABOUT ALL THINGS. Paul said, “…in everything by prayer…let your requests be made known unto God.” Stop worrying and start praying about your needs. Pray about the ‘big things’ and pray about the ‘little things’. Pray! One lady asked her pastor, “Should I really bother the Lord with the little things that come up?” Her pastor asked her, “Mam, can you tell me anything that’s big to God?” The place of prayer is not only a place of power and provision, but it is a place of peace. If you try to look ahead, you’ll be dismayed; if you look back, you’ll be discouraged; if you look around, you’ll be disappointed; but, every time you look up, you’ll be delivered during uncertain times!
3. BE THANKFUL IN EVERY THING. Paul says, “in everything with thanksgiving…” We’re not commanded to be thankful FOR everything that comes our way, but we are to thank God IN every thing we face. How? By standing on His promise in Romans 8:28. “For we know that ALL (good or bad) things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.” God is faithful (I Cor. 10:13)! Remember a faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. God is testing our faith during these uncertain times. And we know He can be trusted to use even what we call “a bad time” for our good and His glory! If you’re like me, you can look back over your life and clearly see that it was during the difficult times in your life your faith in the Lord grew the most. Anything that causes you to trust God more can’t be a ‘bad thing’! Amen?
4. THINK ON THE BEST THINGS. Paul says in v. 9, “…think on these things…” It could be that today you need a checkup from the neck up! You need to examine your thought life. Why? The Bible warns you will act out what you think about (see Prov. 23:7). That’s why companies spend millions on advertisements. But remember …you can choose what you think about. We’ve all said, “I can’t control my thoughts!” Yes you can! God has blessed our minds in such a way that we cannot think upon more than one thing at a time. Try it right now. Try to think on two things at one time. It’s impossible! You can choose what you want to think about. Guard you mind! Refuse to think negative, depressing, sinful thoughts! Instead chose to think after God’s thoughts…His Words are His thoughts and His promises you can trust! Fill your mind daily with His Word! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed upon Thee” (Isa. 26:3).
5. DO THE RIGHT THING. It’s amazing what happens when we simply “DO” what God tells us to do in His Word. Paul, from death row, said, “…these things DO and the peace of God will be with you.” Jesus said, “If you know these things (God’s Word), happy are ye IF ye do them” (John 13:17). Ask the Lord to show you which of these certain truths you should begin to put into practice during these uncertain times. Refuse to live in the place called, “Uncertain”! Think it over…🙏
