Leave Room for God to Move

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryD3D9X2myk

God is in this Story ~ Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave

 

Hey, friend. Mind if I sit by you? I see that worried look on your face. I get it; I’ve been worried about some things, too. But Holy Spirit has been talking with me and I wanted to share it with you.

 

The Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing,” – a simple, yet difficult command. After some prayer, I realized that I have “liked” worrying, because it gave me a sense of power and control in circumstances where I had none. What Holy Spirit showed me is that I actually had a lot of power, but I gave it over to the enemy by worrying, instead of praying.

 

The rest of Philippians 4:6 tells us what to do with all of those anxious thoughts: By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Honestly, I’m pretty good at talking to God—both crying and whining, at times—but I’m usually pretty bad at doing so with thanksgiving. Because I wondered why it was so important to pray with thanksgiving, I looked up the meaning. “With” is a Greek preposition that means, “in the midst of, amid,” (Blueletterbible.org). And “thanksgiving” is giving thanks for God’s blessings. When we’re thanking God, we’re remembering all that He’s already done for us, the crazy and amazing ways He’s come through for us in the past. When we’re focusing on that, all the worries fall by the wayside and the possibilities in God begin to open before us. Those are the things we want power behind and want to give life to by speaking them out of our mouths.

 

Proverbs says we have the power of life and death in our tongues. I know that when I worry, there is nothing fruitful or life-giving coming out of my mouth. But when I’m worshipping, praising, and thanking God, that’s when power is ignited!

 

Father, I pray for my friend. There is so much going on – so many unknowns, and fear is waiting to consume my friend. But Lord, You are the God of angel armies. You are the God of miracles. You heal the broken hearted, break bondages—including all types of addictions—and restore relationships. You heal diseases and breathe Your life into that which was dead. You are the Great I AM and nothing is too hard for the Lord, my God! Father, thank you that You are moving in my friend’s situation. Please bring peace and joy to my friend’s heart and mind. Lord, please give my friend clarity of thought. Thank you that we have the mind of Christ and can operate in His wisdom and ability. Thank you, Father, for working behind the scenes in my friend’s situation—working out every detail for my friend’s good and Your glory. Holy Spirit, please be with my friend. Guide each step in Your wisdom. Bring to mind all promises from God to encourage my friend. Lord, I ask for continued blessings, protection, and provision for my friend—far above all we can think, ask, or imagine. Lord, help my friend to see all that’s possible in You! And Lord, I pray for those who are watching my friend’s life and situation. I pray that they’d be in awe of how You answer our prayers. I pray that many would come to fear and follow the Lord because of the mighty works You have done and are doing in my friend’s life. I pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6 NIV

 

©Heather Potts 2023

Be Anxious for Nothing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_7XIKVgRGY

Letting Go ~ Steffany Gretzinger

 

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything… ~ Philippians 4:6 AMPC

Do not be anxious about anything… ~ NIV

Be careful for nothing… ~ KJV

 

“Be careful” or “be anxious” is from a Greek word meaning, “to be troubled with cares,” (blueletterbible.org).

“Troubled” means, “to be stressed or agitated mentally,” (dictionary.com).

“Nothing” means, “nothing; no thing; not anything,” (blueletterbible.org).

 

Be anxious—troubled; stressed or agitated mentally—with the cares of nothing—not anything.

 

Philippians 4:6 is a command. This command is a personal, plural imperative. You—all of you reading this—do it. Decide. Choose and follow-through. The follow-through, however, is not a physical action. It’s a mental focus shift. You’re not physically picking out your clothes. You’re mentally picking out your thoughts. Instead of shorts or jeans, you’re choosing to worry and have distress—or to not worry and not have distress, or other mental agitation.

 

When God gives a command, He knows He’s enabled us to do it.

 

This is the mental shift, where the rubber meets the road.

Step 1: Rejoice always!

Step 2: Let your gentleness shine.

Step 3: Be anxious for nothing.

 

Choose to be anxious for no thing. Decide to not be troubled with the cares of anything.

 

God’s not calling us to be uncaring. He’s calling us to not get bogged down in worrying about the people and things about which we care. He’s setting us up for success. To get there, however, we must each choose to follow through on His command. We must choose to be anxious for nothing.

©Heather Potts 2023

Let Your Gentleness Shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDNA2O7eNhM

Waves ~ Worship Central

 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ~ Philippians 4:5 NIV

 

“Let your gentleness be evident to all” seems an odd statement. But it makes sense in reference to Paul’s earlier letter to the Philippians. Paul said if they’d received anything from their relationship with Christ or His Spirit—encouragement, comfort, fellowship with Holy Spirit, tenderness, or compassion—they needed to share it. Shine it. They were to be an example of what they had experienced or seen, (Philippians 2:1-4). Paul called on them—as we are also called—to have the same mindset, love, nature, and purpose as Christ.

 

Paul was bold in his speaking because “The Lord is near.” “Nearness” is not about distance, but about time. The return of Christ is soon. However, knowing that God doesn’t view time like we do, Jesus said, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father… Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come,” (Matthew 24:36,42 NIV). Because the time of Christ is near, Paul implores believers to let our gentleness shine. In a world that’s harsh, full of so much anger and hate, Paul knew it would be our gentleness that would draw people to us, allowing us to point them to Jesus.

 

Some days and seasons will be easier, while others will be a struggle. Regardless of the events or emotions of the day or season, remember:

1.       Rejoice always – it produces joy

2.       Let your gentleness shine – it points others to Jesus

©Heather Potts 2023

Rejoicing Produces Joy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIhb-c_4Tw

Joy of the Lord ~ Rend Collective

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ~ Philippians 4:4 NIV

 

Did you know that rejoicing produces more joy? It’s been my experience that when I focus on praising God, I experience more peace and joy. I’ve also seen the opposite: griping and complaining lead to more of the same, which produce doubt, worry, and fear.

 

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” I’m going to teach you a little bit of Greek. Rejoice means to “rejoice” or “be glad.” Glad, according to the dictionary, is a feeling of joy. And “always” in Greek means, “at all times.” Now you know that we’re told, dare I say commanded, to rejoice—or have joy—at all times. At all times means in all seasons and circumstances because the Lord knows that rejoicing produces joy.

 

Maybe you’re wondering why it matters. Let me ask you: Are you a stronger, mightier warrior of the Lord when you are walking and dancing in joy or when you are bound up in chains of bitterness, doubt, worry, fear, and defeat? God knows that not all seasons will be happy. He knows we live in a fallen world and that we are human, surrounded by humans. God is not calling us to be happy all the time. He’s telling us to choose joy, by practicing rejoicing in Him and all that He’s done for us.

 

Take a moment and check your heart. Check your words. If your heart, words, and thoughts are not a fountain of overflowing joy, then start with a simple change that will create an environment that is rich with rejoicing in the Lord.

 

Take an inventory. What has the Lord done for you, or for those you know, today, yesterday, last week, last month, or last year? Celebrate it. Thank God for it! Let your praise be lifted up to the Lord. And remember, rejoicing produces joy.

©Heather Potts 2023

It's a New Year

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMzRTvYaUGU

Because He Lives ~ David Crowder Band

 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! ~ Romans 11:33 NIV

 

It’s New Year’s Day, and many will pause to reflect on all that the Lord has done for them in the past year, receiving encouragement for the future. When the girls and I reviewed all our prayer cards, we were encouraged at how many prayers the Lord had answered. We saw the faithfulness of the Lord in all He’d done. How much more will we fall in love with Him as we review the wonder of the Lord?

 

I love that the Lord is both unsearchable and can be found by those who seek Him, (Romans 11:33; Jeremiah 29:13). I am surprised by the voice of His thunder in the whirlwind and His choosing to speak to us in a still, small voice, (Psalm 77:18; 1 Kings 19:12). I have found that there are seasons the Lord calls us to be strong and courageous, promising to walk with us—to be with us wherever we go. And then there are seasons the Lord says to stand firm and see how He will deliver us, (Joshua 1:9; Exodus 14:13). Of the many aspects of the Lord, I think Paul nailed it in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Isaiah 55:8-9 agrees, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,’” (NIV). 

 

Before we venture too far into this new year, take a moment to pause, reflecting on all the Lord has done and the prayers He’s answered. Then, as you move forward, dig into His Word, and uncover the mystery of His ways. I pray that as you seek after the Lord this year, you’ll stand in awe of Him, falling in love with the Lord, as He reveals the richness and fullness of His love for you.

©Heather Potts 2023