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Do You Know How to Live A Worry Free Life in A Troubled World?

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement byHerb Cotton

Somebody is Praying for You Today

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

Psalm 23:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

The Bible instructs God’s people that we should not give space to worry in our life. We were not made to bear the burdens of the world on our shoulders. Instead, the Bible encourages us to pray about everything and to trust in God for all of our needs.

Philippians 4:6-7 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

6-7 Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.

Why not take all of the worries that are on your mind, write them down on a piece of scrap paper, and bring them to some safe spot and burn them until they are ashes. Leave your worries figuratively speaking in the ash heap, and in exchange receive the peace that comes from abiding in Christ.

John 15:7 King James Version (KJV)

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you

John 14:27 King James Version (KJV)

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Oh, my friends, you who are Christ followers, draw near to God, and leave your worries in the hands of your Redeemer; Jesus the Messiah of God.

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Our Father in heaven, we are so thankful for the privilege we have to come into your presence and to live every day and all the day long in Your presence.

Father, by faith, we put our worries in Your hands, and in exchange, we receive Your peace in our heart. We are so grateful for the blessing of being able to live worry free with trouble all around us in this world. We receive your instructions to be of good cheer because You are in charge. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

John 16:33 King James Version (KJV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

—

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How to Be Calm In the Midst of Stress?

Text:

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

Today my message is two-fold. For those in Christ Jesus, and identify Him as being Lord of Your life, I speak to you first.

There is a place where we can find the peace of God, and have it as a present possession; even in the midst of our storm tossed lives. That place is to live in the presence of God.

Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

If God the Father has exalted you, who or what on earth can pull you down, or put you down. He paid the ultimate price for the purchase of your freedom from sin, death, and the grave.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Listen to the calming and reassuring words of Jesus to the first century believers, and to us today from the Word of God.

John 16:33 (NLT)

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

If you are not a Christ follower, I encourage you to consider the benefits of becoming one. The cost has been pre-paid, and the benefits are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (HCSB)

19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Prayer:

Father, with grateful hearts, we give thanks to You for loving us so much, and doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Father, draw Your people closer to You, and may we willingly, and joyfully live in Your presence in the heavenly realms because of what Christ did for us. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Why You Can’t Trust Your Emotions

Text:

Psalm 34:10 (KJV)

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Observation:

To understand the motive for David’s writing of this Psalm, we need to know the background. The heading of the Psalm said this:

“A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.”

David fled to Gath, the home of Goliath the giant, who he had recently defeated. He sought help from the King of Gash, whose title was Abimelech, and his name was Achish.

David learned through this experience that God was his source of help, and not man. There is nothing that we need that God is not willing to supply.

When David sought the Lord, he found the help he desperately needed, he gave praise to the Lord, and invited others to do the same.

First, he gave praise to the Lord.

Psalm 34:1-2 (KJV)

1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Second, he invited others who needed help to exalt the Lord with him.

Psalm 34:3-7 (KJV)

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Thirdly, he invited others to experience what he had experienced; to taste for themselves the goodness of the Lord.

Psalm 34:8-10 (KJV)

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Prayer:

Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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How to Live in Victory in a Trouble Filled World?

Text:

Psalm 3:3-6 (ESV)

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

Observation:

When I see the word but in the bible it gets my attention. I want to know what went before, and what comes after. I want to know what the but is there for.

This is what comes before:

Psalm 3:1-2 (ESV)

1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;

2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

In this Psalm David laments over his son Absalom, who has risen up against his father. You don’t have to be downcast, and defeated when you know the Lord. You can do what David did.

In his anguish, David cried out to the God of his salvation. And, in the Lord he found hope and help. When your faith is activated, your fears have to go. The Lord can turn sleepless nights into restful sleep, and He can turn strife into peace.

Psalm 3:3 (HCSB)

3 But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be You name. Father, I am so thankful to be able to call You, our Father, and know that You hear and answer the prayers of Your beloved people. Father, in times like these, I look to You; I seek Your face.

Psalm 46:1 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Father, I pray that any who are facing defeat, adversity, or trouble in their lives; that they would cry out to You in the manner that David cried out to You, and find in You hope and help. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How to Live In A Fallen World

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Observation:

Are your circumstances, and the cares that you have weighing you down, and causing you to have anxiety in your mind and soul?

Do you have trials and temptations in your life that are wearing you down? Are the trouble within you, and the circumstances surrounding you robbing you of your peace and security?

Are there things, and people that are robbing you of your peace and joy? There is song that is ringing in my heart, and it provides the answer to all of our cares and circumstances.

“There is a place of full release,

near to the heart of God,

a place where all is joy and peace,

near to the heart of God”,

Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee, Near to the Heart of God

The place that I go, and the person who I turn to when troubles vex my mind and soul is to my God; the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When doubts, discouragement, disappointment, and the devil knocks on my door, I go to God. I open my Bible, and begin to pray. Do you realize that you have in your hands TNT (The New Testament), and that TNT is dynamite?

When troubles come knocking at the door of your heart, use dynamite to knock the devil, and his devices out of your life.

You don’t have to live under the circumstances in the world. You can rise up, look up, speak up to God, and watch the Lord as He fight the battle against all of your foes and cares.

Don’t forfeit your peace or your joy. Cast all your cares on the one who is able to help you, strengthen you, and keep you.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, help us to remember to always take all of our cares to You in prayer. Why try to fight the battle in our strength when we can hold in our hands TNT to destroy the enemy of our minds, body, and soul. Jesus used prayer and the Word, and so should we. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Want To Be A Change Agent?

Text:

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Observation:

If you are alive, you are changing. You are getting older every day that you are still breathing.

What kind of life are you living? Are you making the people, and things that you touch better or worse?

I have a burden on my heart for unity among the local expressions of the Body of Christ.

That burden has been encouraged by the following message that I received from a friend.

“If we did all the things we were capable of doing we would literally astonish ourselves”.

I have a burning desire to be astonished by the possibilities of what God could do in our communities if we, the people of God, came together in love with others in our community.

The reading of the following scriptures have set my heart aflame to see this happen in my community, and in your community.

Romans 12:10 (KJV)

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:12 (KJV)

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Is there anyone hearing this message who is willing to join us in carrying this burden to the Lord in prayer, and doing what the Lord tells you to do? If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you, and speak to your cries for help.

Will you pray, and will you wait for His reply? Let us lift our voices to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer:

Father, we come humbly to You, and give You praise and thanksgiving for who You are, and for being a God who hears an answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, we cast our burdens and concerns at Your feet, and we delight to open the eyes of our hearts to see You, and our ears to hear from You. Father, speak to Your people is our plea. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Know How to Overcome Fear?

Text:

Romans 8:26-30 (HCSB)
26 In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Observation:

How hungry and thirsty are you for God? How much value do you place on prayer? Is prayer your first option, or is it your last option? Do you view prayer as the least you can do, or do you view it as the most you can do? How big is Your God?

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)
For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Do you have a God size need in your life today? Why not do what the Psalmist did?

Psalm 77:1-3 (HCSB)
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me. 2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted. 3 I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah

Asaph was in a hard place; however, he served a great God, and Asaph cried out to God as his first option, and not his last. Asaph’s faith was not in vain; God hears and answers the prayers of His people. David said this about his prayer. God will do it for you, if you ask Him.

Psalm 6:9 (HCSB)
The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer.

We are not alone when we call out to God in prayer. There are times when we don’t know how to pray, but God has that covered; He provides us with the Holy Spirit to be our helper in prayer. Not only that but God works in the circumstances of our life, no matter how painful they may be, God works in them and through them for our good, and for His glory.

Don’t ever forget that God is for you; He will succeed in making you like Jesus; a promise He makes, and one He will surely keep.

Romans 8:31 (HCSB)
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

“O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful for your love, guidance and support that you give to your people. Father, forgive me for the peace I forfeit when I fail to bring everything to you in prayer.

Father, with the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit, I will learn to carry everything to You in prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Know How to Be Free of Burdens and Anxiety?

Text:

Psalm 55:22-23 (ESV)

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

Observation:

There is nothing in life or in death that is more profound than the knowledge that God loves you. Who wouldn’t want to know the one who created them, and loves them with an everlasting love?

I woke up early this morning with today’s focal passage on my mind. Using the international symbol of surrender I lifted both of my hands toward the skies and said these words, “Father, I lift my hands up to you and in them I cast all of my burdens and anxieties up to you, and I ask You to take them out of my hands; Lord, I give them to You”.

O, what a blessing to know that I don’t have to carry that heavy load that I was not made to carry. If you feel poor, weak and weary in your mind, body, and soul; why not cast those burdens upon the Lord.

Notice what the Psalmist says about the unrighteous, and how they feel based on their prosperity.

Psalm 30:6 (ESV)

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

Would you rather be rich in worldly goods or poor in spirit? Let me encourage you to ponder this teaching of Jesus.

Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Are you willing to exercise the gift of faith that is within you to be able to raise your hands and say to God, “I trust in you”. This is His promise to you, “I will never permit the righteous to be moved”.

I’m going to pray for each of you now, and my prayer will be that you will be able to sing this song.

“I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I’m so glad that I am poor enough in spirit that I know I am not built to carry the burdens of living in a fallen world on my own shoulders.

Father, by an act of raising my hands in total surrender I offer my burdens up to You. Lord, I ask You to take them out of my hands, and handle them with Your hands.

Father, I trust in You, O Father, give me faith to trust You more. Father, I pray this prayer for my family, friends, neighbors, and last of all for myself. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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