Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 29

TURN YOUR WORRIES INTO PRAYERS

From: February 29, 2024

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

It’s Leap Day and there is no OYB reading for today, so I have chosen one of my favorite Scripture passages to consider. With the all the anxiety over politics, the economy, and world events, it seemed a good time to offer God’s prescription for worry.

Consider what worry is. It is negative self-talk. We say to ourselves, “What will I do about this problem tomorrow? What if the money doesn’t come? What if the doctor gives bad news? What if I lose my job? What if I fail this test?” And the negative questions and negative self-talk continues on and on, until we can’t sleep or eat. We worry ourselves to death.

No one has ever solved anything by worry, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. Worry is worthless, it is self-destructive and even more serious, it is the opposite of faith. For worry doubts that God can handle our situation.

The Word teaches us not worry. Yet it doesn’t leave us with only a negative command, but offers a positive one to replace it, namely, prayer. If worry is doubtful, self-talk, what is prayer? Prayer is faithfully talking to God. Instead of anxiously talking to yourself, talk to God in prayer. After all, it takes the same amount of energy and effort to worry as it does to pray.

So stop looking inward and start looking upward. What does God promise for those who do? He promises to replace our anxiety with His peace. We receive the peace of God which surpasses all understanding because even though our requests have not yet been answered, we have now by faith given our problems to God. And this peace guards and protects our state of mind in Christ Jesus.

Let’s turn our worries into prayers!

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for worrying and doubting when problems come our way. Teach us to turn our worries into prayers. For we are Your children and You promise to meet all of our needs in Christ Jesus. Thank You for how peace replaces our anxiety when we come to You in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

From: February 29, 2020

TURN YOUR WORRIES INTO PRAYERS

It’s Leap Day and there is no OYB reading for today, so I have chosen one of my favorite Scripture passages to consider. With the all the anxiety over the Coronavirus, politics and the economy, it seemed a good time to offer God’s prescription for worry.

Consider what worry is. It is negative self-talk. We say to ourselves, “What will I do about this problem tomorrow? What if the money doesn’t come? What if the doctor gives bad news? What if I lose my job? What if I fail this test?” And the negative questions and negative self-talk continues on and on, until we can’t sleep or eat. We worry ourselves to death. No one has ever solved anything by worry, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. Worry is worthless, it is self-destructive and even more serious, it is the opposite of faith. For worry doubts that God can handle our situation.

The Word teaches us not worry. Yet it doesn’t leave us with only a negative command, but offers a positive to replace it–– prayer. What is worry? Negative, doubting self-talk. What is prayer? Positive, believing God-talk. Instead of anxiously talking to yourself, talk to God in prayer. After all, it takes the same amount of energy and effort to worry as it does to pray.

So stop looking inward and start looking upward. What does God promise for those who do? He promises to replace our anxiety with His peace. We receive the peace of God which surpasses all understanding because even though our requests have not yet been answered, we have now by faith given our problems to God. And this peace guards and protects our state of mind in Christ Jesus.

Turn your worries into prayers!

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for worrying and doubting when problems come our way. Teach us to turn our worries into prayers. For we are Your children and You promise to meet all of our needs in Christ Jesus. Thank You for how peace replaces our anxiety when we come to You in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Leap Day: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)

From: February 29, 2016

In John 4, Jesus offered to give the Samaritan woman “living water,” she responded with the practical observation that he didn’t even have anything to draw with. In other words, “You don’t even have a bucket. How will you be able to give me this “living water?” This is sometimes how we feel about God’s ability to generously supply our needs. Yet, God’s Word says that “God is able.” Able to do what? “To make all grace abound to you.” When? “At all times.” What? “In all things.” How much? “Having all sufficiency.” To do what? “To abound in every good work.” So, stop looking for God’s bucket. Instead, trust in God’s promise.

Leap Day Entry (OYB doesn’t have a Feb. 29th)

From: February 29, 2012

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1).
The LORD is all that I need. All of my deepest needs are met in Him. All of my lesser needs are met as I follow Him. He alone is the focus of my following. My needs are met without worrying about them as I seek Him and His Kingdom first.