Encourages finding peace and joy amidst the holiday season's busyness, by focusing on God's promises and casting off anxiety through prayer and thanksgiving.
Good morning, dear friends.
We gather here, as we do each week, in fellowship and faith.
We come together, in this sacred space, to share in the Word of God.
Today, we turn to Philippians, the fourth chapter, verses six through eight.
Let us hear the words of the Apostle Paul:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
A beautiful passage, isn't it? A call to peace, a call to joy, a call to cast away anxiety. In this busy season, these words hold a special resonance.
Max Lucado once said, "No one can pray and worry at the same time." Isn’t that such a good quote? It’s a good reminder.
As we move into the month of December, we are all too aware of the hustle and bustle that can consume us. The shopping, the planning, the endless to-do lists. Yet, amid all the chaos, we are called to find peace. We are called to find joy. We are called to cast off anxiety and embrace the true spirit of the season.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together today. We thank You for Your Word, for its guidance and its comfort. As we prepare to hear Your message today, we ask that You open our hearts and our minds. Help us to find peace in this busy season. Help us to find joy in each day. And help us to cast off anxiety, trusting in Your love and Your plan for us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Let's begin.
As we consider the words of Paul in Philippians, we find a call to peace.
This peace is not a fleeting feeling or a momentary respite from our troubles. It's a deep, abiding peace that comes from a relationship with God.
It's a peace that transcends understanding, that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace can seem elusive: We're surrounded by noise and busyness, by demands and expectations.
We're pulled in a hundred different directions, each one vying for our attention and energy.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and anything but peaceful.
Yet, Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything. Instead, we're to present our requests to God with thanksgiving.
This is a radical shift in perspective. Instead of focusing on our worries, we're to focus on God.
Instead of being consumed by our circumstances, we're to be consumed by gratitude.
Not easy: It requires intentionality and effort.
It requires us to slow down, to quiet our minds, to still our hearts.
It requires us to turn away from the noise and busyness of the world and turn towards the peace and quiet of God's presence.
Turning towards God: We find a peace that is not dependent on our circumstances.
It's a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control, that He is good, and that He loves us.
It's a peace that comes from trusting in His promises, from resting in His presence, from abiding in His love.
This peace is not a passive state of being. It's an active pursuit.
It's a choice we make, a decision we take, a path we walk.
It's a pursuit that requires us to let go of our worries and fears, to surrender our control and expectations, to embrace the unknown and the uncertain.
Pretty soon we’ll find ourselves stepping into the month of December ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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