Tag: Bible

God's Peace

Feeling Anxious?

meghanewhite

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If anxiety is weighing you down, you are in good company. There are plenty of people around the world feeling anxious. We have more than enough problems, and potential problems, to keep us all feeling a lack of peace. This world is a mess, and it’s getting messier. It’s quite easy to feel anxious. But, we don’t have to stay there.

We have hope. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you have everything you need to get your peace back. Jesus knew we would have troubles. He never said it would be easy. But He did not end there.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33, NIV

In Him we have peace. That is incredible. We can have peace in spite of the chaos. We can experience His supernatural peace in spite of the diagnosis, the painful loss, the empty bank account, the job loss, the trauma, the trial, the pain. We can rest in Him during life’s most anxious times.

We have peace because Jesus already took all our sin and nailed it to the cross. Because of Jesus we have victory over death, and continuous victory over every problem we face. He is with us and will help us.

One of my all time favorite Bible passages in Philippians has gotten me through so many hard times. I relied on these verses heavily when my dad was dying, twenty-four years ago. I still go back to these powerful words time, and time again.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  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.

Philippians 4:4-7, NIV

The Lord is near, always! We are not to be anxious. In everything, by prayer, we can give all our requests over to the Lord. We can do this with a thankful heart knowing He has an answer and a plan. As a result we get the peace of God, which goes above and beyond any human understanding. This perfect peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The world offers us peace that is circumstantial and fleeting. God gives us peace that goes beyond our circumstances. For He himself is our peace. Rest in Him today, knowing that He is right there with you. He knows every problem you have or will ever have, and He will make a way for you.

If you are too worn out to pray, read those words in Philippians. Write them down. Say them out loud, and know that God will replace your anxiety with His peace.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are awesome, holy God. Thank you for peace, hope, and joy. For those who are weighed down with anxiety, lift their eyes up to Jesus. Replace their anxious thoughts with peace. Help them to stay in Your word. Give them the strength to pray and call on You. May they rest in Jesus and experience supernatural peace.

Amen

God

Sometimes We Just Need Held

meghanewhite

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The other day I was deep in thought at the grocery store. I was looking at the fresh herbs deciding exactly how much basil to get. This is important stuff. Fresh basil is a big deal. As I was considering recipes and portions, a baby’s cry interrupted me. To my left a young mom was attempting to console her little baby boy. He was having none of that. His cries continued until she picked him up.

Suddenly the sweet little angel was calm because he was in his mama’s arms. Without even thinking about it I said, “Sometimes we just need to be held.” The little guy smiled at me. Memories of my own little babies when they were fussy flooded my mind. The precious young mom and sweet baby went about their shopping. We passed each other a few more times. The baby boy started fussing again when he was placed back in the shopping cart. He needed to be held.

Sometimes we need to be held. It does not matter how old we are, or how mature we are, or how long we have been a Christian. We need to be held in the arms of God. We need to be comforted, and nothing else will do to calm us down. We will never outgrow our need for comfort from our Heavenly Father.

It’s humbling to be in that much distress that we need comforted. We can’t rely on ourselves, we must rely on God. The deep pain and heartache are reminders of our need for God. We cannot live this life effectively on our own. We were never meant to.

What great encouragement to know that our God will comfort us, hold us, and carry us just like a little baby in need. It is a reminder of our human frailty. His love for us is beyond measure. God will not let go.

When we are comforted we then get to pass this on to others. It doesn’t end with our needs. God wants to use us as vessels of His love. We can hold that person who is in trouble. Maybe they need picked up, dusted off, and held. We all do at some point.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NKJV 

Love you all,

Meghan

 

 

Father God,

Thank you for your compassion and mercy. For those who need comforted right now, draw them to you. Comfort them with Your peace and love. May they experience Your supernatural presence. Hold them, and encourage them. Restore their hope. Heal their hearts. We praise You and thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

 

 

 

 

Trials

Prepping for a Storm

meghanewhite

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Icy conditions are on the way to Southeast Texas. At least that is what we are being told to prepare for. It’s unusual for us to get freezing temps. When the weather gets colder than normal this time of year, we have to prepare. I can’t help but have horrible flashbacks to last year’s historic storm.  Read about it here It’s Been a Crazy Week in the Great State of Texas

How do you prepare for a storm? It depends on the type of storm. For ice and snow storms, pipes and spigots need protected, plants need brought in, pets kept inside. You have to make sure there are flashlights, plenty of water, and some canned food in case the power goes out. Some people here have generators, but those are not fail proof. Last year many generators stopped working because the lines froze.

We can prepare in every possible way for a storm, and still take on damage. It’s the same in life. The storms will come, guaranteed. We can and should prepare for the storms in our lives to the best of our ability, and resources. We have no control on how long they will last or the havoc they will bring. And there are plenty of storms that we never saw coming. There was no time to prep.

How do you prepare for storms in your life? For the coming storm on the horizon and the unseen ones. Jesus is the only answer. He is the answer to everything. Jesus is the anchor in our storms. We pray. We ask others to pray. We read God’s word, the Bible. We have faith in Jesus. We cry out to Him when the waters rise and we are afraid. We trust in the One who is our anchor in the storm. He is faithful to see us through the storm.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19, CSB 

Maybe you are in the middle of a storm, and you are being bombarded with troubles. All you see are grey skies, and wave after wave keeps crashing over you. Please hold on to Jesus. He is holding on to you. I know it’s hard, and scary, and painful. You will make it. God loves you so much, and He is working all things out for good. God wastes nothing, even our storms.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28, NASB 

I am going outside in a minute to bring in our tropical potted plants, and cover our spigots. I’m going to do what I can, and then leave the rest in God’s hands. I pray you do the same today my friend. God bless and keep you.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are awesome God. You are our provider. Please protect every person who is in the middle of life’s storms. Comfort, provide, and help them. Give them peace, and Your incredible presence. Calm them, and their storms. Answer their cries for help. Wrap Your arms around them and make a way right through the storm. We love You and praise You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Faith

Look at the Butterflies

meghanewhite

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Living in a warm climate has its advantages. We still have flowers blooming, and butterflies are still showing up to eat nectar. Monarch butterflies swarmed our garden in early November during their migration to Mexico. There were dozens of monarch’s all over our Mexican sunflowers. It was amazing! 

There is something so peaceful and beautiful about butterflies. I love nature. I love being outside. I see God everywhere I look. The sky, flowers, birds, insects, trees, and all of it. He made everything. There is no denying a Creator when you stand in His creation. 

Here is a short video of the butterflies that were in the garden on Saturday, January 1, 2022. 

What an incredible way to start off the new year. Butterflies happily feeding on my sunflowers in the middle of winter. It makes me smile. Those butterflies have not a single concern. They do exactly what they were designed to do. Eat nectar, and get to Mexico for the winter. Sounds pretty good to me. 

God takes care of the butterflies. He provides flowers with nectar for them. He also gave monarch’s the instinct to migrate south for the winter. Monarch’s use environmental cues to know when it’s time to make the migration to Mexico and California. Amazing! If God cares for butterflies, then He is definitely going to care for us too. 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26, NIV 

You are much more valuable than a butterfly, or a bird. God loves you. He loves caring for you. Take a deep breath in, and know God is watching over you. Trust Him. Now get outside, if it’s not too cold, and watch how He cares for all of creation. You are worth more than that. He’s got you.

Love you all,

Meghan 

If you need prayer leave your request in the comments, or send it to meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

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God bless you,

Meghan