Philippians 4:6-7 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.

When something has you worried or afraid, it can produce emotional and physical symptoms.  Some people become: nervous, angry, and sad.  Some physical symptoms may include: lack of sleep, no appetite, or increase of appetite, headaches, and chest pains.

There are a lot of people that are getting sick from the Covid-19 virus, which includes some of our youth.  We must not allow what we see, hear, or experience to cause us to worry.

Talk to God in your own way about everything.  Be specific in your prayers and give thanks.  Receive God’s peace that may not make sense.

Don’t worry it is going to be okay!

^{1 Corinthians 12: 18-20,27} 

¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

God has some unique gifts in each of you that are born again believers in Christ.   Every gift is important in Kingdom building.  As a part of the body of Christ we should never think that one gift is more significant than the other.  God has a purpose for each gift. There are some gifts that are not visible, but they are still important.  You are important to the body Christ.

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

Light is very important in order that we can receive direction or clarity.

Just as we recognize the necessity of light in our everyday lives.  We must realize how important spiritual light is needed if we are walking in darkness.  Spiritual darkness is the humans’ state without a relationship with Christ.

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus explains to his disciples that they have light, and it is important that others see the light.  The only way our light can shine is through: our belief in the resurrected Christ, and following his example.

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12 NIV).

Many people are searching for light in all the wrong places and in all the wrong people.  It is important that we let our light shine.

Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

God will always be with us no matter how difficult the situations may be.  God is aware that we sometimes face overwhelming decisions, and we don’t know what to do.  We need to remember that God is there to guide us in the right direction.

In Psalms 23 God is pictured as the shepherd and we are the sheep.  God will make sure that we receive everything that we need. God knows our cry.  What we need may not be clear to us, but the almighty God knows the desires of our heart.  We will lack nothing when we rely on the Shepherd.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his Glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

Philippians 2: 3-5

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

People who are not believers often look at the behavior of confessing Christians.  As we are on our journey of faith, we must strive to live a life that demonstrates behavior pleasing to God.

Paul encouraged believers in Philippi to imitate Christ in humility in the way they treat one another.   It is not necessary to boast about being a disciple for Christ, but it should be demonstrated in the life you live.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35 NIV).

As Christians, we must daily examine ourselves to see if we are imitating Christ.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)

There are four divisions of seasons that are marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours.  We call these seasons: Spring,  Summer, Fall/Autumn, and Winter.  In the  Spring is when things bloom and the weather begins to be warmer.  In the Summer is when the weather is sometimes very warm, and in some cases drought occurs.  In the fall is when the leaves turn colors, and the weather is beginning to be a little cooler.  In the winter is when we experience the cold weather, and some areas may experience some snow.

There is also four divisions of Life’s seasons.  These seasons are marked by situations that we have in our lives. Spring brings new beginnings, and a fresh start.  The season of summer may be when things appear to be difficult because of the heat of trials and tribulations.  The season of Fall is when those close to leave.  You are now pressing forward to the future.  The season of winter is when there appears that nothing is happing. There appears to be no progress in the goals that you have started.

God knows where you are in life’s seasons. God will be with you through all of your seasons.  Whatever season you are in embrace it with prayer.    Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Rest is being relaxed or released from stress.  Rest can be accomplished by placing hope, trust, and confidence in someone.

Many times people have said that they need to get away to their favorite vacation spot at the Beach or Mountains for rest.  This rest is only temporary if we have not found the rest in Jesus Christ.  This rest is a peace that calms worries and concerns.

In the 11^th chapter of Matthew is where Jesus invites all to come to Him if they are weary             ( mentally and physically exhausted).  Weariness comes by trying to handle problems on your own.  Not just your problems but everyone else’s problem.

Come to  Jesus not just if you are weary but if you are burdened.   Burdens are the troubles of life.   Burdens can be anyone or anything  that causes you to be bound,  and hinders your walk of faith.

Jesus gives us “rest”.

“Do not give in to sinful desires.”    Romans 6:12 (NLT)

 The Apostle Paul writes: “So you should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.  Instead, give yourselves completely to God. . .”  (vv. 11-13 NLT).

Self-denial is a battle within itself.  As children of the Most High God, we must make every effort to deny the sinful desires of the flesh.  Trying to accomplish this in our own strength is impossible for us but it is by the power of God through Christ Jesus that we are enabled to do it.  When faced with temptations, the Apostle Paul says “we are not to give in to sinful desires.”  Therefore, to take control of our sinful and fleshly desires we must relinquish control to the very One who can handle it for us.  Turn to God in weakness and He will strengthen you!  Practice self-control by giving yourself completely to God.  Then you can walk in confidence knowing God is in control.

Matthew 9:37 (NIV) Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

All over the city is a sign that reads, “Help Wanted”.  Employers have stated that although there is plenty of work, there is a lack of laborers.  In Matthew’s gospel Jesus saw a multitude of those who had needs.  He told his disciples that, “the harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few”.

There is a need for people to work for the Kingdom of God.   Will you accept the position?  The only previous qualification is that you have received the gift of salvation through faith.  The benefits are eternal life.  If interested pray to the Heavenly Father the CEO.  All serious applicants should apply for immediate hire.  There are plenty of work in the position as a laborer in the Kingdom, but very few workers.

1 Samuel 17:45

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (NIV).

There is no battle or situation that our Giant cannot defeat.  God is our Giant who is powerful than anyone, anything, or any situation.  Sometimes we find ourselves facing these little giants such as: fear and doubt.  Although they may appear to be powerful, they are no match to the power of the almighty God.   Fear is caused by the belief that the situation is impossible to handle.  Doubt is the uncertainty that anything positive will come from what appears to be impossible.

David was a shepherd, who came face to face with a giant.   David did not trust in his ability, but the power of the Almighty God. There were those who doubted that David could defeat the giant.   The giant appeared to be more powerful then David.  David stood firm in his belief in the power of God, and defeated the giant Goliath.

When we are faced with giants in our life, we must have confidence in God’s ability to help us defeat the giants. Like David we may have those who may know our situations and have determined that things will not get better.  Instead of looking at the situation in determining the outcome, we should look at the power of our Giant (God).    It is then that we can have victory!

These giants are no match to our Giant (God).

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27 NIV).