Pretty Amazing

Written by Gail Rodgers

Are you facing challenging days? Our mentors are available to talk and pray with you today.

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:5b – 6a)

The world financial situation bounces like a rubber ball again. It’s fragile and unpredictable. The early morning news today tells us the financial markets continue to tumble. Financial leaders are meeting to try to figure out how to avert panic.

I clicked from the news to my devotional email and read the Bible verse Mike Woodward highlighted for today.

Proverbs 4:23

“Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.”

It was the perfect verse to counter the unease of the morning news. I thought about it for a few moments.

“above all else” I sometimes ask the Lord for my “marching orders for the day” and here it was – my priority today was to keep a guard at my heart. To do that, I needed to faithfully guard what I allowed to come into my thoughts and settle into my heart.

“it is the wellspring of life”. What I allowed to settle into my heart would overflow into my day, my relationships, my actions, and my reactions.

It’s a tall order when anxiety of any kind surfaces threatening to consume us and devour us. Just as I pondered the “how” of this wise verse another verse filtered through my thoughts and I quickly Googled it to find the reference. Listen to the amazing flow of God’s wisdom to us:

Philippians 4:4-7

“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 everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which passes all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Wow! Here was the answer to the “how?” of guarding my wellspring of life, my heart. God will actually send His peace to do it for me if I simply choose my responses today.

Choose to Rejoice in the Lord always. Focus on all the Lord is and offers to us through Himself. Take one point and make it the meditation of your day.
Choose to Remember He is near. When anxiety threatens, ask God to remind you that He is right there and He will steady you and give you the wisdom you need.
Choose to Respond in prayer. Worry is a call to prayer. Choose to lay your request before God and ask for His guidance.
Choose to Retain thanksgiving. Leave your concern with the Lord and focus instead on who He is and His ability to hold you through any challenge. Maintain a grateful heart for even the smallest of His blessings. Watch for them.

Result: His peace, which is beyond understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

Pretty amazing really when you pause to ponder it.

All our spillover today in our actions, relationships, words, attitudes, will pour from what is in our hearts.
We are told by God to guard our hearts.
When we choose to focus on Him (Rejoice), to Remember He is right there with us, to pray (Respond) even when we don’t feel like it, and to Retain gratitude in our hearts, then an amazing thing happens.

God’s peace itself guards our hearts AND our minds…. thorough Jesus Christ and we REST even in the midst of unsettling times!

Lord God,

Please help me today to choose to guard my heart through these four steps and to experience Your amazing and in-explainable peace settling over my heart and mind by the power of Jesus. Thank you for Your wonderful provision when I turn my eyes to You. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Question: How will you rejoice, remember, respond and retain today?

Tags: anxiety, Devotional, financial situation, fragile, gail rodgers, guard your heart, Jesus, Philippians 4:5-6, unpredictable, wellspring of Life, Women

3 Responses to “Pretty Amazing”

Loading comments
Doris says:

November 7, 2011 at 12:51 pm

This devotional really spoke to me this morning too. These too are my life verses Molly, and I’m praying for you this week as you start your small group study. Thank you Gail!
CASEY says:

November 7, 2011 at 7:13 am

Thank you so much for devotional!!! I needed to hear this!!! My husband told me first thing this morning that he was quitting his job. He couldn’t take the nighshift anymore and didn’t want to be away from me anymore!!! We just got married in June and it has been hard on us!!! First thing I thought was oh my God what are going to do? And we both had prayed about this before I got to work and read this devotion!!! It was diffintally on time for our situation!!! I am trusting and resting in Him!!! He has never let me down and has always been faithful!!!! I believe He has a plan for us and I am rest in Jer. 29:11 for this plan!!! Thank you for listening to His voice!!!
Molly says:

November 7, 2011 at 6:38 am

I too was reminded of the work God has done in my heart by the presence of His peace. Yesterday I read ROM.10:10: just before sleeping. “For its with your heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rejoice ,respond,retain..Mmm I’ve asked the Lord,He answered today. This is my life verse Philip.4:6-7,but today I’m retaining 4,5 I know how important maintaining the heart garden is ,and real gardens lol, thank you for SHARING the reminders and how tos . Its so important…. your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you…
Please pray for me I am starring a Small group study (Philippians 3) for women this week . Thank you in Jesus name.
Rejoicing,
Molly