The Lord is near; have no anxiety, but in everything make your requests known to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving. THEN the peace of God which is beyond our utmost understanding [worth far more than human reasoning] will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Philipians 4:6,7 TNEB
Optimum functioning in our spiritual lives is always predicated on our understanding and living out the fundamentals [basics] of that life. Bum Phillips, past coach of the then Houston Oilers, in an interview was asked to discuss his coaching technique; what was important to guarantee success on the gridiron? In essence, he said: Football is about throwing, catching, running and blocking, etc. Any team that does those things well wins games! I work on improving our skills in the basics. That makes a good football team. I've never forgotten his words.
After thirty years in the ministry, I have to admit that one of the basics that I still need to be reminded of incessantly is: "The Lord is near."
Life is demanding, fragmenting, has uncertainties and surprises. All this can cause anxiety, fear, restlessness, sleepless nights and the list goes on. Many times in the New Testament we are told that God has called us to peace. This is realized through the Prince of Peace who lives inside of us. We all would say that we know and understand this, but so many times we find ourselves feeling and acting as if we are alone and left to our own devices. For me, it is a constant effort to Practice the Presence of God throughout a day in all that it brings...His nearness for my neurosis...the only lasting remedy.
Computers have what is called "default settings" which causes a system to operate consistently a certain way. As life downloads on us, my prayer for us all is that the fundamental default information we have been graced with in Jesus would be fully functional, constantly enabling us to see and operate in life consistently as God has promised we can.
The psalmist says: "...but as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge...." Psalm 73:28 NASB
Father, by your Holy Spirit, enable us to live, conscious and confident of your nearness and characterized by your unfathomable peace. This is a message of hope our world needs to hear and see [in us].
Blessings,
Mitch
