Why do we worry? At the root of most worry is a lack of confidence that we will get a good outcome of some situation in which we find ourselves, or a situation that someone we care about is experiencing.

Our worrying will obviously not change anything. In Matthew 6:27 Jesus says, “Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?” TLB. Not only will worrying not help, but it can actually cause damage as Psalms 37:8 says, “…do not fret and worry-it leads only to harm.” TLB

It is easy to say, “just don’t worry,” but not so easy to do. What then is the solution to replace the worry? The solution as written in 1 Peter 5:7 is to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” NIV Hand over your concerns to God, say a prayer, and trust he will guide and protect you and those you love.

Dear Lord, we have fears in our lives and even though we may know that we shouldn’t worry, help us truly replace our worry with belief in your love for us and power over all our concerns. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The internet has become such an amazing resource for so many productive activities, such as education, collaboration, shopping, sharing and connecting with others. However like so many technological advancements, it is also used for wasteful, destructive, and distasteful activities.

Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.”

It is up to each of us to decide how we will use the resources God gives us. Every day, even each minute, we are making decisions whether to pursue the positive or “feed on trash.” Will we click on that trashy headline about some celebrities’ arrest, or drunken misadventure, or the keep our minds on higher things?

Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Dear Lord thank you for the incredible technologies that we have today, help us to use them for good and focus on the best you things you have created. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

When the police encounter a situation too big for one officer, he or she will call for backup. The military uses QRF’s, Quick Reaction Forces, or Aircraft that are on “Alert” ready to support others in need.

In a similar way God says in Psalm 50:15, “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” God is always there for us if we honestly call on him. He will not ignore us. This is not to say that life will be without challenges. Often challenges or tests are what God gives us to bring us closer to him. Sometimes we have been the ones ignoring God, and the only way for him to get our attention is to put a challenge in our lives.

More importantly however, is not just rescue and help in our lives on earth, but rescue of our souls. In Romans 10:13 Paul writes, ” For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God will not ignore people who call on him for salvation.

Dear Lord, Thank you that we can always know that you are there for us in our times of need, and that through Jesus Christ anyone who calls can be saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I write this daily post as somewhat of an instruction for Christians, including myself, on how to live and think about living our lives on earth, but I think it is important to take a moment and remember the sequence that God has established for us.

First we are saved, not by doing the right things and living the right lives. Jesus says in John 3:17,18, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.”

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to believe. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.”

Then, because we believe, we live the Christian life God desires. John writes in 1 John 2:3, “and we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.”

Finally, as active Christians we share our faith with others so they might receive the Holy Spirit and believe. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations,”

Dear Lord, help us keep this order in mind. It starts with your love for us that saves us, and follows with our love for you that leads us to live the life you want us to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, who God allowed to be the smartest person ever to live. (1 Kings 3:12) In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about his search for meaning. He goes through a methodical process of experiencing and considering many of the excesses of life, pleasure, drinking, folly, wisdom, wealth, and possessions. Solomon determines that all this is meaningless. He concludes in Ecclesiastes 3:12,13 that, “there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” and in 5:18, he says, “Well, one thing, at least, is good: It is for a man to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, accept his position in life, and enjoy his work whatever his job may be, for however long the Lord may let him live.” NLT

So the smartest, and wealthiest man of his time, with access to every opportunity, concludes that satisfaction in life comes from being thankful for the gifts God has given us, and enjoying our work and what it provides us; More will not make us happier or more satisfied.

Dear Lord, help us to be satisfied and content with what you have given us, realizing that if we are not happy and thankful for what we have today, having more will not make us happy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.