Posted on 01/16/2025 4:32:00 AM PST by metmom
“He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).
James, the Lord’s earthly half-brother, reminds us that this life is very temporary and uncertain—it is not even guaranteed that we will have an earthly future. James’s practical letter teaches us: “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” (James 4:14–15).
Like Jesus, what we are all about and the ultimate goals of our lives should focus on the eternal, not the temporary. The guiding principle and central motive of our lives must be to please God and trust Him for absolutely everything (cf. Matt. 6:33).
Jesus posed some searching questions in the Sermon on the Mount:
Why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Matt. 6:28–30)
We always suffer and miss out to some extent on spiritual blessings when we shortsightedly worry about the temporal instead of focusing on the eternal. Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptations is again our model.
Ask Yourself
How much time do you spend listening to the nagging complaints of worry? How much is fretting a part of your thought process? When are you most susceptible to letting anxiety rise up within you, stealing your joy and perspective? Pray for freedom from anxiety—and the faith to replace it.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
This has become so crystal clear to me lately. I see everything through the lense of our being here very briefly. It became even more clear to me recently after I had spent several hours in prayer for someone I love who is in great need. The emotional attacks from the enemy that followed later in the day were obvious to me as a direct reaction to that prayer. I acknowledged that I knew where the onslaught was coming from, asked the Lord to banish the source and protect and within seconds the attack stopped. The spiritual realm is very real, and our Lord is very tangible and not just a religious philosophy. Thanks for this word today, it is really a blessing.
Pray for freedom from anxiety — and the faith to replace it.
I needed to hear that. I’ve let stress and anxiety rule my life the past several years now, especially when Covid entered the picture. It’s only been within the past month or two that I finally said “enough is enough” and let it go.
Agreed-—
May seem weird but an attack comes and I thank the enemy for affirming I’m a Child of God Jesus then I Glorify Jesus for defeating the enemies attack and giving Me Victory in Jesus !
Its not hard to do- the cares of this world weigh heavy, and overwhelm many times. In severe cases, meds may be necessary to calm the anxiety, but most cases I think can be helped through prayer and learning to rest in the lord.
God is neither surprised nor offended by questions from an earnest heart. He welcomes our questions even if they are motivated by fear because he knows how to dissolve those fears, and by his grace does so. Covid made a lot of folks anxious- znd it was not easy to come to the point of saying that whatever happens, it will be God’s will. God knew our hearts and fears, and by his grace, he helped to overcome any fears.
Covid was ‘fear’ manifested evil as I voiced many times Amigo!
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We Have Victory in Jesus!
The VA has consistently denied requests for the disability compensation because of injuries sustained during military service, and, of course, the SSA is putting me through the hoops requesting disability because of Long Covid.
But I'm putting all that behind me. I got so sick and tired of the VA denying disability requests that I stopped trying, and I wrote a letter to them expressing my displeasure and how I feel they let down the very people they're supposed to be helping.
I think what gets me about the VA is that everyone says getting a disability rating is "a piece of cake" when it's been anything but. The VA finds every excuse they can to deny requests instead of trying to find ways to get the veteran the benefits they deserve.
I have a SSA disability hearing early next month and once that's done, I'll be done with them as well, no matter how they rule.
I also stopped stressing over my housing situation. I've been looking for some type of senior housing but I'm putting that behind me as well. I'm still keeping an eye out but I'm not overtly stressing about it. Whenever God points me in the right direction is fine with me.
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