| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship” Our Bible verse for today: “Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying?” Matthew 6:27 (CSB) Our thought for today: “The End of Anxiety and Despair” I love the Sermon on the Mount. It is by far Jesus’ most famous sermon. Also, being able to say that a lesson comes from “The Sermon on the Mount” seems to add extra weight to it. (It actually doesn’t add extra weight to it, not really. All of Scripture is the inspired Word of God, but adding the kicker “He said it in The Sermon on the Mount” makes me as a preacher and writer sound even more authoritative. So, let me just tell you that, “He said it in the Sermon on the Mount!”) And what did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount in this instance? He said that anxiety does nothing to help my situation. It doesn’t add a minute to my life; it doesn’t solve my problems; and it doesn’t make me feel better. So sayeth Jesus! The Apostle Paul said it too: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. Experiencing anxiety and despair is part of the human condition. Those are normal human emotions. But they are unhelpful human emotions, and the more we learn to master them the happier and healthier we will be. Also, the better our overall quality of life will be. This is why Jesus said what He said in Matthew 6:27, and why Paul wrote what he wrote in Philippians 4:6-7. This is where deep discipleship comes in. As we grow in spiritual maturity anxiety and despair should become less and less of a problem for us. That’s one of the goals of our spiritual growth. Anxiety and despair are such a big problem for so many Christians that I wrote a new book about it. The title is “The End of Anxiety and Despair.” It’s a collection of fifty short and encouraging devotional messages designed to help us dispel anxiety and despair from our lives. It is due to arrive from the publisher today. If you would like to have a copy of it, just send me a note at pastorjimmohbc@gmail.com. I would be happy to send you one. Anxiety and despair are not part of God’s plan for your life. Jesus wants you to have victory over them. The depth of the spiritual maturity we experience as a result of deep discipleship helps to achieve that. Anxiety and despair will probably never be fully absent from our lives, but its effects can be greatly minimized. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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