Sharing another devotion this week from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Sometimes these short messages are just too good not to share.

(Jesus says) “Stop worrying long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly to you, in the depths of your being. Your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, My voice is muffled, and you hear only ‘white noise’.

Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can think My thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, letting My thoughts reprogram your thinking.” 

Your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion.

Can anyone relate? The first time I read this devotion, my mind was doing just that . . . as it does far too often. And I can’t help by ask myself, “Why”? If I’m truly trusting in God as I say I am, why is my mind so often shuttling back and forth? There is a solution for those anxious thoughts. It’s found in Philippians 4:7-9 and Matthew 6:25-33 — passages of scripture I can quote in my sleep, but seem to have a hard time obeying as I should. How about you? Although I’ve shared these passages in other Bible studies, just in case you need a refresher course like me, I decided to share them again.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:7-9

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And 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. Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?” For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:25-33

There’s the cure for shuttling minds. It’s really not that hard, when you get right down to it. If we’ll only take those worries and anxious thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and His word, instead of nursing and feeding them, we’ll soon discover our minds have been renewed and God’s voice is so much clearer, and those things we were worried about aren’t nearly as big as we once thought they were.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war (involve ourselves in spiritual warfare) according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations (vain imaginations, what ifs) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (commandments and teachings of Christ as found in God’s word). II Corinthians 10:3-5

~~~~~~

Now at my bungalow retreat, where I depict country living, bungalow-style through words and pictures: Join Me in Natchez. Hope you’ll drop by for a visit. If you like old homes, you don’t want to miss it.

www.bungalowretreat.com 

You can also connect with me on Facebook: Author, Teri Metts or follow me on Twitter or Pinterest.