Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.6-7.KJV

What if anxiety can bring you closer to Jesus? Jordan spent a whole year praying his anxiety away until he discovered something deeper—a stronger relationship with Jesus. Maybe you can relate to his story:  “I think I’m going to die.” That’s exactly what I thought to myself numerous sleepless nights last year. I would try to fall asleep, only to be woken up in terror for no particular reason. My chest was tight. I felt like I was choking, and I couldn’t breathe at times. The cycle would repeat, and eventually I resigned myself to sleep on the couch so I’d stop waking up my wife.  One day, I went to a doctor and explained my symptoms—the chest pain, the trouble falling asleep, and the panic attacks. After a couple of tests over a few visits, he diagnosed me with anxiety. Can I be honest? It made me feel like a failure as a Christian. Hadn’t I been praying against this the right way? I’m not supposed to deal with this, I would think to myself, I’m supposed to have peace and not worry—that’s what Jesus said to do! After following the doctor’s instructions and starting to take a small dose of medication, I continued praying for anxiety to just go away. I didn’t want to have to deal with it anymore. In 2 Corinthians 12, in the NIV translation, Paul described his “thorn in the flesh.” While we never know for sure what Paul’s “thorn” was, anxiety can certainly feel like one for a lot of people, including me. Paul said that he pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away, but instead, Jesus told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (emphasis added) The grace of Jesus is sufficient, no matter the circumstances. As I began praying for healing, I began to draw closer to Jesus. Like Paul, God hasn’t taken away my “thorn.” However, I’ve found myself more passionate about reading His Word, and I’ve prayed more than I ever have before. I thought what I needed was healing for my anxiety. In reality, I needed more of Jesus. Now, I’m not saying if I had been closer to Jesus that I wouldn’t have had anxiety. I’m also not going to stop praying for anxiety to leave. I keep praying to be delivered from this thorn just like Paul did.  But something even better is happening to me than being instantly healed from anxiety: I’m developing a deeper understanding of God and a richer relationship with Him.  Instead of just praying for peace, I found myself drawing closer to the Prince of Peace. When I began to worry about my future, I reminded myself that He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I prayed for my anxiety to go away, but I found something much better: the overwhelming, loving presence of Jesus in my life—even in the midst of anxiety. -Jordan

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/2th.3.16.KJV

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:16‭-‬33 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.16.16-33.KJV

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4‭-‬7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.4-7.KJV

On the Run  Living with anxiety feels a lot like living on the run—except you’re running away from your own life. Panic settles in your chest as you try desperately to escape to a safe place that seems just out of reach. Worries swirl around in your head at a speed that makes it hard to breathe, and fear wells up, causing indecision and self-doubt.  Sound familiar? There’s a constant pressure never to shut off your life—emails never stop, notifications pile up on our phones, and let’s not forget the comparison trap social media brings. So, how do we live with that, when we know that as Jesus followers, we are called to live anxious for nothing?  Too often we feel weighed down by guilt because we think Christians aren’t supposed to feel this way.  But what if we can stop running from something and start running to someone?  We can. You can. The promise that we can live anxious for nothing isn’t based on what we can produce but on the presence of God. Check out what it says in Philippians 4:6-7 NIV:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. On our own, we are hopeless in the fight against anxiety. But with God? We have access to His presence, which offers peace we can’t even begin to understand.  What’s even better about that promise? It’s a continual process. In every situation. Every time we start feeling anxious, we can go to God for His peace because peace is a by-product of God’s presence.  Anxiety will not often disappear instantly. It’s a moment-by-moment, continual process of seeking His presence. Over the next few days, we’ll share stories of everyday people who have battled with anxiety and what they’ve learned along the way.  Want to learn more about living Anxious for Nothing? Check out the accompanying message series to find more peace.  *If you are struggling with anxiety disorder, it’s important to seek the help you need. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, see your doctor. Seeking help doesn’t make you weak; it makes you wise.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.6.11.KJV

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.6.11.KJV

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html?s_cid=11734:african%20covid%20variant:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY22

I looked this up on Google, but I do not know why the title is the way it is. If you would like to know more about the different variants, click on the link above. I thought that this was something that needed to be shared. God bless, and have a wonderful evening.©2022

When I think about everything that Christ went through for us, it makes me think about how He suffered for us, bled for us, died for us, and was raised for us so that He could always be with us through the Holy Spirit. I believe that this is something we need to consider as a gift from Him to us. This is not something we should take lightly. This is very important because what would we do without the Holy Spirit?

I want to look at the fact that we have everything in Jesus Christ. Let’s look at Isaiah 53:4-7-Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

When I look at this Scripture, I can see that Jesus went through a horrid time, but he never complained about what he knew was happening to him, and what was about to happen to him the next morning.

Here we are now living on the earth complaining about every little thing that happens to us, and we complain about not having anyone to stand up for us when we are wronged, well, I am going to say this, Jesus did not have anyone to take his place on the cross, he did not have anyone else to take the punishment for him that we deserved, he did not have anyone to run and hide with, and he did not have anyone to speak for him when he was being beaten all night long. He was quiet through the whole thing except when he told them where he was from, and they still didn’t believe him. All of the time, they were falsely accusing him of things, he never said a word, even after someone spat in his face and hit him. He never complained about it.

Isaiah 58:8-12- He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

He was numbered with the transgressors-He was hanged between two thieves.

He bares the sin of many-He took all of our sins upon himself.

Made intercession for the transgressors- “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”

Righteous servant- Jesus Christ.

Poured out his soul unto death-“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

When we are going through trials and tribulations, we have Jesus to turn to. When Jesus was going through what he was going through, he had no one to call on, because His Father forsook Him because of our sins that was upon Him. Jesus stands up for us when we call on Him. He is always there for us. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us. Our sins are what separates us from God, because God is Holy, so we must be holy. I know it is hard because there is so many things going on in the world that can stop us from being how we know we are supposed to be in the eyes of God. We cannot let the sins of this world carry us to hell right along with it. We have to watch how we live, and we have to pay close attention to what we say and do; God see and hear everything we do. There’s nothing that is hid from Him.

John 8:30-36- As he Spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, we be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, whosoever commiteth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Hebrews 10:19-23- Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

We do not have to be timid, or afraid to go to the throne of God when we need to pray. Jesus made this possible for us when He shed His blood and died for us. We no longer have to wait for a priest to speak for us, we can speak to God on our own. Jesus is our Great High Priest in the kingdom of God. We have to draw near to Him with a true heart filled with faith, and not filled with an evil conscience. Whatever we need from God, and it is in His will for us, He will grant us what we ask for in faith. God is faithful, and He will always do what He promises. We have to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. We cannot be doubtful when we go to God. We must have faith in God. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Romans 6:19-23- I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants for God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We should be ashamed of the things that we used to do while we were yet sinners before God. We should mourn and weep for all of the wrong that we have done, when God is so gracious to us. We were more concerned of the things that we wanted to do in the flesh that we were not concerned about where our soul would spend eternity if we should have left here before we gave our life to Christ. We were more concerned with what was going on in the world than we were concerned about the things of the kingdom of God. We were blind, naked, and destitute, ignorant, and void of understanding anything concerning the Spirit of God. We were only focused on the things of the world which was, and still is passing away, and the lust of it. So, had not God sent His one and only Son into this world to die for us, we would have had to die in our sins. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank God for Jesus Christ! Thank God for His love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. He did not have to do what He did, but because He loved us so much, He did. He gave us His Son for the last and final sacrifice to lay down His life that the world through Him might be saved.

John 10:6-10-This parable Spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he Spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, Verily, I say to unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus came to give us an abundant life, and not only that, but life eternal in Him forever. Geater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Who is in the world? The enemy is in the world, and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy is the Devil, Satan. It is what he does. He started wreaking havoc in the Garden of Eden, and it has been hell on earth ever since. So, when are we going to realize that we have everything in Jesus Christ? There is nothing that this world can offer us except heartache, pain, sickness, and death. But in Jesus, we have everything that we could ever hope to have and more in our life. Do we ever really realize just how blessed we are. We have someone who will always be there for us. We have someone who will comfort us when we need to be comforted. When we are lost and cannot find our way, He is the one who will be there to show us the right way to go. When we are sick and cannot get well, He is the one who heals us of all of our infirmities. He is the one who makes a way when there seems to be no way. He is the one who fights our battles for us when we are going through spiritual warfare. He is the one who provides for us when our money is short, and makes the gas in our vehicles last a little longer, He is the one who protects us from danger and harm. Jesus is everything for us and to us. When we start to realize that, we will not be filled with anxiety and despair, we will not be worrying about tomorrow and what will happen in it. When we focus on Jesus, we can have a peace of mind knowing that He is the One who loves us more than we could ever love ourselves, and more than anyone else ever could.

Who are you going to choose to serve today, will it be Jesus, or the enemy of God, which is the Devil? Where do you want to spend eternity? Choose this day who you will serve, because as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Salvation for your soul is just a prayer away. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Repent of your sins, and your wicked ways, and turn to Jesus. It will be the best decision you will ever make in your life, and your eternal life. Amen. God bless, you all. Have a wonderful evening, and thank you for joining me on my journey on Food for the Soul. ©2022

Check out “The Birth of Jesus: Luke 1-2” on Spark Bible.

The Baptism of Jesus: Luke 3-9

Check out “The Birth of Jesus: Luke 1-2” on Spark Bible.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 68:5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.68.5.KJV

I finished the Everything I Need Bible reading plan from @YouVersion! Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/5wZ

I have enjoyed sharing this Bible Study with you all. If you would like to explore other Bible Studies on You Version, feel free to do so, because there is something for everyone to do and enjoy. Have a blessed day, stay safe, and God bless.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.18.19.KJV

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:4‭-‬5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.100.4-5.KJV

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139:1‭-‬18 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.139.1-18.KJV

Very often, when I think that I desperately want or need something new in my life, what I’m really craving is God’s presence, God’s voice, and God’s Word. In His presence, fear flees faster than the tiny lizards that line my path on a South Florida sidewalk, peace falls like a warm blanket on a snowy day, and dreams leap and dance with newfound delight.   Dreams that we didn’t even know existed in our hearts.   In His presence, we dream in new ways. We align with His heart because He abides in ours and transforms us from the inside out. We find purpose through the Truth of His Word. In His presence, anything we ever needed simply overflows in every aspect of our lives. Out of that abundance we create with the Master Creator, and the Master Creator creates through us.   He is always and forever crafting new things out of the old and dried up areas in your life. God doesn’t simply change your circumstances and battles, but writes NEW stories, NEW memories, and NEW adventures.   God’s presence makes broken things whole. Not because of anything we have done, but because He is whole. He is unbroken; He is undamaged. He is not divided or disjoined; He isn’t injured or impaired. He isn’t wounded; He is complete. He isn’t hurt. He is sound.  And through Jesus Christ, we are also whole. We are made new in His presence. There is nothing like pressing into His presence in pursuit of our portion through Him. There is nothing like pursuing the Provider. Pursue your Provider with praise & thankfulness, with worship, and with the truth of His Word. And don’t always try to pursue by yourself, even when it is awkward or embarrassing. Fight through the desire to retreat to the comfort of solitude on your couch (or with the empty company of Netflix). Where there are two or more gathered in His name, God has promised to be there. I’ve seen amazingly powerful miracles done in the hearts and bodies of those who seek God together… I’ve had them happen in my own life. Get in community and stay in community. It’s how we were made to grow.  Proclaim that God is the God over every good and bad season, both the dry and the fruitful seasons, and the busy and the restful seasons. He wants to hear us proclaim this truth, because His truth is good and strong. When we speak His truth, we find joy and we become grateful. He desires our thankfulness, our praise, and our worship because He knows it will remind us that He is on the throne and has already gone ahead of anything we may be facing today.    My heart beats for you, the reader of these words. More than anything, I want you to know Him, and just how good He is. He doesn’t leave us on our own, He doesn’t sit back and watch us fend for ourselves when we ask for His help.  He has promised us that when we seek Him, we will find Him. Regardless of where we are, and how we got there, God has a perfect portion waiting for us. Closing Reflection and Prayer God, every good and perfect gift comes from You, and we can’t even fathom what You have in store for us in the future… but we do know that You have already secured it, already paid for it, already laid out a path for us to get it. God, we want to be where You are. We want to see Your face, to hear Your voice, to be in the very presence of perfect Love. Love undefiled. Love as pure as the cry of a newly born babe.   Come meet the person reading this right where they are at this moment, for You know them completely. You know the struggles, the battles, the failures, and the mountains they are fighting against. You know what is needed to win, and You already have it secured. More than the good gifts You bring to us all, bring Your presence to them right now. In the tension, in the darkness, in the battle, in the wilderness, we will not stop praising You, worshipping You, crying out for You, trusting You, humbling ourselves to You, and remembering how You have faithfully brought us here. We wait expectantly for You, O Lord. You are our perfect portion. You are everything we need.

I just finished day 2 of the @YouVersion plan ‘Everything I Need’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/5wZ

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up, Above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:4‭-‬6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.27.4-6.KJV

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:25‭-‬26‭, ‬28‭-‬34 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.6.25-34.KJV