Beautiful Word: Your Daily Devotion

Daily Scriptural Insights, Curated by the Editors of CT | [View online] [ChristianityToday.org] [Donate] [Beautiful Word Newsletter] Friday, December 30, 2016 Stop and Start [Joni Eareckson Tada] [Joni Eareckson Tada] | [Writer][Bio] [@JoniandFriends][@JoniandFriends] [Facebook][Facebook] Today's Verse Powered by the [New Living Translation] “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 [View in context] Sometimes the solution to a huge difficulty is so near at hand, so obvious, that we walk right by it. That may be the case with anxiety in our lives. Anxiety is distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear. Even as Christians, we’re troubled by these feelings now and again. But some people become quickly overwhelmed. In today’s Scripture, Paul writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” Here are two strong commands in quick succession: Stop worrying. Start praying. It truly is the answer. If anything—anything—disturbs your peace, take it immediately to God. Lay it before him, and then let it go. If you have to do this a thousand times a day, then do it! God’s peace will filter back into your heart like a protective shield. That’s his promise. Reflect: Read Philippians 4:6–7. How could these two commands, “stop” and “start,” work in tandem to help you overcome anxiety? Pray: Write a short list of some of your most frequent sources of worry or anxiety. Offer the list to God in prayer, then throw it away to represent your desire to surrender these worries to him. Joni Eareckson Tada is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and the founder and CEO of [Joni and Friends International Disability Center]. Taken from [A Spectacle of Glory] by Joni Eareckson Tada. Copyright © 2016 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. All rights reserved. [Read devotions online] | [Share with a friend] More for Women [10 Books You Should Read to Your Kids This Christmas] [10 Books You Should Read to Your Kids This Christmas] I celebrate the season by reading stories to my kids. Here are our favorites. Corrie Cutrer [Why Millions Watched this Church Christmas Video] [Why Millions Watched this Church Christmas Video] The underage narrators get the story right. Almost. Kate Shellnutt Follow Us [Facebook] [Twitter] [RSS] [Subscribe to this newsletter] In the Current Issue [December] [Is Addiction a Disease? Yes, and Much More] [Subscriber access only] [The Most Uncomfortable Christmas Verse] [Subscriber access only] [Crossing the Wasteland of Faith] [Subscriber access only] [View Full Issue] [Subscribe Now] Christian Bible Studies [A Life of Giving Thanks] [Catch a glimpse of a life permeated by a grateful heart that overflows toward others.] [4 Session Bible Study] [Beautiful Word] Delivered via email to subscribers daily. [Subscribe] | [Email Preferences] | [Unsubscribe] | [Privacy Policy] | [Advertise] | [Subscribe to CT] You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2016 [ChristianityToday.org], Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.