We all have our favourite recipes. For me, it is those no fail combinations that seem to work regardless of the skill level of the cook (ME!!!). In the kitchen, I follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple and Straight Forward). The Apostle Paul also offers us a simple yet effective recipe for day-to-day living. It goes like this...”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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) We need to delight in the Lord and mediate on His word. Pray, in a general manner, that glorifies Him and gets our attention on His person. Then, come before Him with our concerns. Remember, there is nothing too small or too large for Him to handle. God’s promise is He will “guard” (military term – watch over) our hearts with His “peace.” J.B. Philipps translates “peace” as, “resting in Christ Jesus.” Concentrate on the positive things that the Spirit of God brings to mind and focus on actions that will bless others like empathy, kindness, generosity, etc. Not a bad game plan when anxiety and tensions rise. I saw a picture of a pizza the other day, burnt to a crisp, and the caption read “Ovens have timers for a reason.” (LOL) The Apostle Paul gives us some “timely” advice in Philippians 4:6-8. It is a great recipe for experiencing fruitful living in these stressful times and encouraging those around us. God bless you and bon appetite – Pastor Ralph
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