This week we begin worship with:
God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam,though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Our God, our protector, is a “very present help”. Is He here now? Yes. Now? Yes. Now? Yes!!!
So, during a time of trouble we will not fear. Yes, you read that correctly. We won’t fear. This is not a command that we are to do our best not to fear, it is a fact that we will continuously not fear during times of trouble. Why?
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In a way that we cannot phantom (“surpasses all understanding”), the peace of God will “guard” or “keep” our hearts and minds. These are military terms. It is how an army is garrisoned (phroureō) or how a guard is set.
But for a guard to be effective, they must be there in advance. So, we must continuously (yes, even in the good times) place our anxiety about the future at His feet. So, when an actual time of trouble does occur, we will be covered by the peace of God.
Fight anxiety with prayer. Anxiety is fear about a future that has not occurred. And it will be a future where God will be “very present”!
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