Corona Devo 2037

Does anyone have a paperbag?  

Sometimes I read the headlines, or glance at the newsfeeds, or listen to the podcasters and...I feel my pulse quicken and the fight-or-flight response kick in.   I could just-about hyperventilate!

I can't be the only one who gets overwhelmed with the world sometimes...  

Feeling outnumbered...

Afraid to stand... 

Intimidated by the intimidators...

Does anyone have a paperbag?  

~~~

But when I woke up this morning and looked out my window, there were no (mental/emotional/intellectual/or physical) threats: there were deer.  About four of them, meandering through our yard, with their snoots to the ground and munching on acorns as they ambled.  

They weren't stressed.  They were not skittish.  They were not even cautionary.  And they certainly were not on the verge of hyperventilating and needing a paper bag to breathe into.  They were just doing what it was time for them to do: eat.  

We can take a lesson from that buck and doe and two fawns today.  

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  ~Isaiah 26:3  

There is a lot happening in our world, and in our Nation, in our families, and in our own minds right now.  But our world and struggles are not unique, new, or novel.  People have always had to manage their inward sanity and peace..in the midst of outward circumstances and trials, and the what if and the worries of the world can paralyze us if we allow them to.

But we can't. 

And God says that if we know and love Him, then He will put His spirit in us, and we can trust Him instead of fearing the day or the unknown.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  ~I John 4:18

We do not need to fear today.  Those deer that God created wandered into my yard for a reason today, and it wasn't because our acorns are tastier than our neighbor's acorns.  No--the Lord reminds us through His creation of His sovereignty and of His authority over His creation today--and that includes us!

We have nothing to fear because we have a Holy Father who has everything under control, and we can trust Him.  Trust God today.

In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  ~Psalm 62:7

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ~Romans 8:31

Let's graze on God's Word today.  

As we read and receive the Scriptures within the Bible, we will ingest and be nourished and fortified by the truth of God's Word, which empowers us to live (and shine) uninhibitedly as His children, no matter what.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  ~Matthew 5:14-16

The truth is...God is Truth.  

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  ~John 14:6

Other information and people swirl around us and seek to influence (and infiltrate) us, but the truth is: we must stick to the truth of God's Word to maintain our sanity and our saltiness for Him.  

• “You are the salt of the earth."   ~Matthew 5:13 

• Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  ~Ephesians 6:13

~~~

Let's fight being stressed today with prayer.  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 4:6-7

Let's skip being skittish today.  God has (much) more for us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control.  ~Galatians 5:22-23

The deer in my backyard were not cautionary, but the moment I drew the window shade to view them more fully, their heads cocked, and their ears perked to attention.  

As followers-of-Christ, we need to be ready:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...  ~I Peter 3:15

The deer in my backyard were not worried or anxious and they certainly were not on the verge of hyperventilating and needing a paper bag to breathe into.  They were just doing what it was time for them to do: eat.  

Today, let's do whatever it is time for us to do.  

God has plans for us today, there is no doubt about that, and may we be encouraged by His Word, and His love, and His promises for us through the Bible today.

May God's Word calm our fears and strengthen our resolve for Him today.

~~~

People have always had to manage their inward sanity and peace in the midst of outward circumstances and trials.  

The best way only way to do that?  

With God.  With God's Word.  With God's wisdom.  With God's love.  With God's joy.  With God's peace.  With God's patience.  With God's kindness.  With God's goodness.  With God's faithfulness.  With God's self-control.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control.  ~Galatians 5:22-23

~~~

We can win the battle of the mind (and worries) today--no paper bag needed.  But we cannot win it alone.  

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  ~Psalm 62:1

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com