Corona Devo 3187

Since we are gathered here: you and me, I wanted to give you a 'Pop It.'  Have you seen these?  They are rubbery things (toys?), and they have bubbles on them that can be pushed in...and pushed out.  Go ahead, push all of the bubbles in one row in.

And then you can push the same bubbles from the opposite side, and they pop back out.  

Try it--'Pop Its' are fun to pop.  Relaxing even.  

Some people have found that 'Pop Its' are useful when we are worried, anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed, but I like to press on them any old time, and not just when I'm stressed.  

How about you?... Here: I am giving you one.  Push a rubber bubble or two.  

See?  
It is (somehow) satisfying, isn't it?

Now--what are some of our worries?

Come on...don't be shy.  
Go ahead...let's share.  You shout out some "worries" and I will jot them down for us.  Who wants to start?  
Ahhh, there we go: You in the back...What do you worry about?

1. Health: sickness, injuries.  Diagnosis and recoveries.
2. Finances: What to do with our money--invest, give, save.  And--what to do without money: How do we get by when we don't quite have enough to get by?
3. People/Relationships: Family.  Friends.  Coworkers.  Teammates.  Bosses.
4. Wars
5. Government
6. Death and dying
7. Decisions/life choices: ours and those we love
8. ______ (This one is left blank intentionally for us to fill in our intimate worry--the one that only we and God know about.)

Now--push your 'Pop Its'.  Press some bubbles in and then press some bubbles out.  

I can't say that 'Pop Its' alleviate our worries, but I can say that they are fun to pop.

But once we are done popping...our minds go right back to our worries.  Because--that's the thing about 'Pop Its': they aren't prayer.  

'Pop Its' are just rubbery, feel-good-to-the-touch toys.  But prayer (talking to God)...now that will make a difference in our life.

Let's think about our worries again, (including our unspoken ones!), but this time with God's Word standing up for us.

• A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.   ~Proverbs 17:22

• “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”  ~Matthew 6:25-34

 

• Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  ~Matthew 11:28-30

• So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  ~I Peter 5:6-7

• For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  ~Jeremiah 29:11  

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  

• Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.  ~2 Thessalonians 3:16

~~~

The worries and the anxieties of this world will come, we know that.  
But they won't be whooshed away with a 'Pop It', a hobby, a prescription, a bottle, a relocation, isolation, or any idol.

The worries of this world won't even be whooshed away by our faith (however powerful) in God.  He never promised us a primrose path (ever since Adam and Eve chose sin, and each of us successively after).  But He did promise us victory over our worries and troubles.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  ~John 16:33

Prayer can and will alleviate our anxiety issues.  Don't believe me?  Try it.  

We would try touching and popping a 'Pop It' bubble if someone told us to.  Why won't we attempt asking God to take our reins and shoulder our worry-pains? 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  ~Psalm 34:8

Some people have found that prayer is useful when we are worried, anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed, but I like to pray all of the time, and not just when I'm stressed.  

How about you?

Since we are gathered here: you and me, let's say a prayer, and...here: God has given us one. 

Let's say it and pray it with Him:  

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 

(10) Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

(11) Give us this day our daily bread. 

(12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

(13) And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.  ~Matthew 6:9-13  

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com