Worry the Thief of Worship:

I have been thinking much on my favourite Philippians 4 verses today (the best counseling passage in the world and the best method of reproof as a parent - as if we get this right, all else falls into place naturally!) It made me realize that worry is the thief of worship... Here is what we did in our family devotions today:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness...bow down before in Him. We can only rejoice in God properly if we see God for who He is! And then relish and delight in His wondrous character! Know Him that you may worship Him!)

⁵ Let your moderation/gentleness be known unto all men. (once we understand God character and show our love for him in rejoicing then we need to get out there and love people. Obey Him! Take action!) The Lord is at hand. ( And when that is hard to do , who helps us? God of course, for He is always with us!)

⁶ Be careful/anxious for nothing (there is no room for any worrying whatsoever, chuck it out! BUT God does not expect us to just shove our problems under the carpet; why He himself wept over Jerusalem, and at the grave of Lazarus, so what do we do then?) ; but in every thing by prayer (talk to God each step you take in life, every trouble and care that comes your way)  and supplication (in fact beg God with deep, heartfelt begging for His help with your difficulties and sadnesses! Psalm 50:15) with thanksgiving (with gratitude for His answers which may not be our desires, but thankfulness for who He is! The listening Abba Father!) let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (even if we do not get answers that we want (God is not a robot or slave from who we demand an answer, no He chose answers we sometimes do not chose), we can always have peace knowing the God in whom we rejoice as the sovereign God, almighty and the one who plans all things, all things for our good if we love Him, no matter how much we may struggle presently it is for our GOOD! (Romans 8:28) and we can know His peace in knowing Him, enjoying Him, obeying Him and talking with Him, begging Him, and trusting and resting in His answers)

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Do we have a chance now to revert back to worrying having already done our duty, no ways....think on special things when tempted to worry, gird up the loins of your mind, keep active in your continual worship of God)

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (read God's word, look at Paul's life, look at Jesus life and imitate, copy them!)

oh that we may better offer spiritual sacrifices to our Lord, rejoicing in Him again and again.

Again and again I think .....if I 'see God' aright then all else falls into place, even the hardest of hard things. And then I talk to God as Mosses did in Ex 33, for this truly is the only solution: if we see God aright, we see our problems aright and we can cope with anything ( through Christ who strengthens us)!
¹² And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
¹³ Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
¹⁴ And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
God bless you in your preparation for worship tomorrow, may we see more of our Lord tomorrow, and less of our problems