"This. Is. CRAZY."
"I've NEVER seen anything like this in my entire life!"
"Dude."
"How much toilet paper do we have left??"
I'm sure you could add your own phrase to my list of things I've said in the last week. This is one time where it really does feel appropriate to say, "Dude, we are all in this together!"
Even though I have laughed over the funny memes about toilet paper (apparently humor is how my Facebook friends cope with stress), like many of you, I've also felt moments of anxiety and uncertainty as well.
This morning I 'accidentally' ended up in Isaiah, and I've been thinking about it all day.
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You." Isaiah 26:3
Seriously? PERFECT PEACE?
It sounds impossible, doesn't it? Perfect peace even in this midst of a worldwide pandemic that no one in our generation has ever seen the likes of??
Perfect peace, even if our loved ones are at considerable risk?
Perfect peace, even for those who have been exposed to/contracted COVID-19?
Perfect peace for those whose jobs are in jeopardy?
Perfect peace for the working mom who became a homeschool mom overnight??
And yet, there it is - right there in black and white – God's promise of perfect peace for those whose minds are steadfast. That's the key, y'all - steadfast minds that trust in the Lord.
Are you a follower of Jesus? Then I have two things I'd like to say to you this morning -
1. Now is the time for you and me to check the temperature on our trust.
Are we freaking out like everyone else? Then we need to check ourselves because, honestly, we know better than to freak out.
We've cited the "Don't be anxious about anything" verse countless times, so now it's time to actually put the whole verse into practice: –
"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" (there's that PEACE theme again…). (Philippians 4:6-7)
2. One of the best ways to keep our minds steadfast is to open our mouths in praise.
Girlfriends (and a few guy friends!) listen up – now is the perfect time to open your mouth in praise! Your ears need to hear your voice speak about the goodness, faithfulness, and power of your God. When we speak, something supernatural happens. We feel our strength begin to increase, we feel a surge of power we can't explain, and our hope and joy begin to flow… oh somebody besides me, please testify to this! I'm telling you, it works every time! I'm not suggesting it always changes our circumstances, but it does have the power to change us.
Now more than ever, the world needs to see those who claim the name of Jesus, display PEACE in this crazy storm.
Come on, Church! Let's rise to the occasion! Let's remind ourselves and show the world that Jesus Christ IS our hope!
#getyourpraiseon
#Godisgoodallthetime
#allthetimeGodisgood
#Ihopeallmyfriendshavetolietpaperthoughforreal