Do you get anxious when you read the news? Do you despair about where the world seems to be headed? Many people feel a sense of hopelessness and a lack of control in their lives.
How are Christians to respond? What message can we offer to the world?
We can offer Jesus and His Kingdom as a light in the darkness, an enduring hope. Here is a third devotion that reminds us that our peace rests in Christ:

IN WORD – We are easily caught up in anxious thoughts. Anxiety can keep us thinking obsessively about a certain problem, occupying all of our time and energy. We pray about the situation, asking God to intervene. But still we are consumed with it. Shedding our anxiety does not come easily.
Paul gives us wise advice. It is, in fact, a command: “Do not be anxious about anything.” How can we follow this? We can go through the motions of prayer, but how can this kind of peace sink into our hearts in the midst of a difficult problem? By praying with thanksgiving and full trust that the problem is God’s. In this kind of prayer, we transfer ownership of our situation to God.
We do not need to be wrapped up in it; it is His. There is no way to come to this place of rest unless we are able to relinquish our agenda in the situation. We must become willing for God to work it out any way He chooses, whatever the result to us. It seems scary to relinquish control, but we were never really in control anyway. And what outcome might God work out that would not be entirely good? He is completely trustworthy with our problems.
IN DEED – Are you going through a difficult trial? Relinquish your goals in it. In your heart, transfer ownership of the situation to God. Our anxiety comes from a false sense of control—a sense that we perhaps are responsible to manipulate the crisis to work out for good. That’s God’s job. Let go of your will, and let your heart and your mind be at peace. “Pray, and let God worry.” – Martin Luther (in “Walk with God” by Chris Tiegreen)

Are you in need of peace? Learn from the apostle Paul by reading his letter to the Philippians this week. At the time of his writing, Paul was under house arrest, facing the likelihood of execution. Yet, if you read the letter, you will find a man at peace, trusting entirely in the Lord.
The same Lord whom Paul trusted is the same Lord you have with you daily. Ask the Holy Spirit to relieve you of your anxiety and give you His peace in this troubled world. Have a blessed week! from Taipei, Pastor Sam