Ease Your Mind!

22 Oct Ease Your Mind!

October 22, 2023

Ease Your Mind!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2-3 NLT

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” —Philippians 4:6

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” —Proverbs 12:25

Tossing and turning at night or mulling over things going on in the lives of friends and loved ones happens. It does not matter how long you have been a believer or your walk-in life; these tests or trials come to us all. When the devil tempted Jesus at the end of his trying, the scripture says, “And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.” Luke 4:13AMPC These times are complex; the Word also says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10 It may seem personal, but it is not. I should have titled this message Faith and Endurance, as that is what we need in these situations. 

Do not let it take you under.

Just do not let it take you under. The excellent priest in the movie The God Father III tells. Michael Corleone: “When the mind stresses, the body cries out.” When my dad had his second leg amputated, it affected me physically; I cried, stopped eating sometimes for fasting, and other times just not wanting to eat, almost to the point of sickness. As they rolled my dad into the operating room, my dad told me, “Theresa, I am going to be fine. I’m coming out of this, but if I do not know this, you will be OK now; dry your face.” He came out and lived for several years. We are needed not just for our current situation but for the next assignment God has for us; these trials become testimonies and fortify our faith.  

Remember your resources. 

Jesus Prays for us: “Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us.” Romans 8:34 Also, Intercessors can pick you up in the spirit realm and pray for your specific situation now. They may not know you personally, but they are on assignment from God for you, me, your city, nation, and the world. You may not have the call of an Intercessor, but it does not exempt you from praying; we are all called to pray.  

Sometimes, we know what to pray, but many times, we don’t; that’s when the resource of praying in the spirit becomes so powerful. Remember that the Holy Spirit knows what to pray to turn the situation around. This heavenly language goes undetected and is not understood by the devil. Another resource is the angels. There are angles at our disposal, too, on call to serve us. Hebrews 1:14: Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Psalm 91:11-12: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

Added Pressure 

The world stage today does not help us stay at ease these days. Just remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-7 “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” I leave you today with the Word of Jesus Christ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid John 14:27.  

Theresa Woodard