Anxiety, worry, tension

The Bible says that Jesus came that we "might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10, NAS). Certainly, depression is not abundant life. But you can be assured, God wants you to find His peace and joy. He will help you because you are very, very important to Him.

Psa 42:11 Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God

Phi 4:4 Always be joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: Be joyful!
Phi 4:5 Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near.
Phi 4:6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
Phi 4:7 Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

Heb 4:15 We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn't sin.
Heb 4:16 So we can go confidently to the throne of God's kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.

Repentance assures God's presence -- James 4:8
Jam 4:8 Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters.
Jam 4:9 Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into gloom.
Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the Lord's presence. Then he will give you a high position.

God gives peace -- Isaiah 26:3; John 13:27
Joh 14:26 However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you.
Joh 14:27 "I'm leaving you peace. I'm giving you my peace. I don't give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don't be troubled or cowardly.
 

Christ said in Matthew 6:33 to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all other good things shall be yours as well. Worry and frustration over the cares of this life won't change things. Only your Heavenly Father, who knows your every need, can intervene and supply your needs according to His promises.

Replace your worry and tension with prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Jesus is here right now to take your worries and your cares. He is your Source of strength (Philippians 4:13). Take Him at His Word. Affirm daily that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Practice the principle of praise. As you praise God, He will honour your praise and minister to your need.

Take a few moments right now to enter into the rest God has for you: "Father, forgive me for my unbelief. I no longer want to trust in my own strength. Thank You for caring so deeply for me. I give You all my worries. I know I can trust You with these situations. I accept Your rest. Please teach me how to walk in Your rest each and every day. In Jesus' name. Amen"

A New Year Thought

The Good News
The good news is that God wants to be in a relationship with us more than we want to be in a relationship with Him. The One who knew us before we were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4) and knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) wants to be our Father. While we are His offspring by creation, His desire is that we might become His children through redemption.

Finding Our Way Home
While we were still estranged, God the Father made a way for us to come home by sending His only son, Jesus Christ, to earth two thousand years ago to take care of the "sin" issue that had kept us separated. In obedience to His Father, Jesus bore upon Himself the weight of our sin, nailing it to the cross so that we could be born into His wonderful family.

Jesus Is The Way To The Father
His resurrection from the dead signalled the victory that would allow many sons and daughters to come into glory! In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me". Our access to the Father is through Jesus alone. His sacrifice was the one and only price that could be paid for our redemption and restoration into the family of His wonderful Father. If we receive God's gift of His Son Jesus Christ, we receive the right to become children of God!

Would You Like To Receive This Gift?
If you would like to accept this gift (eternal life in relationship with God), Jesus Christ has secured it for you. All you need to do is to tell God that you want to be saved. You are saved by believing, and the words below might help you express your thoughts to God. It's not these exact words that will save you, but the attitude of your heart towards God.

A prayer to accept or reaffirm your
relationship with Jesus Christ:
Father, I'm coming home. Please make me your child. I turn from my sin. I accept your forgiveness made possible through Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection. I place my faith and trust in Jesus alone. I receive him as my Savior and Lord. I want to follow and serve you. Let today be the beginning of my new journey as your child and a member of your family. Thank you for making a way for me to come home. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Your New Relationship With God
As you begin your new life as God's child, you will have the privilege of getting to know Him as your Father. You are now part of His incredible family! By faith in Jesus Christ, you can be assured of the following truths...

1.You Are God's Child - John 1:12-13
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (NIV Bible)

2. God Loves You - 1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! (NIV Bible)

3. You Have The Assurance Of Eternal Life - John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV Bible)

4. He Put His Holy Spirit In You - 2 Corinthians 1:21-21
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.

5. You Can Talk Directly To God - Matthew 7:7-11
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (NIV Bible)

6. Nothing Will Ever Separate You From His Love - Romans 8:38
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Steps To Help You In Your Walk With God
1. Get a Bible and read it each day.
2. Begin to cultivate "talking to God" in prayer each day.
3. Go to a church that believes and teaches the Bible.
4. Share your decision with a close friend
 

Courtesy:  fathersloveletter.com

Friendship
Friendship is a promise spoken only by the heart.
It isn't given by any pledge.
It isn't written on any paper.
It's a promise to share
both glad and sad times.
A promise to think of each other fondly
whether near or far apart.
Friendship is a promise
spoken only by the heart.
A promise that is always kept by love.

Poem by Dean Walley