The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Anxious No More" for Saturday, 2 September 2017 - Read Philippians 4:6-7

The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Anxious No More" for Saturday, 2 September 2017 - Read Philippians 4:6-7
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Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.
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Do not be anxious about anything. [Philippians 4:6 (NIV)]
I sat on my sofa reading. My left hand was gently stroking the fur of my 9-year-old pet rabbit, Alice. Suddenly, she sat upright, her long ears focused on some threatening sound that I could not hear. There were no predators in our home to cause her harm, but I thought she might jump from the couch and bolt under the bed as she often does when startled. I spoke softly to her and continued to pet her, and she began to relax into a peaceful state.
At that moment it occurred to me: How often do I feel anxious about insignificant things even when I know God is there? Alice’s threat felt real to her. I knew she would be fine, but she had to trust that I would take care of her.
God encourages us not to be anxious about anything and to turn our anxieties into prayer. Yet so often, like Alice, we allow our fears to control us. How much more peaceful would our lives be if we trusted the passage from today’s reading: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds”? I find that each time I trust in those words, I can experience peace and rest with God.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Michele Baker
I actually wrote this devotional about 3 years ago when my rabbit, Alice, was nine. It took me over a year to get up the nerve to submit it to The Upper Room. Then, once accepted, several more months for it to be included in the Sept/Oct 2017 edition. From the minute we rescued her, Alice became an inspiration to me. Sometimes when I stroked her soft fur, I would be simply amazed at God's creativity. He created rabbits with long ears, stubby tails, strong back legs and teeth that continually grow. Their appearance and physiology is unique, yet the same God that created the rabbit also created gorillas, otters, eagles and, of course, humans. Each creation is very different but each one plays an important role in the symphony of God's universe.
Alice brought so much joy to my life. She was beautiful, loving, funny, and mischievous. But at 12 ½ years old , she developed some health issues that could not be adequately treated and a few weeks ago my husband and I made the decision to put her to sleep. The last morning of her life, she repeated the same behavior that prompted me to submit my devotional: she became startled by the garbage truck but calmed down as I stroked her ears and spoke softly to her. She trusted me enough to let her fears go. I was reminded that I need to do the same: trust God enough to let my own fears and anxieties go. After loving Alice for 12 years, I'm now an "empty nester" and starting a new chapter in my life. But I rest assured that with every new chapter, God is always there with me. [Michele Baker]
The Author: Michele C. Baker (Alabama, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will allow God’s peace to fill my heart and mind.
Prayer: Father God, help us to remember each day that you are bigger than our worries and that you can always grant us peace. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone who feels anxious
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