Anxieties of Living - Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

ANXIETIES OF LIVING
Have you ever been anxious about a day? You rise up the first thing in the morning and you already dread what the day will bring. You are not sure why, you only know the feeling of dread seems to cover your heart like a damp heavy blanket, and no matter where we turn, every word we hear causes us to fear what "might " be coming.
If you feel that way today, then I want to take you for a moment to the letter that Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia. In the fifth chapter, Paul begins by saying: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." And it is the 22nd verse of that chapter that tells us what God provides to the Christian who walks in the fullness of the Spirit of God: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. " (Galatians 5:1f)

I heard it told yet another way.
"Love is the key.
Joy is love singing.
Peace is love resting.
Long-suffering is love enduring.
Kindness is love's touch.
Goodness is love's character.
Faithfulness is love's habit. ,
Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is love holding the reins."

Many times I realize that the character of God, which is love at it's fullest, offers us greater strength than we could never imagine. Even in the times it may appear that we might never be victorious, the suffering will have to be endured.

Let us pray: Eternal and loving God. We walk in this world today with deep concerns in our hearts. We wish we could tell what tomorrow will bring, but we know that it is in Your plan, and because of that wonderful assurance, we are content with the tasks you present to us today. Let us draw upon Your love now and forever. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will open God's Word together again. As we leave, let me share another thought with you:

"God is the key.
Joy is God singing.
Peace is God resting.
Long-suffering is God enduring.
Kindness is God's touch.
Goodness is God's character.
Faithfulness is God's habit.
Gentleness is God's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is God holding the reins."

May God richly bless you this day.