40 Day Journey - Day 18

March 9
Fast Anxiety  

Mark 8:32,33
He (Jesus) spoke plainly about this (His death and resurrection), and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" He said, "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."  

        How terrible a thought to think that anyone close to The Lord would have rebuked him for telling of the need for his death and resurrection. What kind of world would we live in today if Jesus would not have fulfilled the Father's will for our redemption?  
        When reading this story, a thought came to mind of how even those closest to the Lord can still be influenced by Satan's schemes. The NIV translates these words from the original text, "you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." The battle back then is the same as it now, every believer must have the help of the Holy Spirit to stay on track with God's purpose and not become driven by the concerns of the flesh. The flesh has a character flaw that is easily driven by anxiety that can only be overcome through divine influence and guidance.
        We must take every thought and action before the throne of God to acknowledge our desire to walk in obedience to Him and in order to stay far away from Satan's influence. Jesus was not mad at Peter - his rebuke was intended for Satan. The devil is always looking for opportunity to hinder God's purpose in the lives of His children, but the good news is we have authority over Satan through Jesus Christ. So take time to rise above the emotion of human concern and let God's purpose reign in your life.  

Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Fast anxiety today by refusing to allow worry to control your day and accept the fact that the Lord has everything under control and that all that He does is for our good.