Christ Jesus, the “Serenity Prayer”, enduring and surviving

Philippians 4:6-9

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“Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can understand, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Worrying adds a lot of tumult to a person’s mind and spirit, and for all of that trouble there is nothing gained from it. Worrying arises from emotions of human nature instead of desiring to have those feelings subdued by Christ Jesus. I had a lot to worry about when I was without a job and spiraling towards homelessness, and eventually I was homeless. I couldn’t worry about something beyond my control, no one was hiring me, so I kept sober minded, sold my very old house trailer, sold my truck, paid my credit card debt and was homeless for over a year. I kept the Gospel of Christ the center of my life, with hope in my soul that things could only go up from there, always maintaining a level of joy, always peace, meekness, and gentleness, without bitterness, anger, and vengeance. I have experienced the truth that God’s peace goes beyond anything I could understand and guarded my mind, spirit, and heart through faith in Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus, like with Paul, our fleshly emotions must be able to say, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13

There is an atheistic entity that has power over physiology to influence what we feel and think to fill us with thousands of reasons to worry. We have to have the attitude of considering “…that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

As the following scripture verses says, if we can’t change a very little thing, then why worry about other things? We are to keep our mind focused on belief in God, eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, and embracing the Holy Spirit always. “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things?…“Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Luke 12:25-26, 29-31

The Serenity Prayer:
God grant me serenity to accept what I cannot change; Courage to change what I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living a day at a time; Enjoying a moment at a time; Accepting hardships as a way to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world. As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Instead of allowing ourselves to be dictated by the worries that this world throws at us, which we have no control over at all, focus on the truth found in God, through Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That involves subduing the emotions, feelings, and carnal nature of the flesh when hardships overcome us. Focus on the noble life of living with a meek and gentle spirit of peace through all the pain, disappointment, and frustration of the flesh. Focus on just things, not on vengeance and how unfairly we are treated. Think on pure things and not on doing dirty to get ahead in this world. Think on lovely things not on the ugliness of carnal feelings that makes war with the Holy Spirit.  “Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness!” Psalms 96:9 Focus on things that brings a good to report, not on all of the dirty news that many people fill us with every day. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11