The Passion

“This suffering is all part of the work God has given you. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in His steps: He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly (1 Pet. 2:21–23 TLB).

As there are no public Easter services today, Leona and I decided to watch The Passion of the Christ. Since that decision, I haven't been able to get the title out of my mind – all day yesterday, and all morning today. Other titles for this movie have been popping into my head: Cheers to Jeers, Death Walk, Whipping Boy, Is this Because of Me?, The One, and Watch This and Try Not to Cry. All my titles have a level of appropriateness for this film. So, why The Passion? I’ll watch it in a different light this morning, looking for that passion. Not surprisingly, today’s post will be about that – and I’ll continue after I’ve watched the film….

...As with the last time I watched The Passion, it was difficult. I even had to skip the whipping scene (I couldn’t do that in the theatre). The Passion of the Christ is an appropriate title for this movie. And here’s why:

• Jesus had passion for His work: He was a carpenter, and this film portrayed Him as an exceptional one (Mark 6:3).

• Jesus had passion for His closest friends, spending years with them, teaching them, counselling them, and even washing their feet. (Read about it.)

• Jesus had passion for His family. Dying on the cross, He instructed John to take care of His mother (John 19:25–29).

• Jesus had/has passion for His enemies (Luke 23:34).

• Jesus had/has passion for His Heavenly Father (John 14:31; 5:19; 15:10).

• Jesus has passion for His people, the saved (John 10:14; 10:16; 10:3; 10:28).

• Jesus has passion for those who don’t know Him (Mark 16:15–16; Matt. 9:37–38; Luke 19:10).

Jesus was/is a man/God of passion, but all these examples still don’t explain why we use the term passion for what Jesus went through in His last few days. The English word passion has its roots in the latin passio, which simply means “suffering.” The passion of the Christ = the suffering of the Christ. On this Good Friday, let us not forget why the Christ’s suffering turned out to be good for us. Without the Christ’s passio, we would have no recourse but to suffer a much worse punishment eternally.

No longer do I have alternative titles running through my mind, for there are no titles more appropriate than The Passion of the Christ. Tune in Sunday for the greatest news in the history of mankind!

“He personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on. For his wounds have healed ours!” (1 Pet. 2:24 TLB).

And here is a preview of the Good News!

A Time to Dance

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps. 118:24 ESV).

“Good morning!”

“What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”

“All of them at once.”

This is a conversation between Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf at the beginning of the book The Hobbit. I can conservatively say I’ve read over a thousand books, and of them all, this is my favourite. I grew up on military bases, mostly outside Canada, and we had no TV (didn’t even have phones). So, I read a lot. I read everything by Tom Clancy, Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mickey Spillane, Ian Fleming, Dr. Seuss, Robert Ludlum, John le Carré, Ken Follett, and of course, JRR Tolkien (plus many more). I brought this love of reading into the family, and I’d always have at least four books on the go – reading one to the family, one to Christian, one to Amanda, and one for myself.

Over the years, the “one to myself” dropped away. I didn’t stop reading, but as I began to study for the ministry, I read different books – texts to help me improve as a pastor. I felt guilty about having time to read but not using that time for self-improvement. I still enjoyed them, but it wasn't the same. Pursuing a Theology degree, and now, a Master’s of Divinity, I’m always being told what to read. Some I’ve enjoyed, while others have been a chore. My love for reading has slowly seeped away. I cannot remember the last time I picked up a book, purely for the joy of reading it.

This week, that changed. I picked up The Hobbit and started reading – a book I’ve read more times than I could count. The above conversation between the Hobbit and the wizard appears on the fourth page, and it made me laugh out loud. I can't remember the last time words on a page made me do that. I grinned in chapter two as Gandalf tricks the trolls into turning themselves into stone. Instead of reading the entire book in a day – like eating the whole pie in one sitting – I’ve decided to read a chapter a day so I can enjoy each piece, one a day. I’m smiling now as I relish the thought.

I thought about ending the blog here, but I feel it's necessary to offer at least one piece of advice in my writing. Many messages from the Church are about serving others (and rightly so). Today, I tell you to take some time to do something “for yourself.” Something that will bring a smile to your face – and bring delight to our Lord. Bake, garden, read, jog, or put on some music and dance around the room. What is it you’ve “grown out of?” What do you miss? JUST DO IT!

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Sam. 6:14).

Photo by Jude Beck (supplied by Unsplash)

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Hearing through the Noise

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 ESV).

The Stone Church sanctuary, Clark’s Harbour, NS.

Yesterday I went over to the church for some quiet time with God. I missed the sanctuary and decided it would be a great place to sit, read, and listen. It’s not that I don’t have a quiet space at home – my study is tucked away in a place that gives me all the quiet I need – but, this is a different kind of quiet. The quiet I can only revel in by sitting in a building set apart to honour God - “God’s House.” I’ve done this for years. Even while I was at Second North River and my study/office was in the church, there were times I just had to sit alone in the sanctuary. Reading, looking at the surroundings, and listening. The Stone Church is perfect for this because it’s one of the most beautiful churches, inside and out (including the missing people). I sense God’s presence when I’m there, and yesterday I wanted to commune with Him. 

I walked over, Bible in hand, talking with God, and telling Him that I was looking forward to our quiet time together. Telling Him I was excited about what He was going to say to me, whether it was through His Word, or afterwards as I quietly meditated. Robert Burns wrote a poem back in the late 1700s called “To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough.” This poem has the following line: “The best laid schemes of mice and men.” It’s an old Scot’s poem, and throughout the years, many have modified this line and quoted, “The best-laid plans....” My plan was a good one, but alas, it was not meant to be.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Prov. 16:9 NIV).

“Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep….”

“Vrooooom———”

As I entered the sanctuary, there was an incessant beeping coming from our fire-alarm box, with an orange trouble light flashing. I’d forgotten about that – even though I was in a few days earlier and called the company about it. Through some questions, we determined that our phone line was out (the phone line sitting across the street was a very good hint). I called Bell Aliant and scheduled a service time for Wednesday (today). 

Not to be deterred from my best-laid plans, I went downstairs for “my” quiet time (it’s not the sanctuary, but it’s still God’s house, to me). There, I ran into the custodian setting up the vacuum cleaner. He offered to come back another time (a kind gesture), but I asked him to continue. I went back upstairs and read through John twelve and thirteen (Holy week).

But the beeping and vacuuming were too much, so I decided to go back to my study for quiet time with God. He said, “Stay!” He does that – speaks to my mind at times, my heart at other times, and a couple of times audibly (stories for another post). He made it clear that I should not allow the noise, the distractions, to stop us from having time together. His voice is louder than any noise, if I were only willing to listen. This was the message He taught me yesterday morning: There is no noise too loud for Him to speak through. 

There is no noise too loud for Him to speak through.

Take – or should I say, give – some time every day to talk to Him and listen. We have a loving Father who is always willing to share with us, if we do not allow the noise, and our preferences, to crowd Him out!

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 ESV).

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“Song of My Father” – Urban Rescue

Be Still and Know His Heart

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long” (Psalm 24:4–5 ESV).

I rarely have “nothing” to say. Just ask me. Today is one of those rare days. What do you do when you have nothing to write, nothing to say? If I can’t write, I read. If I have nothing to say, I listen. 

 “A time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccles. 3:7 NIV).

Read the Book, and listen to Him. 

I miss the church sanctuary – seems like a good place to read and listen. 

No doubt, tomorrow I’ll have something to say. 

May your day be as blessed as I anticipate mine to be.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17 ESV).

The Antidote to “Scarecrow’s Gas”

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV).

I’ve relished pressure. Thrived on it. Saw the goalie’s fear when I got to take a penalty shot in overtime. Saw the trembling pitcher when I’ve been at bat with the winning run on base. I’ve walked into interviews, knowing that if they did not choose me, they must be getting a superior employee indeed! The pressure boosts my confidence. I feel like the Batman, and nothing can stop me. But there have been other times when the exact opposite has happened, and I want to share three of them with you.

I was in my early twenties, feeling pretty good about my salesman abilities. I had a meeting with an Irving manager to discuss their large computer purchase (for he represented a few Irving companies). When I arrived, I discovered I was actually meeting with four people: his boss, his boss’s boss, and Mr. Irving. I was like a flustered Bilbo Baggins with this unexpected party (Hobbit fans will understand this reference). Two minutes into my sales pitch, I started coughing uncontrollably. Mr. Irving got up and left, and I knew I’d lost the sale. His time was too valuable to meet with a young “wet-behind-the-ears” salesman. In two minutes, my confidence was shot. But, about two minutes later, Mr. Irving returned with a glass of water and sat down. I drank some water, some confidence returned, and I completed the sales pitch. A very large order was received later that week. Mr. Irving had the power to devastate a young man’s career, yet chose to serve instead.

Fast-forward – I’m in my forties. I’m working in the corporate world full-time and pastoring a small church part-time. I’m in my first year of a three-year pastoring program. And I felt I had no idea what I was doing. One Sunday morning, I’m getting ready to preach, and in walks one of my instructors, Mr. Dean MacDonald. I’d not even been preaching for six months, and I knew I was in trouble with an expert preacher present. As I preached, Dean continually scribbled notes. As I spoke, I kept telling myself these notes were not going to be a good thing. After the service, I went to Dean to take my “punishment” (criticism). He said, “Thank you for your words this morning. I took a lot of notes, and your teaching was very insightful.” These kind words carried me in that ministry for a long time. Dean had the power to stop a pastor’s career in its tracks, but instead, he chose words of kindness.

“Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Is. 41:10 TLB).

Fast-forward again! – This past Saturday night, I recorded a video for Palm Sunday. What many of you don’t know is that – uncharacteristically – I was gripped with fear. Just like the other two experiences, it seemed as though I were under the influence of the “Scarecrow’s gas” (another Batman reference). Three minutes into the recording, I started to cough uncontrollably (Irving flashbacks!), and I had to stop the video. I deleted it, tried to start again, and couldn’t. It took me over an hour to get the nerve to record it, and then I refused to watch it. Sunday morning, I asked Leona to view it to make sure it had some semblance of “OK-ness” before it was posted. (I was too nervous.) She posted it, and the viewers said it was nothing but encouraging, and I thank you all for it.

In each of these three scenarios, my confidence rose, not because of any cockiness (as was the case in my sports example), but only because of the encouragement of others. We are usually presented with three options when we encounter someone who is clearly fearful about trying something new, (and only one of them is the right response). 

1) Show frustration and comment on that frustration.

2) Be frustrated and show patience (keeping our unkind thoughts to ourselves).

3) Share kindness in word and deed. 

Always pick “door number three” (Monty Hall reference). Jesus was kind. See how he treated the tax collector, the unclean woman who touched him, the leprous man, and the woman at the well? We get to choose. I’m blessed to have experienced the kindness of people through word and deed, and to benefit from the effect they’ve had on my confidence. But for the grace of God, go I. And because of this grace, I will choose door number three.

“Treat others as you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31 TLB).

Game Night!

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25 ESV).

For years, Friday nights in the Hunt household was called Friday Family Fun night. We played board games, card games, watched a show, and at times, invited some friends over to join us for some fun and games. As our kids got older, this became less of a thing. We did youth group ministry on Fridays (more games!). Christian worked on Friday nights. Amanda went off to university. And so on. Due to the current virus, Christian has been laid off, Amanda has been sent home from school. Friday nights come around, and we are all here. We have had some games nights the last few weeks, but I kinda miss inviting friends over. So, yesterday, I did just that. I also invited our family over to their house.

I am sure you are thinking, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!—wondering if I’m one of the fools our premier ranted about yesterday. (For the record, I think his rant was milder than I would have given). Let me explain the idea I had for a game night, which went extremely well, in my opinion. We invited the Shaars to join us over Facebook messenger for a game of Dominion (currently our favourite game). They have a copy of the same game, so they set it up at their end, and we set it up at our end. It's a deck-building game, so there is nothing hidden, and it’s easy enough to play over video chat. The games went very well, and we had some Friday Family Fun! I will not tell you which pastor won the first game, or which pastor’s wife won the second. I even took a selfie. 

I’ve missed this of late. I’ve missed the laughter, smiles, joking with others. I am considered high-risk, medically, so I have had absolutely zero contact with the outside world, other than by video/phone/(e)mail. We tried Zoom last Wednesday for our Bible study, and it went OK. We still have some kinks to work out, but it’s better than being alone! (Send me a private message if you would like to join this Wednesday group – what else do you have to do Wednesday nights?) We studied Hebrews 10, and the writer asked us to “consider how to stir up one another to love” (ESV). We have some technology available for this “how.” We are missing out on fellowship, and God has created us in His image. Yes, we get to fellowship with our family, and even those who are home alone can fellowship with the Christ. And some would say that should be enough, but we know it's not. We need fellowship with each other. Paul gives us wise instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:14. 

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (NIV).

There are little things we can do for each other, to help those who are idle and to encourage the disheartened. Something as small as enjoying some games together over video chat. We have a few that can be played this way: Dominion, Scattergories, Balderdash, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, Things, and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (to name a few). Do you want to play? But NOT Scrabble. Definitely, NOT Scrabble!

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Prov. 17:7 NIV).

Valuable Autographs (Part 2)

“Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul” (Prov. 29:17 NASB).

Baseball is in my blood. My grandfather played. My dad and uncle won a silver medal at the nationals for Nova Scotia when I was in grade three. My dad is the second-best catcher I have ever seen play. (Sorry, Dad . . . gotta put Johnny Bench ahead of you.) I played so many sports growing up that I decided I would not push any on my son, Christian. Intentionally, I did not sign him up to play, but ever since he could walk (maybe before), I would play ball with him. Catch and throw (roll); toss the plastic ball at the plastic bat. As he got older, I would take him to the ballpark, just the two of us to practice catching, throwing, pitching, and hitting. Sometimes it would be the family, as my daughter got older. When Christian was ten, he asked me if he could play “real” baseball. I was delighted, as was my dad. My dad took him glove shopping, and I signed him up. (I also signed up as a coach.) 

Fast-forward to his first baseball game: What a joy, what fun! (I coached these core kids for five years). This signed baseball comes from that first game and may be my most precious possession. Afterwards, I asked Christian to sign it for me – and he did. I have the signature on a game-used ball from my favourite baseball player, from his first-ever baseball game. It sits on my shelf and brings me even more joy than my Blue Jays signed ball (See yesterday’s post to read about that one). I also have Christian’s rookie card. :) 

One ball, more valuable to the world, the other, more valuable to me. As I sit in my study and survey all the things on my shelves, it's clear we are extremely blessed. I have stuff – lots of it – and every single piece is expendable. What is not expendable are my son, my daughter, my wife, my friends. People in my life, I don’t have “lots of.” I spend a lot of time in my study with my stuff, most days oblivious to being surrounded by it. But when I’m with people, I’m always aware. Our family is “forced” to be together during this crisis, and we are the better for it. We get along; we always have. Every mealtime, I thank God that we can have meals with the entire family. 

Take a look around at your stuff and realize how blessed you are, but families, take a closer look at that person sitting at your dinner table. Where your heart is your treasure will also be. The people, or person, sitting at that table are your greatest blessings. They will not always be there. Take an extra moment with them.

Important NOTE: Some people already realize the blessings they have as they sit at each meal, even dining alone. Do you know someone who is eating alone? YES, you do. Call them. Video chat with them. Have dinner with them – over the phone – and be a blessing to each other.

“And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you” (Deut. 12:7 ESV).

Valuable Autographs (Part 1)

I own two autographed baseballs. The first is this one, autographed with signatures from the World Series Blue Jays, including my second favourite baseball player of all time, Roberto Alomar—the greatest second baseman in history, IMO). The second is a used game ball autographed by my all-time favourite baseball player (tune in tomorrow for that one). My Jays ball sits on my shelf in my study. I have only owned it for a few years now. 

How did I acquire it? Well, I received a call one day from a friend in Salisbury. He told me he had this autographed baseball and asked me if I would like to have it. I said sure and drove over to pick it up. Awestruck when I saw it, I asked Doug if he knew what he had and if he was sure he wanted to give it to me. He said he knew what it was and that he was not a baseball fan (like I was). He had seen enough of my FB posts to know I was a huge fan (especially of Alomar), and he wanted his baseball to go to someone who would truly appreciate it. Appreciate it I did, and still do.

Here is the thing about my friend Doug. We were friends, but not close. We worked together when I was on the Salisbury Recreational Board of Directors, and he was the director. At one time we went to the same church, we share some of the same political interests, and we both love Jesus. I haven’t spoken to him since I left Salisbury (or have even sent him a message). It still makes me feel special that when someone wanted to give something of value away, he thought of me. What is the value of this baseball? Monetarily, I have no idea. Personally, the selfless act makes it priceless. It remains my second favourite baseball.

As I was typing this, a song came into my mind from the ’80s by Terence Trent D'Arby called “Sign Your Name.” A line from this song is,

“Sign your name across my heart.”

As I think about those signatures on that baseball, along with that song lyric, I am reminded I have the most valuable autograph one can have: Jesus has signed His name across my heart. In our world, the most valuable autographs are the rarest (Babe Ruth - $388,000, Joe Dimaggio - $191,0000), but in the eternal world, the most valuable is the most common. I say most common because Jesus has signed more hearts than all the other autographs put together. Babe Ruth cannot sign any more baseballs, but Jesus continues to sign hearts. If he has signed your heart, do you truly realize the value? 

“My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways” (Prov. 23:26 NRSV).

Just as a baseball becomes more valuable when it is signed by someone we deem “important,” your heart becomes eternally valuable because of the signature of the Christ. My baseball stays on the shelf. Rarely does anyone come into my study and notice it. I do not take it with me, but my autographed heart goes everywhere I go. It’s a signature I desire to show everyone. I want them to see it every day. And the wonderful thing about this invaluable signed heart of mine is, I get to tell everyone who wants their heart signed by Jesus where to get it. My baseball brings me joy when I look at it, reminding me of a friend’s thoughtfulness. But, the joy does not compare to the autograph on my heart. Do you want this precious autograph? Then sing to Jesus at the top of your lungs, “Sign your name across my heart.”

Thank, you Doug, for this gift and the joy it brings.

Thank you, Jesus, for signing my heart and bringing eternal joy!

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way” (Rom. 1:16 TLB).

Parable of the “Sammich”

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “‘today’” (Hebrews 3:13a ESV).

Yesterday Christian, my son, made me two “crummy sammiches.” I’ve been calling them sammiches ever since Christian was very young and could not pronounce sandwiches, and yesterday he made me two of them.

Let me rewind. Christian told me he was hungry and he was heading upstairs to make a sammich. He asked me if I would like one, and what kind. I said, “Yes, surprise me.” As I waited, I realized I was hungry as well. I started to wonder what kind of sammich I would receive. Would it be the traditional PB&J? Did we have some luncheon meats left and would I get a turkey and mustard sammich? Or would Christian go all out and make me a tuna and mayo sammich? Then I remembered I said to surprise me. This may have been a mistake, as I then realized I could get air in between two dry pieces of toast (he can be a jokester, and I did say surprise me).

Lo and behold, he came down with not one, but two sammiches, and surprise me he did! He delivered them, I thanked him, and he went back up to make his own sammich. As I bit into the first sammich, I could not believe the detail and effort Christian put into making that sammich. It was lightly toasted to perfection. On it was a fried egg, a strip of bacon—perfectly crisp and broken into small pieces—a few pieces of cheese, and the piece de resistance, a touch of mayo. I will unbiasedly say these are two of the best sammiches I’ve ever eaten. As I stared at the plate full of crumbs (yep, I misspelled crumby in my first sentence), I contemplated what my son had done for me and realized there was one more special ingredient in those sammiches, and I quietly thank God for it.

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20 ESV).

The ingredient was in the asking if I wanted a sammich. The ingredient was in the preparation of the sammich. The ingredient was in the delivery of the sammich. The extra ingredient was love!

The extra ingredient was love!

As tasty as those sammiches were, that extra ingredient put them over the top. I had to go upstairs to tell him. As I brought my crumby plate into the kitchen to let him know, I realized he had yet to eat (even though he originally went upstairs hungry). He was in the kitchen doing the same thing for his mother and his sister, adding portions of the special ingredients to their order.

There is a lesson here, but as it was with Jesus’ parables, each had multiple lessons. From this, we could learn to serve others with love. We could learn to put our best efforts into all we do. We could learn to serve others before ourselves. All of these would be valid and valuable lessons from the sammich account. But, here is the lesson I received from this unselfish act: Count your blessings. Count them one by one. Be thankful for the little things in life. These are currently trying times for us, and in the mundaneness of the day in and day out of being cooped up in this home, my eyes have been opened to see the beautiful blessings in the little things—like a crumby sammich!

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Ps. 106:1 ESV).

Will I Jump?

“Be anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6 NKJV).

There is an old riddle that gives insight into some decisions I’ve made—or have had to make—this week. It goes like this: There are five frogs sitting on a log. Two decide to jump off. How many frogs are left sitting on the log? Most of us would say three, but the rest of us—who may have heard this riddle before—would say five. Why five? Just because a decision is made does not mean the action is done. 

I was encouraged (pressured?) from a number of sources to do some sort of video for the people of Clark’s Harbour, even if it were only on Sundays. The pressure (my anxiety?) has been mounting as I see many of my contemporaries acquiescing to this form of media to reach their people. I had made a decision that the written word (my blog) would be enough to reach the people and that there would be no need for a video “presence.”

I came to this decision for three reasons:

1) I viewed a few of the first efforts by some of my contemporaries, and they did not inspire me to follow suit. The production was not that great, some of them were clearly out of their comfort zone, and some even looked—and felt—like "hostage situations.”

2) I viewed some others that were fantastic. They were done well, with great lighting, highly comfortable speakers, and inspiring messages. I knew I could not achieve that level.

3) I read Philippians 4, verse 6, and this verse stopped me dead in my tracks:

“Be anxious about nothing.”

I decided to obey God’s Word and stop being anxious about doing any videos. A technique that generally works for me in reducing anxiety is to eliminate the cause, and this one was easy: I eliminated the anxiety by deciding not to video myself. Anxiety gone! Obedience to God’s Word adhered. Frog jumped!—or, so I thought.

There is a problem with that process—a problem I suspect we all have at times. The problem is, I did not read far enough into God’s Word to get His real message. Did you notice that I put a period at the end of that verse? In doing so, I changed God’s Word to suit my need. In His Word, there is no period after “nothing”—just is a comma. Here is the full verse: 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6 NKJV). 

Can you see the difference?

Firstly, do everything in prayer (full confession: I did not pray about this. I simply wanted the easiest route to eliminate my anxiety).

Secondly, do so in supplication. This is a word that many do not understand, and it is defined as, “the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.” There was no asking on my part. There was a complete lack of humility. I was actually (in part) proud that I could eliminate my anxiety under my own means.

Some of you keeners may have noticed I added another period to this verse (after God) because this is the end of verse six (sometimes those numbers are not helpful.) I needed to keep reading, for at the end of verse six, we see a semicolon, not a period. What comes after may be the most important part of this verse. The part that brings us the encouragement we need through our anxieties. Here is the full verse, with the period in its proper place: 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6–7 NKJV, emphasis added). 

WOW, the peace of God will guard my heart. The peace of God will guard my mind. All through our Lord & Saviour, Jesus!

I’ve made a new decision. I’m going to attempt a live interactive Bible study through video chat. I’ve also decided to post a video message for Sunday morning. Confession: my anxiety levels have slowly risen (but nowhere near the previous point). My focus is on the peace of God, and this peace is bringing the anxiety down. Full disclosure: these are new decisions, and we will see if I’ll have the courage to jump off the log! I’m in continual prayer. Please also pray for me.

“Take charge! Take heart! Don’t be anxious or get discouraged. God, my God, is with you in this; he won’t walk off and leave you in the lurch. He’s at your side until every last detail is completed for conducting the worship of God.” (1 Chron. 28:20–21 The Message)