Where do you find peace in times of anxiety? How do you endure and overcome anxiousness?

There are many aspects of life that provoke anxiety in the best of us, and in the best of times, in this broken world.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Philippi, saying, “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, ESV‬‬)

What role does truth play in your life? How do you determine truth? What is the outcome of truth in your life?

Truth is of essential importance in rightly navigating life. We come to know truth as we come to know God through his word. When we behold God’s truth and live it out, we are set free by God’s truth.

In John’s Gospel account, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, ESV).

What does repentance bring about in the follower of Jesus? What are the benefits and outcomes of turning from our sin and back towards God?

Repentance brings about restoration and reconciliation with God and others. When we turn from our sin towards God, he meets us with forgiveness and restoration.

After his sinful affair with Bathsheba, King David wrote Psalm 51, pleading with God, saying, “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:11-12, ESV).

What happens when we look fully at the glory of God?

God’s glory transforms us into his likeness. We are more like Jesus when we look directly at Jesus with unveiled faces.

God’s Spirit reveals God’s glory to us, frees us, and transforms us into his image as we behold God’s glory. This transformation comes from God himself, we do not earn it, and we do not deserve it on our own merit.

In his second letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, ESV).

Are you thirsty? What are you thirsty for?

Our desires transcend our natural needs. We can thirst for God and his kingdom just as we thirst for cool water on a hot summer day.

The Psalmist writes, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” (Psalm 42:1, ESV).

How do we walk the path of life? Do we walk according to our bodily desires, or do we walk according to the Spirit of God?

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Galatia saying, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, ESV).

If we are walking one way, we cannot simultaneously walk in a different direction. In the same manner, we cannot walk in the ways of our sinful and fleshly desires and walk by the Spirit of God.

How can we believe what we did not see for ourselves? How do we bear witness to what others do not see?

If we do not witness truth for ourselves, we can rely on firsthand witnesses who we trust to be reliable.

The Apostle Peter wrote of his encounter on the mount of Transfiguration, saying, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18, ESV).

Have you ever experienced a complete change? Have you ever witnessed a complete change or transformation?

The presence and glory of God transforms everyone who encounters God and his glory-filled presence.

Jesus took his closest disciples up to a high mountain and was transfigured by God’s glory before their very eyes.

Mathew tells us in his gospel account, “After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:1-2, ESV).

What do you do when you know you are not where you need to be in your relationship with God? How about in your relationship with your neighbor, or with yourself?

You can keep going in the direction you are headed, or you can change course.

The saying goes, “The definition of insanity is doing what you have always done and expecting different results.” It is the same in our relationship with God.

God spoke to the sinful people of Judah through the prophet Joel, saying, “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?” (Joel 2:12-14, ESV).

To whom do you dedicate your work? What purpose does your work serve?

Our work matters. Our work has purpose and meaning in the world and for eternity. God has given us the gift of work for his glory and kingdom advancement.

The wisdom of the Proverbs instructs us to “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3, ESV).

Have you ever gotten caught up in the comparison trap? Have you envied someone else, their talents, skills, gifts, personality, strengths, or possessions?

When it comes to the people of God, the church, we share in the blessings of one another. We enjoy and benefit from what each person has to offer. There is no competition or comparison in the Kingdom of God. We belong to one another.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23, ESV).

When situations are complex and unsure, are you confident in the leading hand of God?

We can easily become overwhelmed with the demands and uncertainties of life. It can be challenging to see God’s will, and to understand how God is leading and what he is doing.

The Psalmist writes about God’s presence and leading, even in the worst, most remote, and most destitute places, saying, “Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10, ESV).

What does it look like to be under God’s hand?

Humility and peace occur when we are under the hand of God.

We cannot be under God’s hand until we humble ourselves. And when we humble ourselves under the hand of God, he lifts us up. We can place all our anxieties upon the one who cares for us, and we can be at peace.

In his first letter, the Apostle Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV).

What is the church? Is the church a building or a program you go to? Or is the church the people of God called out of the world to bring the Kingdom of God to the world?

The church is the people of God.

Author and pastor Tony Evans said, “Far too often, we have limited the definition of the Church. While not in all cases, in many cases, 'Church' has become an informational, inspirational weekly gathering rather than the group of people that God has ordained from Heaven to operate on his behalf on Earth in order to bring Heaven's viewpoint into history.” (Tony Evans).

What is the work God has called you to do? What will you receive as reward for doing the work God has called you to?

As followers of Jesus, we are God’s workers. We are co-laborers with God to produce kingdom fruit as his field. We are co-laborers with God to build God’s kingdom dwelling in the world.

Paul wrote the Corinthian church saying, “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9, ESV).

Are you at peace or afraid? Do you have peace or do you need peace?

Fear is the enemy of peace. We cannot be at peace if we are afraid. This broken world offers us more to be afraid of than it does to be at peace over.

God offers to give us the peace we are longing for. The peace God gives is a perfect peace—the peace of Jesus.

In John’s Gospel Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27, ESV).

What is your role in doing God’s work?

We each have a role to fulfill in serving God by doing his work. However, it is ultimately God who does the work.

God works in us. God works through us. And God works despite of us.

We do the work and God gives the growth.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth, saying, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:6-9, ESV).

Who is your teacher? How are you being taught? Who are you teaching?

We should always be learning. We cannot learn unless we are taught.

We should also teach, instructing with our words, as we are being taught by the Spirit of God.

The Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian church, saying, “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV).

How safe are you? What dangers do you face? Where do these dangers come from? How can you find safety?

Our fears can paralyze us. The fears we face can actually be the cause of the dangers we encounter.

The wisdom of God from the Wisdom Book of the Proverbs tells us, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” (Proverbs 29:25, ESV).

Are you able to be steadfast in living out your faith? Are you able to endure hardships, challenges, and difficulties as you live into God’s work?

Living out our faith can have its challenges. We can encounter hardships, challenges, and difficulties as we live into God’s work and will for our life.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Corinth, saying, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV).