Live Your Life God's Way

It’s our life but we should want to live it the way God wants us to.

Daily Message #2

Mornings With Jesus

​Today We Invite You to Find Peace in God’s Presence
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
—Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Time to Think
"Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ."
—Sheila Walsh

Time to Act
When fear or anxiety creeps in, pause and remind yourself that God is always with you. Look for small signs of His presence in your everyday life and let them be a reassurance of His protection.

Time to Pray
Heavenly Father, when fear takes hold of my heart, remind me that You are near. Fill me with Your peace and help me trust in Your constant presence.


Walking in Grace
They will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).
—Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

Succumbing to peer pressure, I began watching a new television series. “It’s an excellent series,” one friend said. “It’s not a horror. More of a thriller,” another added. So every evening, I tuned in to the series that had me immediately hooked.
 
Somewhere around episode four, however, the story took a turn, living up to the network’s description of “dark and ominous.” My pulse quickened and eyes bulged. I fought the inner voice advising me to stop watching. I just had to see how the story would end. 
 
That night, a creepy feeling overtook me. I began peeking around dark corners. My only consolation was my large family of six. Seldom am I alone. Then the day came. I had finished the series, which ended horrifically, and this particular day, I was alone. It also happened to be a Saturday, so I didn’t have work to distract my racing thoughts. I prayed, asking God to calm my spirit, to remind me that I had witnessed a fictional story and that He is in control, in spite of evil in the world. 
 
After praying, I looked outside my kitchen window while washing dishes. On my fence sat a beautiful, majestic bird with a breast full of furlike feathers. I watched with awe and amazement. After an online search, I discovered my bird-friend was a Cooper’s hawk, and further research revealed that the presence of a hawk can be interpreted as a sign of protection. 
 
Suddenly, I felt as though God had sent a messenger my way when I most needed one. My feathery friend reminded me that God is always with me, protecting me from evil. There’s no need to be afraid. He is God with us. 
 
Thank You, Lord, for being ever present in my life.  
 
—Carla Hendricks

 Digging Deeper: Isaiah 8:8–10; Romans 8:31​

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