Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for always keeping me and never leaving me. I need You now more than ever. I take this heavy burden and lay it at Your feet. I know that I cannot handle this in my own strength. Thank You for being faithful and my refuge. I plead the blood of Jesus over my mind, will, and emotions. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Scripture: 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. Philippians 4:6-7

God is good all the time. There is not anything that happens on the earth that God is not aware of. He sees and knows all. Since we know He sees and knows all, it should be reassuring that He will and can take care of us. There is so much going on in this world right now, and our lives have been changed drastically. For many, a simple trip to the grocery store is not even the same as it used to be. There are new rules, restrictions, and executive orders. If you are not grounded and fastened to the Rock of Ages, this can be a shock to your spiritual walk, and anxiety could slip in unaware.

Jesus does not want us to operate in fear, anxiety, or worry. The book of Timothy states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). This verse clearly explains which spirits God gives us and which He does not. Fear does not come from God, but the enemy. Jesus offers us peace that our human minds cannot understand. I feel like Philippians 4:6-7 was written just for teachers at a time like this. These two verses lay out a cause and effect relationship. He tells us to not be anxious, pray about everything, give thanks, and let Him know our requests. As a result, God’s peace will shield our hearts and minds. That sounds amazing! All we must do is follow this recipe for God’s peace and protection. He really does do what His Word says. Remember God is His Word according to John 1:1. I absolutely love that He cannot lie. I encourage you to write Philippians 4:6-7 on the tablets of your hearts. Keep moving forward in gaining knowledge of God’s kingdom.

Copyright 2020 Niccori Thomas-Brown. Email niccorithomas@gmail.com

If you’ve enjoyed this devotion, Niccori has more topics in her book, Doing All God Has Called You To Do: A Devotion For Novice Teachers. Available for purchase here.