What about Worry?

What do we worry about? School, getting a job, our health, our familites and friends, impressing other people? We often worry because of our environment and the situations around us. 

Philippians 4:6 reads...
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

According to scripture, we are called to bring our needs and concerns to God. Instead of worrying, we need to pray. 

But why would God want to hear about all of our problems? Why would He want us to bring all of our worries and anxieties to Him?

1 Peter 5:7 says...
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

God doesn't want us to carry around the weight of our problems and our daily burdens.  He WANTS us to share those burdens with him to make our burdens lighter. He CARES for us. No worry or trouble is too small or big for God.  When we share all of our problems with God, He gives us this promise...

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Once we share our worries and anxieties with God, He will grant us the peace that only He can give.

So, as you worry about class, commitments, future jobs, and hundreds of other things, remember to share them with God, for he desires to know your anxieties and wants to share all of your burdens.

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Perseverance

We are often exhausted in our daily routines. We stay up late to finish assignments, watch our favorite TV shows, or hang out with our friends. We struggle with getting to class on time and making it to our various meetings and commitments. Rather than concentrating on simply making it through the day until we can sleep again, we must focus on persevering and working for the glory of our Lord.

This week, the devotion came from the book of James..

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

And from Romans...

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Both of these scriptures describe perseverance as something positive. Perseverance establishes our character and gives us hope and encouragement. We must not persevere just to simply endure whatever we have to go through, but we must persevere and strive to be our best self. 

Friendship

What do we think when we think of friendship? Bonding with other people like ourselves? Happiness and fun times? Sisterhood? 

Friendship serves many purposes in our lives.  Friendships keep us from being lonely, and they helps us develop as loyal, trustworthy, and reliable individuals.  In the book of Ruth, Naomi and Ruth exhibit a wonderful friendship after Ruth's husband (Naomi's son) passes away. Ruth Chapter 1, verses 16-18 read...

"Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."

In this passage, Ruth proclaims to Naomi that she will accompany her back to her home in Israel, and she refuses to let Naomi go alone.  She claims to follow Naomi wherever she goes and to live her life as Naomi lives her own life.

Like many friendships that we are a part of, we are drawn towards people who have experienced the same hardships as us.  Naomi and Ruth became closer at the loss of Ruth's husband, and their friendship brought them joy and peace even though they had suffered a loss.

As we continue to grow in our relationships and become closer to the people around us, let us reflect on the support and encouragement that our friendships give us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up."

Romans 12:10

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Acceptance

What does it mean to be accepted?  Does it mean to have wonderful friends who love you no matter what? Or maybe it just means that you get invited? Or perhaps it means that you have officially accomplished your goals of going to college or grad school?

The Lord's acceptance of everyone and society's refusal to accept certain people are revealed in the story of Zaccheus. The reading this week comes from Luke 19:1-10...

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

In this story, Zaccheus is a tax collector, looked down upon by most everyone else in Jericho. However, Jesus did not hesitate to accept him and forgive him for his sins. Let us keep in mind the Lord's acceptance of everyone while we carry out our day-to-day tasks. What better way to show the acceptance and love of Jesus Christ than by accepting people in His love, ourselves?

John 6:37

 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Romans 15:7

 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Jesus Loves Me, This I know

When we begin a new semester in college, even when we're beginning our first semester in Auburn, we are overcome with happiness and excitement. We're happy to be back with all of our friends, meet new people, and decorate our dorm rooms and houses. Even with all of our excitement, though, we sometimes feel lonely and helpless. We get caught up in how difficult our classes are, how much homework we have, the less and less time we have to be with our friends, and scuffles with our roommates. However, in the times we feel like no one knows how it feels to be burdened with countless assignments and that no one cares about how we feel, we need to remember Christ's love for us. Keep in mind Ephesians 3:18-19...

"And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love-how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God."

Concentrate on the Word, and know that Christ's love and care for us is vast. When we know that Christ loves us, then we can find fulfillness in our lives. Know that He loves you, and know that the Lord has placed brothers and sisters in Christ in our lives that show us His love.

For His Glory

The devotional this week came from Romans chapter 12. I'm sure that I have read from Romans 12 countless times during chapter throughout my time as chaplain, but I believe that it is one of the best passages to begin each semester. The passage reads,

"Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship...Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will...We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

As you read this, be reminded to not compare yourself to others around you. We were each intentionally made to be different. College is a time of insecurity and a desire to be accepted by others around us, but constantly remind yourself that college is also a time to share the gifts that God has given us.  We were not made to "conform to this world," but we were made to live in accordance with God's will. Everything we do is by the grace of God and ALL for his glory!

Purity of Speech

This week's devotional comes from James Chapter 3. The verses read:

5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

These verses talk about the evils that we create with our words.  We cannot praise our Lord with the same tongue that we use to insult, bully, and speak down to others around us.  When we speak with hatred, hatred spreads to other parts of our lives as well.  People no longer trust us, no longer look up to us, and no longer follow us. However, if we purify our speech, the other aspects of our lives are purified as well.

This week, let us be challenged with controlling our tongue, letting it be a tool for praise rather than harm.

Peace In Christ

This week's devotional was from Philippians 4:6-7. The verses read:

"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."

This is a conditional promise from God. The verses say that we need three things in order to cure anxiety and have perfect peace.

First, we need prayer-devotional and worshipful communication with God.

Second, we need supplication-requesting something. We need to let God know what we’re worried about and what we feel like we need.

Last, we need thanksgiving- thanking God in all circumstances.

These weeks are a tough few weeks. It’s campaign week, and applications are out for almost every organization on campus. Everyone is starting to have tests, philanthropies are booming, and volunteers are needed in everything. But, we must remember that we can have a perfect peace in all of this. Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving to our God will bring us this peace. 

Dear God,

Thank you for bringing us all here safely tonight. Help us to remember your promise to us, and for us to do everything to bring about the peace that you promise us. God, keep us strong throughout the rest of the week. Hope that we can remember you in all circumstances. We thank you for the lives that we’re living, even if we feel anxious at times. We pray this in your Son’s name. Amen.

If y'all want to read more commentary on these verses, visit rondaniel.com!

Being A Child of God

This week's devotion came from 1 John 3:7-10.  The verses read:

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

We have all sinned, but these verses are saying something in addition to that. While we are sinners, people who are in Christ are not going to continue to accept sin into their lives. We are not going to say," I'm a horrible influence on the people around me and don’t spend time worshipping God, but at least I haven’t killed anyone." Oftentimes we think," I’ll sin just this one time even though I know it’s wrong; Jesus died for my sins, He’ll forgive me anyways." Instead, we are going to continue to grow in Christ, being an example to those around us, transforming our lives instead of letting “anyone lead us astray.”

This is a very powerful message and we must all remember that the Bible is the truth; it is the Word of the Lord. It is not something to be taken lightly. It is not a book of happy, always joyful quotes that we can reference when we are feeling God-like. It must consume every aspect of our lives. We can’t choose certain times when we want to be a part of God’s kingdom.  

Trusting and following the Lord will make us a part of that Kingdom, and through our love and devotion to Jesus Christ, we will be cleared of all sin.

Seeing "Good"

This week at chapter, the devotional was based on Romans 8:37-39. The verses read:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


We often feel that everything is "out-of-control" and "too difficult to handle," but we all must remember that we cannot give up. Because we are God's children, none of us have been abandoned in difficult times. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Even though it's sometimes hard to believe and understand that this is true, we must be like the Apostle Paul.  Paul was imprisoned in Rome for preaching God's Word, and he often wrote to God's people at Philippi and reassured them that good would come out of it.  Even in jail, Paul saw God's good in his circumstances.


Remember, you are never abandoned! See God's good in all situations!

Unity, Humility, and Joy

<sup>This week we began chapter with a passage from Philippians, chapter 1:3-6. Philippians is one of Apostle Paul's letters. He wrote it to his church in Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome. He not only thanks the Philippians for their support and partnership, but he encourages them to exhibit unity, humility, and joy in all circumstances.
The passage reads:




3</sup> I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


As we study Philippians in the coming weeks, we must remember to be "confident" in God's plan for us. As a chapter and a strong sisterhood, let us remain joyful, humble, and united in Christ!


Anyone is always welcome to come to Bible study on Tuesday nights after chapter to discuss and help each other learn the book of Philippians!

Our Different Gifts

Last night at chapter, I shared my favorite Bible passage, Romans chapter 12. I often look to it when I am questioning and wondering about the gifts God has given me and how I am supposed to use them in my daily life.

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b]do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.


God has given us a purpose and each of us a different gift to fulfill his purpose.  Whether it be encouraging or giving to others, each of us is to use our gifts in this world to show God's light and glorify Him. Don't be discouraged when it seems that others have "more gifts" or "better gifts" than your own. God has a plan for each and every one of us!


So be encouraged by these verses. Remember that we are all given a purpose and a gift, and we must never feel useless. We are here to do God's will and glorify him with everything we have!