Guidelines For Living Devotional

A Way Out of Worry

Mark Twain, the American humorist, once wrote, "I am an old man and have known many troubles, but most of them never happened."  What Twain was saying is that most of the things we worry about never happen.  Paul Meyers, founder of the old Haven of Rest Broadcast, used to say, "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

Anxiety: A Better Way

The National Institute of Mental Health did a study that required more than six years to complete.  It was the most extensive piece of psychological research that has ever been conducted by this prestigious organization, or, for that matter, by any such organization anywhere.  Their research confirmed what I have suspected for a long time: that the number one mental health disorder today is anxiety.

Does God Exist?

"The real issue in the moral, ethical, and philosophic world today is the question of final reality," so wrote Francis Schaeffer, shortly before his death in 1984.  He continued, "The Christian believes final reality is the infinite, personal God of moral absolutes who truly is there.  The humanist believes it is impersonal material or energy which has existed in some form forever, and is shaped into its present form by pure chance.  On this basis man makes himself the measure of all things."

Living a Life of Meaning

The headlines of the newspaper read, "GUNSHOT BLAST KILLS HEMINGWAY!"  It was dated Monday, July 3, 1961.  One of my literary heroes lay dead of a self-inflicted wound, bringing his life to a tragic end.  Hemingway was a man's man.  I admired his style of writing, and I admit I was rather fascinated by the way he seemed to stare life in the face and go after it.  He wrote about wars, bullfighting, big game hunting, physical adventure as man was pitted against his environment--things that were of interest to a young man in his mid-20s.

The Fearless Life

In the Upper Room Jesus charged the disciples: "Don't be troubled; don't be afraid!"  He knew what was ahead; they didn't.  But instead of struggling with panic, Jesus was calm, fully in control.  When you are stronger than the circumstances which confront you, you, too, can have that peace.  Jesus finished his challenge to the disciples, saying, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Peace in Your Life

"My peace I leave with you," said Jesus as He met with the disciples in the Upper Room.  This was immediately followed by two commands:  Don't be troubled; don't be afraid."  What Jesus had in mind was a good deal more than worry, being concerned about something. The word means to be confused, to be in turmoil, to be distraught.  And that's the condition of many people today who have trouble sleeping, are anxious, fearful, and have hearts filled with worry.

Peace in an Uncertain World

Why are we always apprehensive about the future?  Because, we just don't know what's out there.  What lurking terrors await us?  What surprises are there?  We may whistle in the dark, or pretend we're unconcerned, but the reality is that our world will never go back to the days when things were normal--whatever that is.

A Legacy of Peace

Six days before the Jewish Passover, Jesus and His disciples came to Jerusalem.  At the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, giving them an example to follow, then opened His heart and talked with them.  So important was it that John recorded it explicitly.  You'll find it in the Gospel that bears his name, beginning with chapter thirteen. 

Peace in the Storm

Google the phrase, “Peace Institutes in the world,” and you will be amazed at the number that exist today.  Among them are The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Global Peace Institute, Peace Brigades International and a host of others, all dedicated to what they call "a scientific basis for permanent peace."  Described by some as "the science of human survival" these brain trusts are searching for a formula that will allow men to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks as Micah said would someday happen.

Who's Afraid of the New Year

Facing the New Year is always somewhat scary.  Who knows what the year may hold of bane or blessing?  Have you ever asked yourself, “Why fear the unknown?  When you were born, you had two basic fears: the fear of loud noises, and the fear of falling.  But soon after your birth you began to develop other fears.  The fears that you had at birth were necessary to survive.  But as you grew older, you became afraid of other things, and sometimes by the time we reach adulthood, our list of fears has grown quite long.