WILL ESCAPING THE FISCAL CLIFF CALM OUR WORRIES?

This post continues a new emphasis on www.inkfromanearthenvessel.com for January only: GO INTO THE NEW YEAR WITHOUT FEAR


WILL ESCAPING THE FISCAL CLIFF CALM OUR WORRIES?


A new year. New opportunities. A clean slate. What will I do with it? What will you do with it? Worry, lose faith or grow spiritually?

Every year brings challenges. What challenges should I take on?

One challenges is anxiety about what might come. Today a news channel reported a Gallup poll saying 65 percent of the people believe there will be more difficult economic times in the United States in 2013.

Our local television station forecast milk prices as high as $7 a gallon unless Congress does something about it—I believe extending farm subsidies. Although we escaped the fiscal cliff, taxes are taking huge bites from the income of people who create jobs, and most people see their health care costs rising, while we’re warned health care probably will be rationed—especially for senior citizens.

While all of this is going on, the news keeps flashing the rapidly increasing numbers on the U.S. debt clock.

Should I worry? Or should I trust God, and get to work on what my hands find to do, praying, living, and doing—fulfilling my responsibilities and doing what I can to bless and win others to the Lord Jesus Christ that they might have eternal life.
But how can I do that with the world trying to steal my faith, the faith of my children and my grandchildren—continually dangling sin before their eyes, making most think it’s no big deal.

I think the assault on faith in America is the most serious thing we face. Nwew rules to prohibit Christian influence and practice everywhere, and too many people not understanding the danger of it. Anyone who desires an abundant here and eternal life beyond the grave for themselves and their loved ones should be alarmed!

What to do? Go to our knees. Get in the Word of God, studying not just one scripture at a time, but whole books, especially the New Testament, but we also should balance it with some from the Old, starting with Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.”

Faith comes through hearing the Word. For starters, I will read Philippians 4 again where it says, “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 understand will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus…. The things you’ve learned and received and heard and saw in me, do….I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me….And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

It’s all there in chapter 4. I plan to read it, believe it, and practice it.
With the Apostle Paul I say, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”