Revelation and Reassurance

Hey friends, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading, titled Revelation and Reassurance, was written by John Blaise. Baby gender reveals in 2019 were dramatic. In July, a video showed a car emitting blue smoke to indicate it's a boy.

In September, a crop duster plane in Texas dumped hundreds of gallons of pink water to announce it's a girl. There was another reveal, though, that uncovered significant things about the world these children will grow up in. At the conclusion of 2019, YouVersion revealed that the most shared, highlighted and bookmarked verse of the year on its online and mobile Bible app was Philippians 4, verse 6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

That's quite the revelation. People are anxious about many things these days, from the needs of our sons and daughters, to the myriad ways family and friends are divided, to natural catastrophes and wars. But in the middle of all these worries, the good news is that many people cling to a verse that says, Do not be anxious about anything.

Furthermore, those same people encourage others as well as themselves to present every request to God in every situation. The mindset that doesn't ignore but faces life's anxieties is one of thanksgiving. The verse that didn't make the verse of the year but follows it is, And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

That's quite the reassurance. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Philippians 4, verses 1-7. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends. I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Let's pray. Jesus, some days and weeks and years feel overwhelming and our hearts and minds can be full of anxiety. Please fill us with your peace today and help us to trust you in every situation, no matter what's happening or going on. Help us to be able to encourage others and point them to you as well. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Stephen, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.