ONE THING

There are 2 passages of Scripture that speak directly of this. Psalm 27:4 and Philippians 3:13. I was reading Psalm 27 in my normal Bible reading and the first 3 verses really stood out to me.

Psalm 27:1-3

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident. “

It was the power of these Scriptures that made me take notice and look for what was the reason for the confidence and lack of fear or worry in the midst of great opposition.

Psalm 27:4 is the answer. One thing David asks for. To be with God always. When we are with God who can be against us. This is the key to life in my estimation. Our life is better and fulfilled when we are serving instead of just taking. It is much better to give than to receive. Thought all of us need to receive at times.

Why do I say this?

Philippians 3:13,14

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Being with God will entail serving or seeking Him. So the “One Thing” of the Bible is being with God and pressing into the things God has for us to serve Him.

God has laid hold of us to walk in grace by living sensibly, righteously, and Godly Titus 2:12. He has laid hold of us to go, Matt 28:19. He has laid hold of us to be ambassadors to the world 2 Cor. 5:20. We are to be a light in the world. Matt. 5:16

But all this activity will come to naught if we neglect the one thing God has for us and that is to dwell with Him, and get our nourishment from Him and all we have comes from Him. James 1:17.

Use this nourishment to give to others as you are called in Him. Then the nourishment will continue to flow.

Satisfaction does not come from pleasing yourself, it comes from serving others from the leading of the Spirit in our life as we rest in Him.

With this resting in Him and pressing into what He has for us will give us the confidence and peace to live. Psalm 112:7

Trust God Don't Worry

When I was driving I came upon this license plate. I grabbed my
camera which I usually carry with me on the job and got this photo.
He is driving a Lincoln Continental, which means he has to have some
money. Money does not take away worry. Only Christ can give true
peace.

The Bible teaches in many places not to worry.
Ezekiel in Ezk 2:6; 3:9 was told not to worry as he shared God's
word, though Israel was rebellious.

Luke 12 refers to not worrying 7 times.
v 4 do do not be afraid - fear God not man.
v 7 do not fear - we are more valuable than birds which God takes
care of.
v 11 Do not worry. Don't worry about what you are to say. The Holy

Spirit will tell you what to say at the needed time
v 22 Do not worry about food or clothes. God will feed us.
v 29 Don't keep worrying seek God and His kingdom and these things
will come.
v32 Do not be afraid. The Father gives us the kingdom.

Joshua was told not to worry in Josh 1:9 Don't tremble or be
dismayed God would be with him wherever he went.
Don't worry we have the kingdom! It is in the kingdom we have the
answers.

Numbers 11:1
"Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the
hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was
kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed
some of the outskirts of the camp."

Worry causes complaining. We are not to complain or worry but trust
God who has promised us everything. Our emotions follow how we
think. Focus on the invisible spiritual, not on the depressing
physical.

Sometimes I need to praise God even when I don't feel like it.
When there is no answer to prayer.
When there is no power of the Spirit.
When there is no rest of the Spirit.
Time marches on and problems pile up.
When the promises of God don't seem to be real.

Pray, don't lose heart. Cry to God day and night. He will answer.
Luke 18:1-8

So we can build our faith with victory and we can build our faith in
weakness. There is no defeat with Jesus. Why worry. If we are
experiencing weakness at the present we have more power than ever!

For God's power is perfected in weakness.

The disciples were worried in the storm, but when Jesus got in the
boat they had their answer. We don't have anything to worry about we
just need Jesus. John 6:21

Whose report will I believe? I believe the report of the Lord! I
have what I need and I have His power for life.

John 14:1-3 talks about not worrying. Let not your heart be troubled.
Jesus will take care of us after death. Then it goes on to say in
the middle of the chapter that Jesus will answer any request we ask.
Then when we get to John 14:27 it says Jesus gives us peace and not
to be fearful. Jesus peace does not come the way the world gives by
the absence of turmoil. But we have peace in the midst of the
turmoil because of the word of God living in our hearts. See also
John 16:33

Worry is thinking of a problem with no viable answer. Hope is
thinking about the problem according to the promises of God. Let us
live in hope in the Word of God and His provision and not in the
speculation that comes to our mind from the enemy.

David feared when Absalom his son rebelled against him. But when
David heard God's answer to his cry he slept in peace. And was not
afraid of 10,000's of people gathered against him. Psalm 3:5,6
The way not to fear is to have Jesus with us. To hear Him and be
with Him. Live life looking unto Jesus. Deal with all that comes
looking unto Jesus.