There has never been a particular month of the year that anxieties occupy the hearts of people than January. This is more peculiar with Nigerians, and perhaps the Black Africans. Reason is because majority of the people usually spend all their money and resources from December 24 till January 1. The moment we enter January 1, journey of hopelessness and fear of uncertainties ahead begins. The month of January is month of all anxieties. Most often, it is the month to settle children school fees, pay rents both outstanding and that of the current year. Payments of other carry over debts from the previous year poses fear too in January.
No doubt, most of us have come to the reality of anxieties standing at our front this year again. Many people as well as Christians are always caught in the Web of January’s worrying, nervousness, unease of uncertainties lying ahead and unsure of what the year holds for them. Many Christians are not left out of this problem. January’s anxieties play the major roles for Christians’ backsliding in life every year. Reason is that many Christians cast their eyes on the mountains of problems starring at their faces. Amongst other problems, the over magnified fear of Covid-19 had added to the anxieties a phenomenal and insurmountable fear since 2019. It has caused lots and lots of fears and anxieties. It has stagnated economies of the world, schools, worship of God and other social activities.
Today’s devotional addresses issues of anxieties. As Christians, we are not to be dismayed, fearful and become hopeless as a result of whatever we face. So many verses are in the scripture telling us not to be afraid of futures lying ahead of us. From King David’s experience, we can see that telling “God about our problems makes Him hear us, answer our prayers and responding in delivering us (Psa.34: 4 – 7)”. In this January, we are to leave fear of what will happen to us, but tell them to God and leave them there. Jesus the Son of God tells us never to be too anxious of what to eat, wear or be troubled about our lives, that our Father in heaven knows we need all these things (Matt. 6: 25-33). Being anxious about what lies ahead is the major character of unbelievers (Matt. 6: 31). May we not become unbelievers by entertaining unfounded anxieties!
Thinking and fearing pandemic diseases, deadly viruses and other dreadful sicknesses and diseases putting God behind our minds is too bad a sin against God. All we need do during pandemics is obeying God’s commandments and He will stop all diseases and sicknesses afflicting others around us from attacking us (Exod. 15: 26). Instead of filling our hearts with anxieties, the Bible asks us to cast our burdens upon Jesus because He cares (James 5:7). As Christians who trust in their God and their Lord Jesus Christ, developing trusting attitudes on God in all things will be the platform to receive Divine provisions, protections, coverages and deliverance this year. All that your works of faith demand now is dropping your anxieties on God’s and Jesus’ feet.
PRAYERS:
We have to pray these few prayers thus: –
1. Father and my Lord Jesus Christ, I drop all my anxieties of how to go through this year at your feet today.
2. O you my body, Spirit and soul, be discharged of all dangerous thoughts that make futures standing before me as insurmountable in Jesus name.
3. FATHER, give me enough hope and faith to look at my troubles as nothing strong enough to kill me in Jesus name.
4. Jehovah my Father, settle my carry over debts from last year into this year, and provide me with helpers to establish me from now upward in Jesus name.
Confessional statement:
Keep telling yourself all through today that ‘I am not in troubles but sweeping in God’s overflowing grace. My helpers are coming through Jesus Christ my LORD.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch