Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Do ever feel alone or struggle with anxiety?  Have you battled or dealt with depression?    How do you deal with times like that?  Turn to God.  Don’t stop listening to Him.  Connect to what matters and what fulls your heart and your soul.  Stay close to the people that feed you with encouragement and courage.   Here are some verses that share His greatness, connectedness and strength.  They come with promises from God.   Psalm 56:3  NLT But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.   Psalm 62:6  NLT He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.   Proverbs 3:24  NLT You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.   Isaiah 58:11  NLT The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.   2 Timothy 1:7  NLT For God ha...

Over the next several days I am going to share one passage of Scripture, Philippians 4:6-7.  Just two verses, and these God gave me three decades ago as a promise.  We will take the verse apart and simply learn from it as well as apply what it says. And here we go… Philippians 4:6-7 NLT   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. So many things stick out in these verses.  We have talked about praying about everything.  We will talk about being thankful.  We will talk about having God’s peace.  We will talk about how God’s peace guards us. Today we go a little further to give us one piece that we struggle with, or that I struggle with. Don’t worry about anything. Worry brings trouble.  All kinds of trouble come up in...

Does worry take away what you treasure most?  Or, does your treasure help you worry less? This is one of those questions or suggestions that really doesn’t make sense, at least at first glance.  It is an opposing view or point.  Think about it.  I believe both statements are true and difficult.  What comes to your mind when you think of your treasure, what you hold closest and dearest to your life? Matthew 6:21  NLT Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Whatever your treasure is either guides and guards your heart OR distorts and even destroys your heart.  Ouch.  Worries rob you of your treasure unless your treasure lessens your worries.  Trusting God more means we worry less.  Thus, treasuring what God treasures assures us that we will worry less.  Then, treasuring with doesn’t last will ensure that we will worry more. Luke 21:34-36  NASB Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed d...

  1 Peter 5:7  NASB having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. God cares about you.  There are other people who care about you as well. Yet we have an enemy who doesn’t care at all for us.  His job is to get our eyes off of God any way possible and at any cost.   That is why we have to remember God cares and show others that they are cared for.  Make this a habit to share with others, to be kind and to let people see what real love and real truth looks like. Don’t be distracted. Don’t believe the lies.  You are worthy. That first first … throw all your worries to God because He cares for you.  That might sound strange, but it is the best thing to do.  If we keep all our worries in us and to ourselves, we will be overcome with them. Take another step.  Come to God and let Him work. Matthew 11:28-30  NASB “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and lear...

The week after Easter is in full bloom.  We also continue in full force the pandemic known as the coronavirus.  Each of us is being bombarded by news, articles, social media, opportunities, suggestions, decisions and much more.  It is almost too much. But some things I am getting more of that blesses are the messages and challenges from people that have poured in to my life.  One of those is Eric Thomas from First Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia.  Eric and his father, Claude, have been a great influence in my life for almost 29 years. Eric shared a message with his church earlier this week that I would like to share with you today.  Read and be encouraged! Anxiety’s Antidote   Paul gives us a command: “Be anxious for nothing.” Easier said than done, for sure! Yet, Paul also helps us see how to apply the antidote to anxiety that God makes available to followers of Jesus. It seems like anxiety and...

Thoughts and prayers of peace are all over my heart and mind the last few days.   Therefore, I want to share with you some of the things that have been given to me and some that I am holding tight to. HYMN: It Is Well with My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed his own blood for my soul. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. John 14:27   NLT “ I am leaving you with a gift— peace of mind ...