ICS Daily Devotions
The Lord Sustains And Gives Peace

Mark 4:18-19 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

(Amplified Bible) Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.

There are two kingdoms in this world, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. While we have been transferred and entered into the Kingdom of God where He reigns and rules in our lives, we are still in this world where the god of this age still influences us greatly through all the daily events and messages that are being communicated to us daily. Therefore, there is always a choice to choose God’s way or the way of the world in our Christian life. When we choose to go God’s way, we really need to allow the word of God to take root in our lives so that faith is produced to stand on it despite of the circumstances.

We are constantly being bombarded daily by the world through different media. The media is a very powerful tool that forms our thinking and values either directly or subtly. If we are not careful to guard our mind, it might create concern, fear and slowly make a foothold into our thought life. We will operate in the world’s ways unless we renew our mind with the word. When the world’s way is stronger than the word in our heart, the seed of the word of God will be choked. The seed that is sown among thorns is deprived of sunlight thus it is not able to grow. The overwhelming influence of the deceitfulness of riches, the desire of other things and the false glamor in life “choke and suffocate” the word.

Cares and anxieties are thoughts that meditate on the negative that will bring about fear into our lives. When someone is anxious, worried or fearful, he/she is concerned about the unknown and the many possibilities that might not even happen at all! As a Christian, we should not be meditating on the negative but we should live by faith in God based on His character and the promises of His word. It is either we live in fear or faith. Faith is meditating on the truth that brings peace. Fear is being concerned of the unknown and the many possibilities without the God factor in it. It is a choice we need to choose or else fearful thought will choke the word that actually creates faith and peace in our lives.

The cares, anxieties and fear are a result of doubt and unbelief of the word. The devil will put deception through the mind thus causing people to look at circumstances.

Phil 4:6-7 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As Christians, we know that Jesus told us the remedy for our worries is to seek Him wholeheartedly and He will provide all our needs. If our trust is in riches, we will feel stressed and miserable when things don’t happen our way. However, when we trust the Lord, His joy and grace will sustain us.

Psalms 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

Are you worried or anxious? Cast your cares and anxieties upon Him today because He cares for you.(1Pet 5:7) In the midst of all the anxieties, Jesus who is the Prince of Peace, will give us peace to sleep and awake the next day for He sustains us.

Sermon series: There is power in the seed