Theme of the Week: Impact for the Year
Bible Verse: “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.” Philippians 4:6-8
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-7; Proverbs 3:5-6
The past year at Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada has been exciting to say the least. Filled with change—we’ve continued the move to our new name Impactus, navigated staff transitions, developed many new ministry programs, moved to a new office location, and returned to in person conferences for the first time in 3 years. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch God open doors and allowed the ministry to reach more men around the world than ever before.
As a team we pray continuously, giving God the glory, praising Him for what He is allowing us to do, and asking for humility, seeking His guidance for the ministry. However, during all the excitement, there were also moments of anxiety, doubt, and second guessing. I wish I could say that I didn’t feel these things, but I did.
I have been reminded very recently that God doesn’t want us to be anxious about anything. Philippians 4:6 clearly calls us to “be anxious for nothing” and let our 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 a small team, we have been developing a new Men’s Ministry Leadership Training curriculum, a new Small Group Leader Experience, and a new Young Man’s Podcast, as well as preparing for in-person conferences. That’s a lot of pressure.
As we moved closer to the launch of our conferences this past fall in Ottawa and Cambridge, we were concerned about attendance—perhaps after 3 years, men didn’t want to gather. I was getting anxious. I didn’t have peace. I was focussed on the numbers, the projects, and the pressures of the timelines. I wasn’t listening to one of my favorite Scriptures, Proverbs 3:5-6. I was leaning on my own understanding and not acknowledging God in “all my ways.”
Time spent being anxious and second guessing was wasted. The Lord moved and over a thousand men attended, and God showed up in a powerful way at both conferences. We talked about “pressing in” to our relationship with God, drawing closer to Him and trusting that He will do what only He can do.
We all experience times of doubt, fear, and anxiety. When we do, God tells us to bring our requests before to Him and give Him thanks. His promise in return is a God kind of peace in the storm “which surpasses all understanding.” A peace that “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Our responsibility is to trust God to do what only He can do, and we do all we can.
Prayer: God, Thank you that in my anxiety and doubts you are still there. Thank you for the peace that you offer in the midst of a roiling soul. Help me not to lean on my own understanding, but to look to you for guidance and the peace and comfort you provide.
Reflection: Name one area in your life where you are not trusting God. What can you do to turn that situation over to God and rest in His provision.
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