Ever had your stomach tangled in knots? The stress of the day, of the news, of the world, can wreck havoc on the body. Whew, it’s a crazy world out there people.

All too often I get tangled up in the messiness of the messy world. Paul gave Timothy some great advice, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:4 (NASB)

Oh, I want to please God! So after I read Paul’s advice, I looked to find where I could get untangled. — Spend more time in Bible study and prayer. Focus back on the might of our ALL-MIGHTY God. Remember God is our defender and we don’t battle with flesh and blood. Through Christ we are given His power and His strength for any and every battle. God’s heavenly forces are bigger than any earthly or demonic forces. There is nothing impossible with God and He is ALL-powerful.

Limit the stream of negative news. Turn off the television, step away from the online social scene, and don’t get dragged down by reading (or watching) everyone else’s opinions or thoughts. Seek “first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Remember that I can’t fix the world, but through prayer can carry the world to The One who can fix everything. We are not left defenseless. We are never defenseless when we have Christ Jesus in our lives. Stay on task to do what the Lord has called me to do in the various aspects of my life. Work to please God, not to please men.

Pray, pray, pray. Prayer accesses the power of ALL-MIGHTY God. When seeing something troubling, take those troubles to God and pray mighty prayers.  E. M. Bounds wrote, “The earth is changed, revolutionized; angels move on more powerful, more rapid wings; and God’s policy is shaped when the prayers of His people are more numerous and more efficient.” On our knees, we can change this world.

Christ called us to walk in freedom, so let’s live untangled by keeping our focus on our Master and live to please Him. Join me? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” ~ Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

“…lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB).

Adapted from We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3isXIIk

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