JANUARY 28, 2026, WEDNESDAY
Entry: 6:36pm, Commonwealth QC
VERSE OF THE DAY:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
PRAYERS FOR ANXIETY
The feeling of anxiety might be one of the most common human experiences. Every person, at some level. has felt anxious or worried. While it is a common human experience, that doesn't mean that it's the ideal human experience that God wants for us.
Anxiety can often occus in moments when we feel like losing control of a situation, or maybe even when we feel helpless. We can feel anxious when we're uncomfortable or nervous.
In each of these scenarios, God wants to provide an answer and a help for when we're struggling. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages the church community there to bring all of their worries and anxiety to God through prayer.
While we sometimes think we can fix our problems, we're actually inadequate at it. God is the only one who truly knows exactly what we need.
In Scripture, God is called our Provider, our Healer, and Our Sustainer. He is ready and willing to help us when we're in need. Because of that, we have so much to be thankful for, just like Paul says.
Regardless of whether or not you're worries or anxious right now, we should all make a habit of running to God with our desires and worries. Our first response should be prayer. Before we're overcome with anxiety, we train ourselves how to respond to it-by turning to God.
Take a moment today to pause and pray to God. As Paul says, present your prayers and requests to God. Tell Him what you need and what your might be struggling with. And thank Him for always present and willing to help.
SHARE YOUR FAITH
When you start to worry, choose to worship instead. Thank God-both privately and publicly-for His faithfulness to you!
CHALLENGE
Make a list-on paper or on your phone- of 5 things you're grateful for 5 things you're surrendering to God.
God, Your servant Paul asks us not to be anxious. This sometimes feels impossible with all that's going on in the world. Please help me to grow in faith and have absolute trust in You. Even when it doesn't make sense, give me peace and strength. Please hear my prayers. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
EXODUS 19-20
MATTHEW 18:21-35
THE LORD REVEALS HIMSELF AT SINAI
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation. the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you. “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, Mark off a boundary all around the mountain.
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THE COVENANT COMMUNITY
“You must not have any other god but me.
4“You must not make for yourself an idol
I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
14“You must not commit adultery.
15“You must not steal.
16“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17“You must not covet your neighbor’s house.
“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
PROPER USE OF ALTARS
Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you.
THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING DEBTOR
‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
2 TIMOTHY 4:9-13
PAUL'S FINAL WORDS
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
PAUL'S FINAL GREETINGS
May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
INSIGHT
The unfortunate reality of Paul’s requests to Timothy for his support and care (2 Timothy 4:9-13) is that he’d experienced attack from an enemy and desertion from those whom he trusted. He writes that “Alexander the metalworker did [him] a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done” (v. 14). He then follows that with a statement of desertion: “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me” (v. 16). Being alone, the apostle was very much in need of support, care, and encouragement. But with his time drawing short (v. 6), history is silent as to whether Timothy and Mark arrived in time to come to his aid before his execution took place. Today, we can ask God to show us how we can be an encouragement to others in tangible ways as a reminder of God’s love.
By: Bill Crowder
SENT WITH CARE
I recently learned that the name “CARE” package came from the acronym for “Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe,” a group that sent boxes of food to help Europeans displaced during World War II. While the care packages I send my kids at college are mostly filled with homemade treats and candy, they usually include a few practical items—a favorite shirt forgotten at home or extra school supplies.
While the name “care package” may be modern, the practice of sending helpful items is far older. It’s even tucked away at the end of 2 Timothy. Writing while imprisoned in Rome, Paul concluded his letter to his trusted disciple with some personal requests. He asked that Timothy come and bring Mark to help him (4:11). Then he requested some personal items: his cloak and his “scrolls, especially the parchments” (v. 13). Perhaps the cloak was needed because winter was coming, and maybe the scrolls contained copies of the Old Testament. Whatever the reason, Paul longed for companionship and practical items to refresh and encourage him.
Tangible reminders of care, whether the recipient lives near or far, can have a significant impact on someone in need of a little encouragement. The gift of a meal for a neighbor, a thoughtful card written to a loved one or acquaintance, or a package full of goodies sent to a faraway friend can extend God’s love in practical ways.
By: Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT AND PRAY
When did you receive a reminder of God’s love? How did that kindness encourage you?
Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to see who I might show Your love to. in Jesus' name, Amen.
ALL THE FEELS - LEADING OUR EMOTIONS
SORROW/GRIEF
Have you ever lost someone close to you? Are you grieving the life you thought you would have or missing what used to be?
Loss, sorrow and grief are incredibly powerful emotions and it’s vital that we process these feelings with the people in our life. Why is it that what we need most can tend to be the things we pull away from, like choosing to withdraw and isolate ourselves?
This goes back to our “Just do it"—even if you don’t feel like it. I think instinctively we can sense our own vulnerability when we are grieving and the potential embarrassment of others seeing us in a fragile state. Also, people don’t always know what to say or do and that leaves us feeling emotionally abandoned when they don’t show up in the ways we need.
If you are walking through this, I just want to say that I am so sorry for your pain. You matter and what you are going through matters to God. We may not be able to fix anything for one another but I pray today’s Scriptures are a comfort to your soul.
PSALMS 34:18
18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
PSALMS 56:8
8You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
PSALMS 30:11-12
11You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
REVELATION 21:4
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4
3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
PSALMS 119:28
28I weep with sorrow;
encourage me by your word.
JOB 1:20-22
20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
