This season is filled with uncertainty, and for many, anxiety has risen to a new level.

I want to encourage each and every one who is experiencing a “shelter in place” lifestyle right now that you are not alone.

This is a great time to:

👉🏼Pray for our country and leaders, for our friends and family, and for those who would benefit from hearing about Jesus’ saving grace.
📖 “pray without ceasing.“ [1 Thessalonians 5:17]

👉🏼 Focus on those God has put right in front of us at this time. For most of us, it is our families and spouses. Too often, we get so busy and those that are the closest to us get “put on a shelf” for later. Let us take this time to make our spouses and our children a priority.
📖“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” [1 Cor 13:4-8]

👉🏼We want to ensure that we are complying with the social distancing law, and even though it is hard to not be able to give one another a hug, or to meet for our regular services or Bible studies, we should still check in on our church family. We can do this via e-mail, phone call, or text. Thankful for these avenues!
📖 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.“ [1 Thessalonians 5:11]

👉🏼Look for a way to encourage others through the LOVE of Jesus.
📖“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.“ [John 15:12]

👉🏼Take time to REST. Even God rested after He created the world. We can be most effective when we are rested. Not only do our physical bodies need rest, our mental and spiritual health need it too. We can rest in Christ!
📖“Be still and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10]

👉🏼Read the Bible regularly. So often we hear “I’ve been too busy…” Well, this is a perfect time to develop a new habit of being in the Word.
📖“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” [Joshua 1:8]