St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 23; Behold, here's Christ!

 Our paragraph topic is: (The sign of the last day) Part 1.  

We don't think about the last day.  Why?  Probably because we don't believe that we will be around on that day.  We will be dead and gone before it comes around, or so we think.  Who knows when it will happen?  Christ is telling his disciples that it will happen and what to look for.  He is warning them of all the wrong things that will happen that may lead them astray.

This is the paragraph of signs.  It is the paragraph to his disciples then and to believers today of what to know when the last day comes.  It is important to know for all.  We do not know when that day will come.  It may be tomorrow, or the next, or next week, or next year.  In our minds, in our consciousness, we do not consider it happening, but Christ has given us the prediction of the coming of the last day.  And this is what he tells us: "Then if anyone say to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There he is,' do not believe it."

Don't believe what you hear others say to you, Christ tells us.  Don't believe the rumors and the lies and the scandals that will come from the fear and anxiety of the coming of the last day.  There will be many false prophets and false rumors floating about to lead many astray.  Do not believe.  Do not follow.  Do not be led astray by those who would use you for their own selfish desires of power and glory.

Two thousand years ago Christ warns those who believe in him and the Father who sent him, of the end days.  He told his disciples so that they would know.  He told those who would listen and those who believed.  He laid the foundation for his church that his work would continue into the future for those who did not know him, those who did not see him, those who did not hear his voice but who would believe in his words.  These are the elect, the chosen ones who believe in him and know the truth of his teachings.

He came to give life and to give it more abundantly.  Anyone who believes in him and repents of their sins will be saved.  He gave his life that we might have life, if we choose it.  The choice is ours if we want it.  The life is ours if we know it.  Today, tomorrow, next week, we can have it if we know it.  It is within us.  The light of life comes from Christ.  He is the Savior from which we receive life from the Father, the source of life.  Ask and you shall receive.  God is rich in love and forgiveness for each of us who believe.  

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 11a; False Prophets.

 Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 7.  

I am trying to imagine the stories that Christ is telling his disciples about the hardships and trials they will face in the coming months and years.  What would I think if I were there in his presence listening to the words coming from God himself through Christ to me.  After all Christ was the Word of God, the two were one being.  Would I become fearful?  Would I be afraid?  Would I not want to be a disciple anymore?  Yet this was my creator, my savior, my Lord, the one who has all the answers to my needs, the one who gives life eternal.  Why should I not believe in him and his protection if he is telling me all these things in advance so that I will know what will happen?

He is my rock, the foundation of all my faith.  I am blessed that I have been chosen to be here in his presence listening to his words.  I should have no fear, no doubt, no anxiety.  He has given me the tools I need to overcome the trials and tribulations I will face.  He has promised that he will be with me always.  He has assured me that he will send another to help and guide me along the path of life to overcome any and all obstacles.  This is why he is telling his disciples: "And many false prophets will arise." 

How will we know them when they come?  How will we be able to determine who is false and who is real?  Will there be miracles to show the difference?  Or will there be fake magic to confuse and mislead?  What tools do we have to help us make the decision who to follow or who not to follow?

Today we have many churches of many different denominations.  It seems that everyone wants to have a church or to preach the gospel to the people.  Christ told his disciples that when persecutions begin that many will fall away and hatred will abound.  Some will see opportunity to take up the mantel and proclaim themselves as prophets of God.  And today we must be careful to discern in our hearts who are the real prophets and who are the false prophets.  Beware of what you hear and what you see.  Do not allow yourself to become involved with that which is not a part of the good that is within you.  For that which is good will be turned to evil.

Christ came to show us the way to the truth and the light.  He came to open the door so that all who desire to know the truth have a way to find it through faith if they desire within their hearts to seek it.  There is an advocate that will come and be with you to guide you along the way to the truth of who you are within.  Open the door and let the light shine in.  Do not let the false prophets of today confuse or mislead you.  You have an advocate.  You have a connection to someone who loves and knows you.  Seek him and he will find you.  Ask for him and he will answer.  Knock at his door and he will open and greet you with open arms of love.  God is your father and your God of love. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 32 - 33, The Test of Heart: The Affirmation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter walks on the water) Part 5.   

Peter was sinking into the water and doubt was taking over.  He had questioned.  He had wondered how.  He had opened the door for everything to came in, doubt, fear, anxiety, and darkness.  Christ had said to him, "Come."   And he got out of the boat and he was coming to Christ.  He was walking on water.  He was filled with excitement, joy, exhilaration.  He was walking on water.  But then he began to sink.  He began to fear.  He began to allow doubt to come in.  And he called to Christ for help.  Peter was a fisherman and his livelihood was made in and on the water.  So he was not afraid of water, he knew how to swim.  He knew how to tread water.  He knew how to survive on the water.  But he called to Christ to save him because he was sinking.   

What was the strange feeling of sinking when one has just experienced the feeling of walking on water?  The water was solid as the ground.  The water pushed back when Peter took a step.  The water was hard and firm as a rock.  But then the water become soft.  The water began to give way.  And Peter began to sink.  Why did he fear?  Why did he doubt?  Why did he open himself up to the questions of the flesh when his spirit and his heart were filled with joy?  He called to Christ for help and Christ reached out and lifted him up and together they walked back to the boat.  Together they walked on the water, back to the boat. 

Peter was broken.  He could not understand what had happened.   One moment he was walking on water and the next he was sinking as in quicksand.  You see, with the coming of doubt the water changed from solid to semisolid, like quicksand, and then back to the consistency of water.  It did not change from solid to water at once.  There was a gradual transition which made the sinking feel like quicksand and not like water.  And Peter did not know how to accept this transition.  So he called out to Christ for help.  And Christ admonished him that the doubt was the cause of his sinking.  The doubt opened the door to fear and with coming of fear the miracle stopped.   And when they got into the boat, the wind fell.

Peter was in shock.  His emotions and his feelings were in disarray.  He walked on water.  What a joy!  Then he sank as in quicksand.  He was high one moment and low the next.  He was in joy and ecstasy one minute and deep fear and doubt the next.  How do you experience such extremes?  And yet the miracle took place.  All, witnessed it.  The disciples in the boat were in ecstasy also.  What they witnessed happened before their eyes.  The waves were high and they came crashing into the boat.  The boat was filling with water, more water was coming in than they could bail out and they were afraid of drowning.  And then Christ came walking on the water.  They forgot about the water and watched in amazement as Peter walked on the water.  They also watched in fear as he begin to sink.  But Christ saved him.  And then they knew.  They experienced it within themselves.  No one could tell them otherwise.  They saw it, they believed it and they knew it.   This was the Messiah, this was the Son of God became man.  And they were with him.  They were before him.  They were in him and he was in them.   But  they who were in the boat came and worshipped saying, "Truly thou art the Son of God."
          
That was then, 2000 years ago, and this is now 2011.  Christ left the world and returned to his father and the world returned to itself.  For we are in the world and the world is in us.  From the time we are born the world takes over.  It tells us how to think, how to eat, how to act, how to live, how to love, how to enjoy, how to believe, how to fear, how to doubt, the world is in us and we become the world. 

The young ones grow up with the world in them.  They do not grow up with Christ.  Even though they receive the traditional upbringings in a church or a religious environment, most do not grow up with Christ in them and the knowledge of the Holy Spirit.  For the knowledge of Christ in not in them or in their parents and the joy and love of the Holy Spirit is unknown.  So they are swollowed up into the world and there they remain until they are called. 

Where does it all begin?  Can we look to our parents?  Are we the offspring of our parents, they are in the world and so are we?  Where does the cycle end?  Christ said, "Come!"  Christ opened the door.  Christ is our example and the Holy Spirit is our guide.  The disciples saw it and affirmed the truth.  When will we see it and know the truth.  The spirit awaits your awakening.  Open the door, say goodbye to the world and say hello to him.  Your miracle awaits!  It all starts with you.  Come receive the light of the Holy Spirit and know that he is with you!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 25, They sought Division.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ refutes them) Part 1. 

They sought to divide.  They sought to bring doubt.  They sought to create fear.  They sought to bring Scandal to turn the people away from Christ.  The Pharisees have proclaimed that Christ cast out demons by the prince of devils, Beelzebub.  They want to scare the people.  They want to cast doubt upon Christ.  They want to bring Scandal upon his name.  But Scandal does not come.  Doubt is in hiding.  And fear cannot erase love for the people.  These are the tactics that they use against Christ.  The battle continues.

Christ knows of their desire to scatter the people.  He knows of their desire to cast doubt upon his name.  He knows of their need to bring fear into the people to prevent them from following.  But he deals with their tactics.  He tells the Pharisees,  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."   Christ demonstrates to the Pharisees and the people a simple rule which they all are aware of and know as truth, a divided house does not stand.  

History has revealed that a divided husband and wife will not stay together.  History has revealed, a divided kingdom with father and sons pulling in different directions will not last.  Treachery and deceit will eventually take over and the house will fall.  History has been written of great cities and towns that have withstood the test of time but fell from the division within its wall and not from the attacks from outside its walls.  Deceit and treachery and larceny and greed take hold and the kingdom falls.  How is it then that the Pharisees speak of Christ as a member of the house of evil when he brings the message of the kingdom of heaven?  The Pharisees do not understand the source of his power.  They do not know how he is able to perform such miracles.  They do not believe that he is the one greater than they, the one who came down from heaven.  For the Pharisees were full of pride.  The Pharisees were full of vanity.  The Pharisees were so drunk with power and authority that they feared loosing it.  And they clung to their positions of authority, refusing to recognize the change that was taking place before their eyes.  The battle continued, they fought for their positions, and they accepted the reasons of the evil one.

On the verge of starvation, Christ was tempted.  On the verge of death Christ was offered the life and riches of this world.  On the verge of separation from his physical body Christ was offered to separate from His heavenly Father.  He was offered division.   Are you divided from God today?  Are you divided from your spouse and do not know how to stop the division?  Are you divided in your church taking sides with others allowing division to come into the church?  Division comes to scatter.  Division comes to separate.  Division comes and brings with it confusion, doubt, fear, anxiety, and loss, spirits of even greater evil.  Christ is one in the Father.  Are you one in Him?  Do you know Christ?  He seeks to know you, if you would only let go of the world and come into His world.  Are you afraid to let go?  If you only knew the difference, you would have no fears, no doubts, no anxieties.  Your joy will be complete.  Your peace will be fulfilled.  Your love will abound and overflow.  For in Him, and through Him, and with Him, we become one with the Father and there is no division!  He fulfills all!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 20-21, The Hope of the Gentiles.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mercy of Jesus) Part 4. 

The prophecy of Isaias continues.  For it was written of Christ before he came.  It was foretold of his actions before he was conceived.  It was read in the synagogues of his purpose before the Pharisees were created.  He would be meek.  He would be mild.  He would be merciful to the people.  It was written,  "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoking wick he will not quench."  

He was the quiet one.  He was the soft spoken one.  He was the loving one.  Yet the battle continued and Christ continued to take back the souls of those lost.  He continued to preach the gospel of the kingdom.  He continued to perform miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, make the blind see, the lame walk and cast out demons.  This was his mission.  This was his purpose.  This was what he came to earth to do.  Yet with the mighty power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit he was merciful.  He was meek.  He was gentle as a lamb.

But he came to bring victory.  He came to being battle.  He came to separate the good from the evil, the saved from the damned, the just from the unjust, for they all lived together in one place.  He brought the sword of the Lord.  He spoke the words of the kingdom.  He brought life for the people.   And, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoking wick he will not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory." 

For he came to bring judgment.  He came to bring life.  He came to bring battle upon the dark forces of evil and his was the victory.  Christ presents such a stunning picture so different from what we exemplify and what we see today in our spiritual communities.  He had the anointing of God upon him, yet he did not use it.  He had the beck and call of legions of angels yet he did not need them.  He had the watchful eye of God the Father upon him and God was pleased with his actions. 

Is God pleased with our actions today?  Will he know that we do his bidding or the bidding of the world?  For without our awareness of Him then our actions are not of his bidding but are of those of the world.  But with our conscience knowledge of his being with us, his walking with us, his living inside of us each day, each minute, each hour, we can know that what we do, we do for his glory and his honor.  Even our prayers speak of his kingdom and his honor and his glory.  So let us us our daily actions to come closer to God and to acknowledge his presence in our lives.  It is not enough to believe in God.  One has to know in God.  One has to act in God.  One has to live in God.  For in God there is no want.  For you in God, there is no desire for earthly things.  For you in God there is no fear, no doubt, no anxiety, no failure.  There is no failure in God and neither will there be failure in you.  "For in his name will the Gentiles hope."

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 21, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 8.  

In the previous parts of this paragraph Christ has given his disciples tools of war, weapons to fight the evil spirits that they will encounter and do battle with.  He has trained them for the spiritual realm in which they will fight.  This battle is not in the physical realm but the spiritual realm, even though the results of the battle can have physical consequences.  This is what Christ now shows his disciples.  He tells them that there will be physical consequences to this battle.  There will be separation.  There will be division.  There will be blood shed by the people.  The demons will not go easily.  They will cause their own evil disciples to bring about destruction and death and bloodshed upon the believers.

Christ gives his disciples a glimpse into the future, showing them the results of their teachings.  He tells them,  "Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and put them to death."   All this will happen because of the spread of the message of the kingdom of heaven.  The demons will cause believers to fight against unbelievers and this will bring about destruction.  Brothers who grew up together and loved one another will turn and become enemies.  One will give up the other to death because of the evil that is in man's hearts.  Fathers will sacrifice their children to death because the children will not change from their belief in the message of Christ.  Children will rise up against their parents because they think that their parents do not embrace the old teachings of the kingdom.  Destruction will reign and this is the will of the evil one.  They will not be able to change the beliefs of those who hold to the beliefs of Christ so they will persecute, and torture, and beat, and kill the bodies of those who believe.  And Christ will accept them into his kingdom as saints.

Today in our society and in societies all over the world believers in the one true God face the same persecution.  They are tortured, slain, and put to death for their beliefs because the devil has taken control of those areas of the world and invaded the hearts of men.  In this society, in America and more civilized countries, we still have the same persecution but not quite as severe.  Fathers deny their children and cast them out because of their beliefs.  Children give up their parents when they enter into the world because of the teachings that their parents instilled in them .  They are indoctrinated and blinded by the dazzle of the world and give up their spiritual values handed down by their parents.  Brothers separate and build walls between themselves because of their religious beliefs.  The principles of love and family die and the evil one cuts the ties that bind them together and places a wall of separation between them.  We still face the same enemy today, only hidden from us in the cloak of industrialization, glitz and glamour.

Love conquers all and the love of Christ  will open doors to fight the enemy.  The lessons that Christ  has given his disciples must be applied today.  Do not be surprised if you are separated from your family for following the message of Christ .  Do not be surprised if you are persecuted, ostracized at work, unpopular with friends, left out, denied opportunities, talked about, and looked down upon.  All these are the tactics of the devil to sway you into his plan.  Keep the faith.  Hold the course.  Rely on the Lord for your strength.  He will provide.  He will see you through.  You will not be alone because there will be others to share your burdens and walk with you along the path of life given  you by Christ .  Keep the message of the kingdom of heaven and remember the words of Christ , "Do not be anxious!"   Keep your hearts calm and free from anxiety, for the Spirit of the Father will come to you and will speak through you.  Are you ready for the coming separation, brother against brother, father against child, children against parents?  Prepare yourself.

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 20, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 7.  

Christ now unveils the ultimate bombshell to his disciples.  He is training them for warfare with the spiritual enemies that they will face in their solo journey preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  He has instructed them to not become anxious about what they will say or how they will say it when they are delivered up to the enemy.  They will face the enemy in the kings and the governors that they will be brought before.  For the enemy is the spiritual evil that has occupied the men of power in the towns and villages of the lost sheep.  The evil one has conquered these peoples and occupied their towns and villages.  Now Christ is sending out his warriors to do battle with these evil spirits to cast them out and deliver the lost sheep back to the Lord.

Christ warns his disciples that they will be delivered up to kings and governors.  He tells them who they will face.  And he shows them that even in the face of the enemy they should not be anxious or allow fear to rule them.  They should not think about what they are to say in their defense.  They should only close the door to anxiety, keep their minds clear, keep their hearts steady and calm their spirits so that the Holy Spirit will come to them.  For the enemy will try to rattle them.  The enemy will try to confuse them.  The enemy will seek to open the door of fear in them so that they can have access to their minds and read their hearts.  But Christ tells to them to not be anxious, for what they will speak to the enemy will be given to them in the hour.  What they will say will come to them through their spirits.  What will be spoken will be given to them from the spirit of the Father.  Christ tells them,  "For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you."  

Christ now reveals to his disciples that they are to be spokesmenn for the Spirit of God the Father.  This will be their weapon to defeat the enemy.  The enemy will not be able to defeat them.  The enemy will not see the weapon that they are carrying.  The enemy will not know what hit them.  They have brought the weapon into their midst not knowing that it is a weapon but thinking that they have captured lambs.  Christ has told his disciples that he was sending them like sheep amongst wolves.  But now he reveals to them that they are lions in sheep's clothing, carrying the voice of God with them.

This is an awesome example for us today.  Christ tells his disciples and also tells us today, through the writings of St Matthew, that we are not to worry about what to speak or how we should speak when facing the enemy.  We are only to remain calm and to not allow anxiety to enter into our hearts and minds.  By doing this and staying focused on his words we can open ourselves up to the Spirit of our Father to speak on our behalf.  What a wonderful gift.  What a wonderful weapon in our arsenal, to be able to deal with whatever we face in our daily lives.  Do not be anxious.  Do not allow fear to come in.  For the Spirit of the Lord will speak for us and through us to the enemy.  Are you ready to allow the Spirit of God to speak through you to your enemies?    
 

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 19b, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 6.  

Christ continues his discussion with his disciples concerning how they are to respond when they are delivered up to the governors and kings.  He is preparing his disciples for mental and spiritual training.  He has told them that they are not to be anxious when they are delivered up.  He wants them to understand what anxiety does to them.  He wants them to understand that anxiety opens the door for the spiritual demons to come in and destroy their defenses.  Anxiety will cause them to be fearful.  Anxiety will lead them to think about the consequences of what will or may happen.  It will take their focus off of today and put it in the past or in the future.  Anxiety will cause their minds to consider endless possibilities of events that are not real and keep them in a circle of fear.  The design of anxiety is to take control and give way to fear.  And it is this fear that prevents the word of God from operating in their lives.

The disciples must remain calm.  They must focus upon the words that Christ has given them,"Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak."   By maintaining mental and spiritual clarity the enemy will not be able to enter the mind or the spirit.  They enemy will have no foothold upon them.  The door will be closed to fear without having any way of entering.  So Christ says this to his disciples so that they can prepare themselves.  The disciples have been with Christ long enough to know that he speaks with authority.  What he says comes true.  What he says is the truth and they can rely upon his words.  They have seen the results of his words, the results of his actions, and they have come to believe and have faith in who he is. 

Why does he tell them to not be anxious?  It is important that they do not allow their minds to not be filled with fear.  It is important that they not attempt to determine for themselves what they are to say, what will be the best words, what will have the most effect.  When they are considering what to say the enemy can read their thoughts.  They enemy can plan an attack that will lead them into destruction.  But with their minds clear, their spirits calm in Christ, the enemy has no clue what is happening.  Then Christ explains why he wants them not to consider what they are to speak.  He tells them, "For what you are to speak will be given you in that hour." 

You see, with the mind clear from fear, the words that they are to speak will be given to them.  The words that they are to say will come to them.  The words that they are to use to defeat the enemy will be spoken by the Holy Spirit through their mouths.  So Christ wants them to be prepared to receive the Holy Spirit.  He wants them to know that they have a companion with them that will defeat the enemy.  He wants them to be bold and steadfast in the battle they will face with the evil spirits that they will face.  This is a wake up all for us today. It is a tool, a weapon that we can use in our daily lives when we face trials and tribulations with the enemy.  Do not be anxious.  Do not be fearful.  For what you are to say and what you are to do will be given to you.  And the enemy will not know how to read you.  They enemy will not know how to defeat you.  The enemy will not know who you are until he sees the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through you. 

Christ trained his disciples well in preparation for the battle.  He has given us words to help us train today to be bold and steadfast and fearless.  Will you head the words of Christ?  Will you accept the training that he gave to his disciples and that he has provide for you today?  Clear your mind.  Calm your spirit.  Be receptive to the word from the Holy Spirit and you will prevail.  Can you hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you, today?     

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 19a, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 5.  

Christ now begins to tell his disciples how they are to act when they are delivered up.  A prisoner of war will only give his name rank and serial number to the enemy and the disciples are given instructions as to how they are to respond.  For they will be brought before governors and kings.  They will testify for the sake of Christ.  They will be questioned about the new doctrine they preach.  And the spiritual demons will want to devour them like sheep.  Christ, however tells them, "Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak."  

Do not be anxious, he tells them.  Do not allow yourself to fear.  Do not let your heart be overwhelmed with anticipation.  Do not let your mind race with thoughts of what will happen.  These are the things that Christ wants to prepare his disciples for.  He wants them to practise mental training.  He wants them to still themselves spiritually so that they have a defense against the enemy that they will face.  For the battle is for the souls of men and the soul is reached through the heart and the mind.  So they must be prepared.  They must be ready.  They must know what to expect. 

Anxiety opens the door to fear.  Fear is the gateway to speculation of what will happen in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, and the future.  And fear will give the enemy the advantage to destroy the faith implanted in the disciples by Christ.  Christ has spent time preparing his disciples for the coming battle.  He has spent time showing them the results of faith.  He has questioned their faith in order to strengthen it for the battle ahead.  He has demonstrated to them what faith looks like and what it can do.  Now it's time for them to exercise that faith in the battle that they will face before the evil governors and kings of the land. 

So Christ is warning them to keep the door to anxiety closed.  He is showing them the tricks that the enemy will use.  And he is giving them weapons that they will use to defeat the enemy.  They are the disciples of Christ.  They have the spirit of Christ within them.  They are prepared for battle. 

Can we say the same today?  Do we allow anxiety to control our lives?  Do we open the door to spiritual evil allowing it to bring forth fear into our lives?  How can we fight the spirit of anxiety?  How can we control the entrance of fear into our lives?  Sometimes just repeating the words of Christ begins to help us keep the door closed.  He said, do not be anxious.  So we can tell ourselves to not get anxious, over, and over, and over again, as a means of bringing calm into our lives and our situations.  We can breath and listen to our hearts so that they do not become gateways to fear.  A calm heart is a clam mind, and a calm mind fixed on Christ is a steel door that the devil cannot penetrate.  So let us put on the armor of Christ and keep him before us as we face our trials and tribulations daily.  Will you close the door to anxiety and stop fear from entering your life??