Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday to you. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but winter weather is coming. And I know that when winter weather strikes—especially here in the South, in the Dallas–Fort Worth area—our tendency can be to panic or to freak out. But we don’t have to do that. There is no need for panic.

We’re going to turn to God’s Word to see why. Please open with me to Philippians, chapter four. This is a letter Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. In chapter four, Paul—writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—says this:

Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul says something really important here—actually, several important things. First, he says, do not worry about anything. Anything. That even includes winter storms in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. We have no need to worry.

Does that mean we don’t need to prepare? Absolutely not. We still want to be prepared. We want to make sure we have extra blankets, extra food in the pantry or refrigerator, and that we’re staying off the roads if we don’t need to travel. Preparation is good.

But we don’t need to prepare in fear or anxiety. We don’t have to worry, because God is almighty. God is on the throne. He is sovereign, and none of this winter weather is a surprise to Him. So be prepared—but don’t worry.

Paul continues, “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” We can thank God as we ask for safety, warmth, and security. We can do this with thanksgiving because we know that God hears us, that God answers us, and that God is sovereign. We can be thankful because He provides His love and protection for us. We pray to Him, giving thanks that He hears us, that He provides for us, and that He guards us.

Then Paul continues:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The peace of God—peace that surpasses all understanding. There is a peace unlike any other that comes from God. It is the security of knowing that we are His, that He loves us, and that nothing can separate us from that love. How beautiful it is to know that as we live in this peace, our hearts and our minds are guarded. God guards them in His peace, His love, and His mercy.

As we look ahead to the weekend, knowing winter weather may be coming and not fully knowing what that will entail, we can rest in this truth: it is okay, because Christ has us. Christ has claimed us. Christ holds us as His own. And in Him, there is nothing to fear.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You for Your grace. We thank You for the peace You give us—a peace unlike anything the world has to offer and one that truly surpasses all understanding. We thank You that our hearts and minds are guarded in You.

As we face this weekend of possible winter weather, we ask that You would keep us safe and guard us from physical harm and danger. For those who must be on the roads—emergency workers and response teams—we ask that You would keep them safe. Keep us warm, keep us protected, and keep us always in the grace of Your Word.

We thank You, we praise You, and we lift all of this to You in the holy and wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have an amazing rest of your week. Be safe, be warm, and God bless.

Pastor Malinak