Thursday Devotion April 30th 2026

Okay guys,Chapter 1+2,week 2 of our study of:

“Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Ok also please remember everything in quotation marks is straight from the book written by Richard Carlson PhD. Ok let's dive in.

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               Chapter 1

“Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that,upon closer examination,aren’t really that big of a deal. We focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion. A stranger,for example, might cut in front of  us in traffic. Rather than let it go, and go on with our day, we convince ourselves that we are justified in our anger. We play out an imaginary confrontation in our mind. Many of us might even tell someone else about the incident later on rather than simply letting it go  

 Why not instead simply allow the driver to have his accident somewhere else? Try to have compassion for the person and remember how painful it is to be in such an enormous hurry. This way,we can maintain our own sense of well-being and avoid taking other people's problems personally.

There are many similar “small stuff” examples that occur every day of our lives. Whether we had to wait in line,listen to unfair criticism,or do the lion’s share of the work, it pays enormous dividends if we learn not to worry about little things. So many people spend so much of their life energy “sweating the small stuff” that they completely lose touch with the magic and beauty of life. When we commit to working toward this goal you will find that you will have more energy to be kinder and gentler.”

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              Chapter 2

“ I’ve yet to meet an absolute perfectionist whose life is filled with inner peace. The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other. Whenever we are attached to having something a certain way,better than it already is,we are,almost by definition,engaged in a losing battle. Rather than being content and grateful for what we have,we are focused on what is wrong with something and our need to fix it. When we are zeroed in on what’s wrong with something and our need to fix it. When we are zeroed in on what’s wrong,it implies that we are dissatisfied,discontent.

Whether it’s related to ourselves – a disorganized closet,a scratch on the car,an imperfect accomplishment,a few pounds we would like to lose – someone else’s “imperfections” – the way someone looks,behaves, or lives their life – the very act of focusing on imperfection pulls us away from our goal of being kind and gentle/ This strategy has nothing to do with ceasing to do our very best but with being overly attached and focused on what’s wrong with life. It’s about realizing that while there’s always a better way to do something,this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy and appreciate the way things already are.

  The solution here is to catch yourself when you fall into your habit of insisting that things should be other than they are. In the absence of your judgement,everything would be fine. As you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life,you’ll begin to discover the perfection in life itself.”

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That is all for this week! Hope you are enjoying it so far. See you next week!

   -  Sophie Shearman

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13-16 says: 

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Christians are called to be the salt and light of the world. But what’s so special about salt and light? They change the environment they come in contact with. You can always tell if something's salty. And it’s even easier to tell if it’s bright.

 But how exactly should salt and light act? 

First of all, salt is a preservative: Christian should hold back moral and spiritual decay in our fallen world. Salt produces thirst: The way we live and act should show unbelievers  that we belong to God. They’ll see something different and become curious or “thirsty” for what we have; a relationship with Jesus. Light is sometimes an irritant:  Being light can make the world uncomfortable because we shine our light. This discomfort is not a problem; it’s a sign we’re doing our job of exposing darkness and calling people to repentance. (Though, we shouldn’t go around just making people mad if it’s not for a biblical reason.) Salt must not lose its distinctiveness: If salt becomes tasteless it is useless. Likewise, a Christians who is worldly, lukewarm, or hidden fails to fulfill the calling to influence culture. We are called to be visible: outflowing ministry, godly witness, and consistent character so we function as salt.

This doesn’t mean that you have to become a missionary, start an orphanage, organize a movement, or run for congress (though all these can be good if that’s what God has called you to). Being salt and light can be as simple as putting Christ at the center of everything you do and being a Godly witness in everyday life.  “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”  

2 Corinthians 5:15 

I CAN SO ALL THINGS

Philippians 4:13; I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

One of my favorite Bible verses ever, Philippians 4:13 is perfect motivation to keep me going when I feel like giving up. The interesting thing about it is, it can make you feel like anything is possible because we follow Christ. If we put our mind to it, we can do it. I have a little question for this though, is this REALLY what the verse means? Let’s take a quick look. 

Now, as we must do with all verses, and really anything in general, we must look at the context. While verse 13 is very widely known, how many people actually pay attention to the other verses in here? 

Here are verses 11 and 12:

11 Not that I speak in respect for want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. 

Paul is saying here he learned how to be full and hungry, to have a lot and to have a little, and still be content with what he has. Then he proceeds to follow it up with the iconic verse 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. 

So what is the message Paul is trying to convey? 

Well, I can tell you what he DOESN’T mean. He isn’t saying that since you are now a Christian you are bound to become a millionaire, be the most popular person in the world, or even be able to fly. Paul didn’t write the verse to say that if you are a Christian you now have a cheat code to being successful. There is a pretty good chance that we DON’T end up being richer than Elon Musk just because we are Christians. The “I can do all things” isn’t stating we can fly..

What it means is we can go through all things in this life because Christ is our strength. Paul is saying we can go through everything, good and bad, through Christ. We can get through the hard times, and we can enjoy the good times. We can get through suffering, and we can live through everything being good. More than that, we can be content in any and every circumstance. 

So before you go and start flapping your arms and quoting Philippians 4:13 to yourself, remember, the chances of us flying just because Jesus is our strength are slim. Our mission as Christians is to serve Christ, so He will give us the strength to do so in the good and the bad. The verse is just a reminder that when we feel like we should give up, we CAN keep going, because He gives us the strength to do so in both the good and the bad. 

-Christopher Haney