Archive for January 2014
How Anxious Are You?
How often do you pray?
Read the following from Philippians 4:6-7:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do you remember the song, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”? Here are just a couple of verses from that song:
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Do you see the connection? Peace and prayer go hand in hand. Prayer is the greatest weapon all believers have at their disposal. It can be done anytime, anyplace, anywhere. It soothes, it calms, it gives reassurance. In short, prayer gives peace.
No matter what the problem or situation is in which you find yourself, prayer can bring peace in the midst of the storm, but there is a catch. In praying do not just rely on your prayer. Instead, your prayer should lead you into trusting in Jesus for the answer no matter what the answer might be.
You see, prayer is not about just getting the result that “you” want, no, it is trusting in Jesus to provide the answer that He wants to give you. The peace from your prayer comes in the knowledge that you have given over your worries, your concerns, your desires, even your joy’s – with thanksgivings – to the only One Who can take your prayer and turn it into something that not only brings praise to the Almighty but is also something that is in your best interest.
When you worry, when you’re anxious, when you need relief and don’t know the answer take these concerns to the Lord. Let Him know what is bothering you, tell Him your thoughts and thank Him for the privilege of being His child and that you trust Him for the answer. It is when you know that the Creator of the Universe has it all in control and that He knows how you feel and sees you trusting in Him, by the prayers that you give with thanksgiving for the answer, is when His peace will come upon you and He will guard your thoughts and quiet your heart and give you such a peace that it will be hard to understand how He can be so loving and caring about you.
Why bear the pain or forfeit peace, you can know and feel the loving hand of God upon your life, and He will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This new year start it off with prayer. Start each and everyday with prayer and as you lay down to sleep at night talk with God and thank Him for your day. let Him know that you trust in Him and are very grateful for Jesus being in your life. Prayer, with trust, can bring peace to your heart and what a way to start the new year.
If you know Jesus, you can know true peace. It is just a matter of talking with Him and then trusting in His answer. There is no greater peace than in knowing that Jesus loves you and will provide for you with what He knows is best for you. You really can know the true peace given to you by God Himself.
How anxious are you? Ask yourself that question again after you pray – you just might be surprised at the answer… 🙂
Riff's Christian Journal 