Antidote to Worry: Prayer
Worry, anxiety, stress …these words seem all too familiar lately.
The news is filled with uncertainty:
- The changing economy
- Increased number of home foreclosures
- A halt on the sale of foreclosed homes
- The ups and downs of the stock market
- Political elections and promises made
- Increasing health care costs
What are Christians to do? Do we wring our hands, join in and worry too?
The title of our sermon in church this past week was “Why Worry?” Pastor George shared the antidote to worry and it was …prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As believers, we have the awesome privilege to have a personal relationship with the One true living God. He is sovereign, unlike any earthly president or world leader. He is the Creator of all things and knows all things. He sees beyond the outward appearance into the heart of man. He knows the beginning and the end. Nothing takes Him by surprise.
His Word tells us to:
- Stop worrying
- Pray about everything
- Share our specific requests with Him
Like the parent/child relationship, God wants me to come to Him and tell Him what’s on my mind. Does He already know? Yes, but His Word says I am to present my requests to Him. That’s a wonderful part of relationship.
When I pray I tell the Lord about the things that concern me. I may ask for help to solve a problem. Or I may pray for salvation for a loved one or healing for a friend who is ill. I’ve learned to trust God with the answer instead of telling Him my expectations. After all, His perspective is so much higher than mine. As I spend time in prayer, He often begins to change my perspective.
As I obey and bring everything to Him in prayer, it’s amazing how His supernatural peace replaces fear and worry. In my humanness, I sometimes vacillate back to worry but when I do I remember to stop and pray.
My friends Jill and Scott shared a beautiful illustration that continues to stick with me. Their daughter Naomi was having trouble controlling her emotions. After all, she was only two years old at the time. Whenever she started to fuss, they taught her to bow her head immediately and ask God to help her. She probably didn’t understand but she obeyed.
What a great lesson for me! Whenever my mind starts to wander into worry, I stop and bow my head asking God for help. I always seem to learn best as a child. So thank you Naomi!
How about you? Do you believe God when He tells you to pray about everything? Do you believe His promise of peace that surpasses all understanding? Have you experienced it personally?
Blessings and love,
Sweet peace is what I always find with my Father.
Beautiful thoughts…prayer is certainly the best and only response to the stresses that we all face daily. Today I will remember to pray for those who don’t pray, the lost sheep.
Debbie – that is a beautiful post and I will be praying for you and others reading it today – to rest in the finished work of our Savior. He is mighty to save no matter what is going on in our lives!
Thanks for sharing our girl. That photo is pretty cute!
Love you!
Jill
So beautiful post like you my dear friend Debbie!
Wonderful words of wisdom with a perfect example of how our faith should be as a child’s faith is…Naomi is learing early to trust and obey. That’s a good lesson for me, too!
“Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
Living for Him, Joan
Debbie…your post is exactly what has been on my heart lately. Praying thru our anxieties. That picture is priceless! I couldn’t help to think the joy of seeing that little one pray is EXACTLY how God feels when He sees His children cry out to Him! Such joy! 🙂
Beautiful words here, Debbie!
There is nothing like spending time with Him and communing with His Heart and being refreshed by His Spirit!
Thanks for sharing!
Love and Hugs!
Jackie
I needed to read this today!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Debbie,
I so needed to read this today. I haven’t been blogging very much lately, so I know I was lead here today for this very message. Thank you.
What words of comfort to remember,too.
Blessings,
Lynn
What a beautiful post! I can never be reminded of this truth too often. I cannot imagine living life without the assurance of His Word and the power of prayer. Hugs to you!
What a great example… Many times I do not understand why..but out of obedience I must trust in Him that He knows best. Thank you for this great reminder.
God has been teaching me all year to trust. I still have the tendency to worry but I continue to learn to pray and lean on Him and not my own understanding.
Thanks for this great post.
Love,
Bethany
What a sweet picture to remind us to come to Hm with all our worries; as His children. Yes, I too worry, but I present my concerns to Him.
Thank you for sharing from your heart, Debbie.
It sounds so easy, to take all of our worried thoughts to prayer. Sometimes I get stuck in worry, forgetting that Jesus paid the price for it and that it’s not mine to own. I long to live a worry, stress-free life! Thank you for this post.
Wonderful words of encouragement. It’s easy to pray for others, but I find it hard to pray for my own needs. I worry about them instead.
What a beautiful picture of this precious little one, doing what her parents have taught her, just the way Jesus teaches us, to bow our hearts and commit our circumstances to HIm. Sometimes we try to complicate the very simple answers that even a child obeys.
Love this Debbie!
Hugs!