Worry, Worry, Worry (Part 2)

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praise shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

This word seems to continuously be popping up in my life these days. Do not think for a moment that things always go right with me. Do not think that I have it all figured out. I do not always understand God, or His ways, but I am beginning to come to a place of knowing that worry and fretting my day away is not going to change a situation. It can only steal my day and my joy. There have been days when I have had to crank up the praise and worship music and focus on the good God has done for me, refusing to worry about my circumstances. God has never let me down. That is not to say that I have always had everything I wanted, but I have always had what I needed. Because my husband is in business for himself, and following the path God is leading him on, we have had to walk out some serious faith. I could share story after story of our faith walk this year. Every time a bill has come due there was always a way to pay it. When things have broken, like a car, there has always been a way to fix it. When groceries were needed, there has always been enough. When we wanted to go away for our anniversary, there was a way to afford it. Have we done everything perfect, no. Have we tried to follow what God wants for us, yes! Jesus did not say seek first the kingdom, and follow this step by step formula, and don’t make any mistakes, and all these things will be added to you. No, he simply said “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seek him, and have the peace that all things you need will be taken care of.

I want to share a prayer that I read today from Bob Gass When you find yourself worrying, and you do not feel peace, this prayer will remind you that God is and God will.

“Father, You told me not to be afraid because You are with me, You will uphold me, and those who come against me will not succeed. (See Is 41:10-11). You said no evil would come upon me, nor any plague touch my home for You have ordered Your angels to protect me. (See Ps 91:10-11). You said when I walk through rivers of difficulty (when I’m ‘in over my head’) You won’t let me drown, and when I walk through fires of adversity (when ‘the heat is on’) You won’t allow me to get burned for You are watching over me. (See Is 43:2-3). You said no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (See Is 54:17). I cannot keep the enemy’s weapons from being formed, but I know You will keep them from prospering. You said if I ask anything according to Your will, You would grant my request. (See 1Jn 5:14-15). You said when I walk in obedience before You I will be blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out, blessed when I lie down and blessed when I get up. (See Dt 28:6). You told me to give all my troubles to You and You would take care of me. (See 1Pe 5:7). So here they are! Today I’m standing on Your Word. You said it! I believe it! That settles it! Amen.”