Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. –Philippians 4:6
As I was preparing for a Bible reading plan I am about to begin with Love God Greatly on the book of Ester, I saw this verse that was to be assigned for a memory verse. This verse has spoken to me before, and once again God has used the verse to bring peace back into my life. After just having a baby, changing from full time to part time in my job, loosing a co-worker and my husband beginning work again, I found myself loosing sight of who should be leading my day and plans.
We all have moments in our lives when things seem to be deep and overwhelming, and we begin to feel the stress flooding all areas of our lives. The more you try to take control of whatever is weighing heavy on your mind and heart, the more you loose sleep and peace. Whenever there are big shifts in our family’s schedule or big decisions to be made, my first response is to grasp on hard to seek control and come up with a plan…. MY PLAN of ACTION.
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? – Matthew 6:27
I start to make my lists and spend time pondering all different outcomes that would result depending on our decisions or even things that are out of our control. If A happens… then B, C, or D could happen!? What if … I could… I might have to…. The thoughts run on and on. In these very moments is when God is calling us to seek him. Yet this is when so often we hold on so tightly to control.
PRAY. PRAY. PRAY…. And Pray Some MORE!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. –Philippians 4:6
When I begin to feel anxious, I lift my worries up to God. He can carry any burden and help me find peace. He wants us to come to him, just as a child seeks help from a parent. We give our children comfort, love and guidance. God is the Dad that will reassure you that you can get through this. He is the Dad that will give you advice and guidance that will help you see your way through those times of uncertainty.
As you seek God in prayer and in His word, don’t hold anything back. No prayer is too small or big. He says “…present your requests…”. Let God be the driver for a while and experience the peace that comes with knowing that He has the wheel. Trust God. He is a loving and in control of all things. We will still have tough choices to make and trials in our lives, but God will see us through the good and bad seasons. I can rest well knowing now that God will guide me using HIS PLAN of ACTION!
– Jamie Cook