“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape our 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.” Philippians 4:6-7
I love this phrase in Philippians “instead of worrying, pray.”
I used to allow my thoughts to become a run-away train. One worry would lead to another and before I knew it, I would have worked myself into frenzy over something.
I would have a disagreement with my husband and fear and worry would creep into my thoughts. Then, “what ifs” would steal my peace, and worry would settle down in my heart.
God gives us a great antidote for worry; He gives us prayer.
When life throws us curve balls, when the diagnosis isn’t what we wanted to hear, when the circumstances are out of our control, we can pray.
When we pray, our focus begins to shift from the situation or circumstance, onto our Father God. We begin to put our eyes on Him.
There is a great exchange that occurs when we begin to pray and place our focus on Him. God exchanges our worry for peace. I love the way The Message says, “A sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.”
I think of telling my four year old to settle down: “Settle down, it’s okay, it’s not the end of the world.”
I have a larger perspective on life than my four year old, since I have 30 some years more life experience than she does.
Can you image the perspective God has? He knows the beginning to the end of the universe; He sees the bigger picture. When we pray, He will settle us down. Like the crying baby you bounce and shush, He holds you close to His heart and desires to bring peace to the chaos. And all you have to do pray.
Prayer: Father I thank you that you know beginning from end, that you are all powerful, and that you desire that I walk in peace. Today I bring to you the things that are heavy on my heart, those things that are causing me worry and fear, and I am telling you about them. I thank you that you desire to give me peace. I accept your peace today as you envelop me in your arms.
Author: Charity DeVries
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