Worry is the interest we pay on the prayerless life. Worry happens when we keep our problems to ourselves or present our problems to the puny deities of money, muscle, or humankind.
Peace happens when we pray. The act of prayer moves us from a spirit of concern to a spirit of gratitude. Even before our prayers are answered, our hearts begin to change. So take these steps:
• Take your worries to God. Set aside some time each day to pour out your concerns, complaints, fears, and woes to him. Tell him what is keeping you awake. Don’t suppress; express! If you find yourself worrying about something during the day, write it down so you can bring it up in your next prayer session. Take everything to God and then . . . leave it with him. When the intrusive thought reenters your mind, remind yourself, I left that one with God.
• Find a promise to match your problem. When Moses prayed for the wayward Israelites, he sought God’s favor, reminding God of what he had promised: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self” (Ex. 32:13). Moses prayed for God’s will based on God’s Word.
• Pray specifically. Tell God exactly what troubles you so that when he answers the prayer, you will know.
VERSE FOR REFLECTION
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)
PRAY IT THROUGH
Almighty God,
Bolster my prayer life! Make me persistent, courageous, and specific. May I depend on communion with you as much as I depend on the air that I breathe. Teach me a little more each day what it looks like to “pray without ceasing.”
In your Son’s name, amen.