Can we pray for you today?

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)

If I asked you to identify any conflict in your life that is concerning you today, who or what jumps to your mind?

There is a tool we can use daily in helping us resolve conflict. Conflict very often reflects unmet needs.

Think about it for a moment. Recall the last encounter you had with conflict. Most of us don’t have to dig very far into our memories. Sometimes the unmet need is very basic and easy to remedy such as the need for sleep or food. We often see this with our children. Regular sleeping and eating does a world of good.

Yet conflict is often much deeper. The need to feel valued and heard or the need to be accepted or respected can cause conflict from a wounded heart. Control and manipulation can stem from an angry heart, rooted in a need to forgive others or oneself.

We all have ashes in our lives. A wise friend of mine has said, “Listen for the ashes in people’s lives and then pray into them.” Ashes exist where hope has burned up and need remains. Think about where conflict exists in your life and ask God to help you identify any unmet need, whether yours or someone else’s, that may exist at the root of it. Begin to pray into those needs.

The deep needs of our heart can only be adequately met by God. He is the one who promised to bring “beauty out of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). When you see potential conflict lurking on your horizon… stop… and use the opportunity as a tool to build into your own life or to pray into another’s. Look honestly at yourself. Grow from it in these four ways:

Give God the opportunity to reveal to your heart any unmet need that may be at the root of this conflict. Be open to seeing your own need and be open to praying into the needs of another. It will help dissolve hostility too.

Recognize that God is the only One who can meet all of your needs.

Open your heart to God’s help, asking Him to be the Source you need for that unmet need in your life. Bring another Christian alongside who can pray for you in this as you move toward God’s healing and finding “beauty from ashes.”

Walk beside another in prayer as you pray for their unmet needs. Even if they may not be open to you, you can still pray into their life, asking God to be their Source in meeting the needs of their soul.

God invites us to ask for His help in our needs.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

God promises to be the Source for all of our unmet needs.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

As we seek God in our conflicts and allow Him to reveal where we are needy, He will supply what we need and we will be equipped, in greater ways, to extend our hands to the needy in our pathway.

Father God, thank you that You are the Source for all of our needs…. for all of my needs today. Help me to allow You to GROW me in and through the deep needs of my heart. I thank You in the name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: Can you identify any conflict in your life that is concerning you today? Think about where conflict exists in your life and ask God to help you identify any unmet need, whether yours or someone else’s, that may exist at the root of it.

What do you fear and why? Take this online study to think about it.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

We are wise to check what is residing in that well-spring. Among the many things we find in our hearts there will always be one of two very specific things in the lead – faith or fear.

One will always be on the top of the heap. They cannot both occupy the same place. If faith resides there your well-spring will pour out peace and confidence in God’s care for you, even in the midst of uncertain times. If fear resides there anxiety and depression will be the natural outward flow.

Faith or Fear.  Every day we choose.  Many times a day we choose. When the evening news brings signs of foreboding unemployment, financial crisis and uncertainty tomorrow, fear is the natural response. That well-spring will pour forth worry and stress.  When relationships are on edge and illness or hardship looms, anxiety churns within us creating it’s own downward cycle.  Faith over-rides fear.  Fear over-rides faith.

God tells us exactly what to do when fear grips our hearts and takes over our minds. Left unchecked it will scatter our faith like confetti in the wind and leave us anchor-less in the storms of life. Listen to God’s very specific instruction from Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).

“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 hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”

What a simple formula! Not easy – but simple. Worry is a call to prayer. The moment you become aware of that churning anxiety over ANYTHING, go immediately to your Heavenly Father.  Present your requests to Him. Then turn your thoughts and prayers to thanksgiving.

Thank Him for His promise to never forsake you. Thank Him for the power of His name and for His intimate knowledge of every detail. Thank Him for His track record in your life when He has been there for you in the past. Thank Him that He works all things together for your good as you trust Him. Thank Him that He is at work establishing His kingdom in your life.

Your faith and trust in God will over-ride your fear and His peace will actually put a guard around your heart and mind so fear cannot over run you. It’s supernatural and it’s real.

Father God, I confess that fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. Fill my heart with child like faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: What is residing in the wellspring of your heart – faith or fear? How can faith over-ride fear?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Why Worry?

About the Author Gail Rodgers