Can we pray for you?

There is much to keep you feeling anxious and worried these days…… yet God calls you to thanksgiving and peace. Let the truth of His word change your anxious heart and mind.

“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” (Philippians 4: 6 & 7).

Dear God, please help me to remember that worry is a call to prayer. When anxious thoughts give way to fear in my heart may I remember to let my faith take the upper hand and cover over my fear with the power of Your word.

Fill my heart and mind with the recollection of all I have to say “thank you” for.

Thank you that guarding my heart is not just my responsibility, but YOU promise to guard my heart and mind with Your amazing peace as I turn my worried thoughts into faith filled prayers that You will preside over the details of my life.

I praise and thank you in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Questions: How can we keep our minds from being anxious but rather filled with peace? What is causing you anxiety?

Domonic, our two and a half year old grandson was “helping” Papa (Grandpa) do some much-needed spring clean up in the back yard. Our backyard is terraced, so when we went to the second layer he started to cry. I asked him why he was crying, and he said, “Me Scaredy!”  It turned out he was scared because he had seen the wild deer wander across that part of the yard in the past, and he was afraid that they might come while we were there. I sat down and enfolded him in my arms, then asked, “Do you think Papa can take care of you? Do you think your Papa can chase the deer away?” He calmed down and seemed to like the idea that Papa could chase the “scary” deer away.

I realized I am not so different than Domonic. I have fears, too. I attempt to deal with fears in a variety of ways. I don’t tend to cry like Domonic did, but I get mad, worried, withdrawn, defensive, over analytical or immobilized, just to mention a few. In the same way that I enfolded Domonic in my arms and assured him I could take care of him, I need to experience God’s embrace in moments of fear and be reassured.

I remember one dark star-filled night walking alone, perplexed and with tears running down my face, crying out to God for help. His response was not verbal but it was so clear. It was as if God was saying to me, His child, “Who made these stars and put them in place? Do you think I’m big enough to handle your problems and fears?” In that moment my fears seemed to shrink, and in a fresh way I understood God’s presence and power. The problem did not go away but I had confidence to move forward knowing God would care of me.

In a world that has many uncertainties the words from Psalm 147 can bring comfort. God is big enough to comfort His child in the midst of all possible fears!

“Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. The Lord supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:1-6 (NIV).

Questions: How do you respond in the face of fear? What steps can you start to take to help you face the future positively and without fear?

About the Author Mike Woodard

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Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Julie’s face was set in a worried, tight expression, a look I had seen on her often in recent months.

“What’s the matter, Julie?” I asked.

“Oh, the doctor just told me I have gastritis!” she exclaimed. “I’ve read that it can become chronic, and can have some painful consequences!”

“Well, if this is your first attack, maybe it won’t become chronic,” I said. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. That might make it worse.”

“But you’re not me!” Julie returned. “The doctor suggested that I try to avoid tension as much as possible. Avoid tension! How can I do that when I have to work in the same office with that impossible woman? Whenever she gets a chance, she sticks her verbal knife in my back!”

“Why don’t you find another job?”

“That’s not as easy as it sounds,” said Julie. “I’ve worked for this company for twenty-five years. I’ve built up seniority, as well as my salary. This woman has been working there for only a year. Why should I let her drive me out?”

“Well, it certainly sounds like a bad situation, and I’ll pray with you about it,” I promised. “You know, I had a problem like that in an office once.”

“How did you handle it?” Julie asked.

“I asked the Lord to help me to answer with kindness whenever the other girl took a stab at me,” I told her.

Julie nodded. “Well, I’ve tried to be nice to this woman. Maybe if I ask the Lord, He will show me what else to do.”

“Are there any other things that might cause tension in your life?” I asked.

“I have a lot to do,” answered Julie. “I’m ‘on the go’ all the time. On my lunch hour, I run downtown to do some shopping. I belong to several organizations and hold offices in them. Also, I just bought a new car, and keeping up with the payments is difficult. I’ve been taking in odd jobs on the side. There just seems to be so many things to worry about!”

“Sounds as if the devil has you in a corner,” I said. “Look, I have a book dealing with tension. I’ll loan it to you. It might help.”

The following Sunday I brought the book to church to give to Julie. And I prayed daily about her situation at the office and other problems. Several weeks later I saw her in Sunday school class. “How’s it going now?” I asked.

“Much better!” she exclaimed, smiling. “I can hardly believe it, but things are so different at the office. That girl’s attitude toward me is changing. And that book has helped me so much!”

So many people carry unnecessary heavy burdens in our rush-rush world today, burdens that actually make them sick. Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Questions: What unnecessary burdens are you carrying? What is God asking you to do about it?

About the Author Muriel Larson

Domonic, our two and a half year old grandson was “helping” Papa (Grandpa) do some much-needed spring clean up in the back yard. Our backyard is terraced, so when we went to the second layer he started to cry. I asked him why he was crying, and he said, “Me Scaredy!”  It turned out he was scared because he had seen the wild deer wander across that part of the yard in the past, and he was afraid that they might come while we were there. I sat down and enfolded him in my arms, then asked, “Do you think Papa can take care of you? Do you think your Papa can chase the deer away?” He calmed down and seemed to like the idea that Papa could chase the “scary” deer away.

I realized I am not so different than Domonic. I have fears, too. I attempt to deal with fears in a variety of ways. I don’t tend to cry like Domonic did, but I get mad, worried, withdrawn, defensive, over analytical or immobilized, just to mention a few. In the same way that I enfolded Domonic in my arms and assured him I could take care of him, I need to experience God’s embrace in moments of fear and be reassured.

I remember one dark star-filled night walking alone, perplexed and with tears running down my face, crying out to God for help. His response was not verbal but it was so clear. It was as if God was saying to me, His child, “Who made these stars and put them in place? Do you think I’m big enough to handle your problems and fears?” In that moment my fears seemed to shrink, and in a fresh way I understood God’s presence and power. The problem did not go away but I had confidence to move forward knowing God would care of me.

In a world that has many uncertainties the words from Psalm 147 can bring comfort. God is big enough to comfort His child in the midst of all possible fears!

“Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. The Lord supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:1-6 (NIV).

Questions: How do you respond in the face of fear? What steps can you start to take to help you face the future positively and without fear?

About the Author Mike Woodard

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Help for Hard Times, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Domonic, our two and a half year old grandson was “helping” Papa (Grandpa) do some much-needed spring clean up in the back yard. Our backyard is terraced, so when we went to the second layer he started to cry. I asked him why he was crying, and he said, “Me Scaredy!”  It turned out he was scared because he had seen the wild deer wander across that part of the yard in the past, and he was afraid that they might come while we were there. I sat down and enfolded him in my arms, then asked, “Do you think Papa can take care of you? Do you think your Papa can chase the deer away?” He calmed down and seemed to like the idea that Papa could chase the “scary” deer away.

I realized I am not so different than Domonic. I have fears, too. I attempt to deal with fears in a variety of ways. I don’t tend to cry like Domonic did, but I get mad, worried, withdrawn, defensive, over analytical or immobilized, just to mention a few. In the same way that I enfolded Domonic in my arms and assured him I could take care of him, I need to experience God’s embrace in moments of fear and be reassured.

I remember one dark star-filled night walking alone, perplexed and with tears running down my face, crying out to God for help. His response was not verbal but it was so clear. It was as if God was saying to me, His child, “Who made these stars and put them in place? Do you think I’m big enough to handle your problems and fears?” In that moment my fears seemed to shrink, and in a fresh way I understood God’s presence and power. The problem did not go away but I had confidence to move forward knowing God would care of me.

In a world that has many uncertainties the words from Psalm 147 can bring comfort. God is big enough to comfort His child in the midst of all possible fears!

“Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. The Lord supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:1-6 (NIV).

Questions: How do you respond in the face of fear? What steps can you start to take to help you face the future positively and without fear?

About the Author Mike Woodard