Peace in Prayer

From Worry to Worship

When Worry Strikes, Turn to Prayer

Don’t Worry about Anything; 

Instead, Pray about Everything. 

Tell God what you need, 

And Thank Him for all He has done.

Philippians 4:6

Prayer is more than just a spiritual discipline; it is a pathway to peace. By following the example of Hezekiah and approaching God with honesty, gratitude, and trust, we open our hearts to His transformative power. Instead of letting worry control us, we can choose to worship and invite God's presence into our circumstances. As we commit our problems to Him in prayer, we find that He is faithful to work in ways we could never imagine. Let us embrace the promise of Philippians 4:6 and turn our worries into prayers, trusting that God will turn our struggles into triumphs.

 The Futility of Worry

Worrying can be a natural response to problems, but it is also an ineffective one. Worry tends to magnify our problems, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 6:27, asking, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The implied answer is no. Worry doesn’t change our circumstances; it only affects our peace of mind.

Turning to Prayer

Instead of letting worry take control, Philippians 4:6 encourages us to pray about everything. Prayer shifts our focus from our problems to God, who is greater than any challenge we face. It invites Him into our situation and opens the door for His peace and wisdom to guide us.

Prayer is not just a ritual or a last resort; it is a powerful tool for transforming our mindset and circumstances. When we pray, we are acknowledging our dependence on God and trusting in His ability to handle what we cannot. It’s a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.

The Example of Hezekiah

King Hezekiah's story in 2 Kings 19 is a powerful illustration of how prayer can change circumstances and invite God's intervention. When Jerusalem was threatened by the mighty Assyrian army led by King Sennacherib, Hezekiah faced a situation that seemed impossible to overcome. Rather than succumbing to fear or relying solely on military strength and alliances, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer.

Hezekiah's Prayer

In 2 Kings 19:14-15, we read: "Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 'Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.'"

Hezekiah’s prayer was characterized by several key elements:

1. Recognition of God’s Sovereignty: He acknowledged God’s supreme authority over all nations and creation, which reinforced his faith that God was capable of handling the crisis.

2. Honest Presentation of the Problem: By spreading out the threatening letter before God, Hezekiah demonstrated transparency and a willingness to let God take control of the situation.

3. Appeal to God's Honor: Hezekiah prayed for deliverance not just for the sake of Jerusalem, but so that all kingdoms would know that the Lord alone is God (2 Kings 19:19). This reflects a desire for God’s glory to be revealed through the deliverance.

4. Dependence on God: Hezekiah expressed total reliance on God, understanding that only divine intervention could save them from the Assyrian threat.

 God's Response

In response to Hezekiah's sincere and faith-filled prayer, God sent the prophet Isaiah to deliver a message of hope and assurance. Isaiah prophesied that the Assyrian king would not enter Jerusalem and that God would defend the city for His own sake and the sake of David, His servant (2 Kings 19:32-34).

God fulfilled this promise by sending an angel who struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing King Sennacherib to retreat (2 Kings 19:35-36). This miraculous victory underscored the power of prayer and God’s ability to deliver His people in seemingly hopeless situations.

 How to Pray About Your Problems

1. Be Honest with God: Bring your concerns to God with honesty and openness. He knows what you are going through and is ready to listen.

2. Express Gratitude: Even in difficult times, find things to be thankful for. Gratitude shifts our perspective and helps us recognize God’s blessings.

3. Ask for Guidance: Seek God’s wisdom and direction for your situation. Trust that He will guide you to the right path.

4. Trust in God’s Timing: Remember that God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our own expectations. Be patient and trust that He is at work.

5. Surrender Control: Let go of the need to control the outcome and leave it in God’s hands. Surrendering control allows God to work in ways we might not anticipate.

Prayer is more than just a spiritual discipline; it is a pathway to peace. By following the example of Hezekiah and approaching God with honesty, gratitude, and trust, we open our hearts to His transformative power. Instead of letting worry control us, we can choose to worship and invite God's presence into our circumstances. As we commit our problems to Him in prayer, we find that He is faithful to work in ways we could never imagine. Let us embrace the promise of Philippians 4:6 and turn our worries into prayers, trusting that God will turn our struggles into triumphs.

Heavenly Father, 

We come before You with hearts burdened by the worries of this world. We lay our concerns at Your feet, knowing that You are sovereign over all things. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and timing, and to find peace in Your presence. Guide us, strengthen us, and transform our fears into faith. May we always turn to You first, knowing that You are our refuge and strength. Thank You for Your love, grace, and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

Beyond Worry

Navigating Life with Faith and Trust

 

The LORD is my Strength and my Shield;

My Heart trusts in Him, and I am Helped.
Psalm 28:7

In the tapestry of biblical verses, there are threads of wisdom that weave through the complexities of our human existence, offering guidance, solace, and inspiration. As we reflect in the Psalms and words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew we glean profound insights into the themes of trust, reliance, and the transformative power of faith in God. Psalm 28:7, Psalm 84:5, and Matthew 6:26 collectively invite us on a journey of contemplation and spiritual growth, encouraging a shift in perspective towards an attitude of trust and gratitude.

Shelter & Support:

The Psalms opens a window into our intimate relationship between us and God our Father (Psalm 28:7). The metaphors of "Shield" and "Strength” evoke a sense of protection and support, emphasizing that our Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit not only fortifies our inner being but also stands as a steadfast shield in times of need. Trusting in God becomes a profound act of faith, symbolizing a connection that goes beyond the tangible and reaches into the depths of our Heart. This reciprocal relationship, where the heart's trust draws God’s help, offers comfort and reassurance in the face of life's uncertainties. It serves as a timeless declaration of faith, a reminder that in moments of both joy and challenge, we can find strength and help in the unwavering embrace of the LORD.

Blessedness in Dependence:

The words of Psalm 84:5 echo with a proclamation of blessedness, rooted not in self-sufficiency but in a deep dependence on God's strength in our journey through life. The verse challenges the prevailing narrative of finding strength solely within ourselves. Here, spiritual wisdom unfolds as we accept finding strength in God a transformative act. The message of this verse extends an invitation to all people, urging them to reflect on where they draw their strength and to recognize the inherent blessing in relying on the Lord. In complete humility, an openness to our Father’s assistance is fostered, leading to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Lord. These sacred words serves as an inspiration for gratitude, encouraging us to appreciate the spiritual richness that comes from relying on God's strength.

Learning from Nature:

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the carefree attitude of birds to underscore the abnormality of worrying. Drawing attention to the birds of the air, He invites us to observe their instinctive nature, highlighting that they neither sow nor reap, yet God provides for them. This observation becomes a powerful lesson in trusting God's provision and care. The contrast between the carefree existence of birds and the anxious nature of humans challenges our tendencies to worry about the future. The emphasis on God's provision and the rhetorical question regarding our values in comparison to nature reinforce the immeasurable love God has for humanity. By encouraging a shift in perspective, Matthew 6:26 invites us to embrace an attitude of trust akin to the carefree existence of birds, pondering on the transformative impact of surrendering worries to God's provision and care.

In the Psalms and the teachings of Jesus, we discover a tapestry of timeless wisdom that speaks to the core of our human existence. Psalm 28:7, Psalm 84:5, and Matthew 6:26 collectively invite us to trust in God, finding strength, blessedness, and freedom from worry in the embrace of a loving and caring God. As we reflect on these verses, let us embark on a journey of spiritual growth, recognizing the transformative power of faith in shaping our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father we bow in your presence with hearts open to the wisdom found in Your Word. We find solace in the assurance that You, Lord, are our Strength and Shield. May this understanding resonate within our spirits, creating a sanctuary of trust where our hearts find refuge in Your unwavering care.

Blessed Creator of us all, we acknowledge the profound blessedness that arises from dependence on Your strength. In this moment of prayer, we surrender our self-reliance and humbly recognize the richness of Your provision. Grant us the grace to dwell in Your strength, finding true blessedness in the shelter of Your loving embrace.

Lord, we learn from the carefree existence of the birds and the bees, finding assurance that worrying is so unlike the rest of your creation, which lives in complete trust in your provision. As we navigate the complexities of life, instill in us the wisdom to release our anxieties and embrace an attitude of trust just like these creatures. Let our hearts be receptive to Your guidance. Lead us away from worry and towards a deeper understanding of the immeasurable value You place on our lives. In gratitude, we offer this prayer as a fragrant offering, seeking Your transformative power in our lives. From worry to worship, from self-reliance to dependence, mold us into vessels of faith, strength, and blessedness.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

Why worry when you can pray?

Why worry when you can Pray?

We live in times that are filled with stress, worry and anxiety. In the world there has been an alarming increase in the number of suicides. According to WHO one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds or 800,000 people die from suicide every year. In fact, suicide is now the second leading cause of death for American teenagers and the tenth leading cause of death for Americans, overall. Death by despair is driving the youth down the path of self-destruction. Broken homes, and broken lives lead us to no longer want to pursue meaningful relationships of trust at home, church or community. Suicide is a mental health problem. Seek treatment if you are depressed for extended periods of time, it is not your fault, maybe chemical imbalances in the body. Some of the warning signs of suicide are increased drug and alcohol use, aggressive behavior, withdrawal from friends, family and community, dramatic mood swings or impulsive or reckless behavior. You can be at the height of your career or profession but still have no inner peace. This sense of emptiness and frustration fills the hearts of even very successful pop stars and movie magnets. Loneliness has been identified as a leading cause for suicidal death.

As Christians we have to find ways to keep our hearts and minds open to the warning signs that present themselves in the thoughts and feelings of our own lives, and the lives of our family and friends. We live in a world that is full of temptations that over time if left unchecked can cause anyone to slip into the use or abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit drugs.

Some worries in our hearts and minds can make us sad or mad, and others can stimulate or spark us on to higher endeavors. All of us carry with us in our hearts a bag of worries, some, which are chronic, and others that come and go at the speed of thought. There are some of us whose minds are constantly bogged down with financial burdens. There are many whose hearts feel that they have not achieved all that they hoped they could in their life. There are others whose minds are stressed about their children or parents or work or business. There some broken hearted people who feel “I just don't understand why you don't love me the way I do!”. There are others who get stuck in a rut Crying, hoping and waiting that someday they can have a meaningful relationship with the one they love.

  

When our fears overwhelm our hearts we have to find ways to deal with them. If they become a chronic problem, that settles on the mind like a cloud what do we do? How do we as followers of Christ find ways to keep our hearts and minds to stay calm and focused? There are so many situations we find ourselves in, which are difficult that causes our hearts and minds to start to worry. The cure to fear, worry, and loneliness is faith, hope and love. Jesus says in John14:1, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust also in me.” How do we learn to trust and build loving relationships in times of trials and troubles?

Jesus asks, Are you not valuable to God the Father ? 

Jesus said could we add a single moment to our lives if we were to worry (Matthew 6:25-31)? He further says do the lilies of the field worry about what they wear (Matthew 6:28)? Has not God provided for them? It is the faith to know that God loves us and cares for us that gives us the confidence that we have no need to worry. God will provide for all our needs.Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of the things we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Jeremiah the prophet says God knew us way before we were born or conceived in our mother's womb. (Jeremiah 1:5). God is the all knowing God. God has a plan for our lives. When we are overwhelmed or discouraged we remember God knows us and loves us intimately, God can give our lives purpose and meaning if we turn to him. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-38). We have to work hard to build a strong relationship of trust with God.

How many of you see God as a friend? God refers to Abraham as his friend (Isaiah 41:8). Abraham’s faith in God endured him to be his friend. Jesus calls us his friends, if we do what he has taught us in the scriptures (John 15:14). Isn’t it comforting and heartening to listen to Jesus saying you are my friends. If we love him wont we do what he has asked us to do? The hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” has been a source of comfort and strength for Christians down through the ages. The hymn was originally written by a preacher Joseph Scriven as a poem to comfort his mother in 1855. She was living in Ireland and he had moved to Canada. Scriven himself had met with personal tragedies of his own and in his brokenness he wrote these heartfelt words that comfort us at times when we feel broken, empty or lonely. The hymn has been translated into multiple languages and is an old favorite even today.

All things bright and beautiful!

Do we find time to enjoy God’s creation, the skies, seas, trees, rivers and creatures? Do we see in them the loving hand of God shaping something of beauty and grandeur? Do we have a friend or spouse we can confide in? Do we have a support group we can voice our fears and joys?

God has created us to love and be loved. How can we be good stewards of love in our lives? How can we find ways to let the sunshine of God’s love stream into our lives to make it beautiful in his sight? We must build bonds of love that bring joy and light into our hearts and empower us to live lives that are beautiful in the sight of God. Find Joy in listening to the soothing sounds of nature, the calming music of instruments, or the hymns of praise and thanksgiving. These will bring comfort and strength in our moments of worry strain or anxiety. We have learn to build and maintain strong relationships in our homes and church community at large.

Praise & Thank God from whom all blessings flow!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we feel anxious or overwhelmed Paul says, we should pray and surrender with thanksgiving, all our requests to God. We kneel before God in praise and worship (Psalm 95:1-11). In Psalm 95 the psalmist invites us to shout and sing before the Lord with songs of thanks and praise  

We give thanks for the lives of family, and friends who love and cherish us. Thanks for the gift of love and peace that brings us together. Thanks for kindness of people, caring thoughts, and cheerful smiles. Thanks for music and books that bring joy into our lives. Praising God for the blessings we can’t see in our life, our life of faith in Him and for his hand that guides us through this life and the life after. When we start focusing on God and thanking him, our anxieties begin to fade away. We let the rays of hope stream into our lives. We begin to see a God who blesses us with peace that transcends understanding.

The Psalmist also cautions us to beware of the hardening of our hearts (Psalm 95:8). A hardened heart is a darkened heart that becomes hopeless. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they grumbled and complained and lost faith in God. When we become headstrong and hard-nosed in our ways, our hearts harden and we find it unthinkable to turn to God. This does not happen overnight, but overtime we go our own way and exclude God in all our decisions on how we live our lives.

Prayer for Serenity

The serenity prayer has been down through the ages a healing prayer that has touched many of our lives and brought peace in times of conflict and tragedy. It is a prayer to God to give us the peace or serenity; and wisdom and courage to make wise choices. It goes like this -

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can 

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen

This is a beautiful prayer, while saying the prayer repeatedly we can substitute “God” for “Jesus” and ”Holy Spirit”. In so doing we make our request to the Holy Trinity to act and work in our lives. It is a prayer of faith and trust that God will help us change and gives our hearts and minds the courage to change the things we can. We come to God‘s presence in the stillness and silence of the peaceful moments. We wait on God to come and fill our hearts and minds with His presence. We don’t have to always use words. We allow the Spirit of God to search our deepest doubts, wounds, scars, thoughts and longings, recreate our inner being to be more and more into the likeness of God. We become more aware of the Omnipresence of God within and around us. Drawing us closer and closer with the passing of each year to His living presence.

When tragedy or a natural disaster comes upon us unawares, what do we do? Sometimes there is nothing we can do but have the courage to pick up the pieces and the peace with the grace of God to find understanding through it all. The second part of the prayer is for strength for our hearts and minds to overcome that, which can be overcome. It is asking God to give us courage to make changes in our life that will make a difference from our present situation.

If we learn to find time to pray, praise and thank God, we will find peace. Prayer and praise brings healing to our our hearts and minds when we realize that God knows all our needs even before we ask. We have to declare to God and ourselves that we will take a step of faith to trust that God will provide for our needs. This act becomes a healing prayer. We surrender all our anxieties to God and the Spirit of Christ starts to work, and streams of love and joy begin to flow through our lives.

Lenten Reflection
During this time of lent let us stop worrying. Give it Up !! The Lenten journey is a time when we reflect and begin to shut doors on our past life of worrying. Let us open new doors of peace, joy and love into our lives with Jesus as our friend and companion on our way. Our hearts and minds must learn to trust in God and God's goodness. To realize that God is watching over us. In so doing we will find that our worries slowly subside through our prayers and praise. We ask God to ease our hearts from fears and anxieties and fill our minds with the gift of peace, love and joy. We pray for wisdom and strength for our minds to change the things we can. In so doing our hearts have the understanding to know the difference between the things we can change and those we cannot. In times of worry, tragedy or conflict; take time off from our busy lives for a meaningful meditation on the living reality of omnipresent God, and say our prayers with thanksgiving. Let the Holy Spirit mold, melt, guide and heal our heart, mind and spirit.

Prayer for Peace

Times of Worries

We live in times that are filled with stress, worry and anxiety. In the US there has been an alarming increase in the number of suicides among middle age men. In fact there are more people dying from suicides than from car accidents today. We live in a world that is full of noise and demands that over time can cause us to slip into the use or abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit drugs. As Christians we have to find ways to keep our hearts and minds open to the warning signs that present themselves in the thoughts and feelings of our friends and families.

The serenity prayer has been down through the ages a healing prayer that has touched many of our lives and brought peace in times of conflict and tragedy. It is a prayer to God to give us the peace to accept the things we cannot change. When tragedy or a natural disaster comes upon us unawares, what do we do? Sometimes there is nothing we can do but pick up the pieces and then figure out with the grace of God to find understanding through it all.

The second part of the prayer is for strength to overcome that, which can be overcome. There are so many situations we find ourselves in, which are difficult that causes us to start to worry. Jesus said could we add a single moment to our lives if we were to worry (Matthew 6:27)? What causes worry? 

Some worries can be bad and others stimulating and useful. All of us carry with us a bag of worries, some, which are chronic, and some that come and go at the speed of thought. There are some of us who are constantly bogged down with financial stress. There are many who feel that they have not achieved all that they hoped they could in their life. There are others who are stressed about their children or parents trials and tribulations.

  

How do we as followers of Christ find ways to stay calm and focused? When our fears overwhelm us we have to find ways to deal with them. If they become a chronic problem, settle on the mind like a cloud what do we do?

Jesus says can the lilies of the field worry about what they wear (Matthew 6:28)? Has not God provided for them? As Christians what are some of the gifts that God has given us to ease our worries?

Do we find time to commune with the skies, seas, trees, rivers and creatures? Do we see in them the loving hand of God working to make something of beauty and grandeur? Do we have a friend or spouse we can confide in? Do we have a support group we can voice our fears and joys?

God has created us to love and be loved. How can we be good stewards of love in our lives? We must build bonds of love that reinvigorate us and enable us to live lives that are thankful in the sight of God. Find time to listen to the soothing sounds of nature, the calming music of instruments, or the hymns of praise and thanksgiving. These will bring comfort and strength in our moments of worry strain or anxiety.

Prayer becomes a healing prayer when we surrender all our anxieties to God and in so doing God fills our lives with peace that transcends all understanding. If we have nothing to be thankful for we are really starved and in tremendous danger of our fears overwhelming us. Integral to the process of healing from our fears and worries is the need for thanksgiving. If we learn to find time for thanksgiving, we will find peace.

We must learn to trust in God and God's goodness. We need to realize that God is watching over us. In so doing we will find that our worries slowly subside through our prayers and petitions. We ask God to ease our fears and anxieties and fill our lives with the gift of peace, love and joy. We pray for wisdom and strength to change the things we can. In so doing we have the understanding to know the difference between the things we can change and those we cannot. In times of tragedy and conflict the meaningful repetition of the serenity prayer can guide us and bring healing to many facets of our lives.