OUR PRAYERS AND GRATITUDE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Our world is full of worry. Almost every day I talk with people who are struggling with fear, anxiety, and worry. Some suffer from full on panic attacks and have problems facing the simple daily tasks of life.
Paul suggests instead of worrying we learn to pray about everything. He tells us trade worry for prayer. We can tell God what we need.
When we ask God for our daily needs, we should be specific. Too many times we ask God to bless us—what does that mean? How will we know when that prayer is answered? Let’s be specific about what we need. Nothing is too small.
As I write this devotion today, I think about last Sunday morning. I arrived at the church I am presently serving as interim pastor a little before 8am. Had a meeting at 8 and another at 8:45. Then I went into the auditorium for a time of prayer. When the worship team started to rehearse, I sat to listen to them. My energy was very low, and I was fighting to keep my eyes open. I had not slept well the night before and was up very early that morning.
Instead of continuing to pray for the services of the day I began to ask the Holy Spirit to touch my body and mind with energy. I knew I had to have energy to love on the people God would bring that morning. My specific prayer got specific results.
After I gave God my specific prayer for energy I began to enter a time of personal worship. Paul tells us in our passage today after we ask God, we should thank Him for all He has done.
As I worshipped God by praising Him for His blessings on my life and for the opportunities, He gives me to serve in ministry it was as if a fresh wind of the Spirit touched my body and mind. I sensed a renewal of God’s presence. My gratitude lifted my spirit.
Psychologists tell us gratitude is the healthiest emotion you can have. The more grateful we are the less we worry and struggle with anxiety.
Let’s make it our choice to ask God for everything and to thank Him for all He has done for us. Then we will find that worry, anxiety, fear, and depression will have to flee.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit I want to say thank you for Your presence always being with me. Thank you for always answering my prayers. Thank you for giving me health and opportunities to serve You.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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