Dear Heavenly Father,
Sometimes it is challenging to know how to handle some of the situations that life throws our way, but You have given us a strategy in Your Word. You tell us in Philippians 4:6(NLT), “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” This requires us to unlearn some of the patterns and practices we’ve developed over time. We have learned to worry and have anxiety because this is the way the world operates. Whether it is our relationships, homes, jobs, or some other issue, we sometimes hold so tightly to these things. We become afraid or worried whenever something we treasure might be altered or lost, and we allow this worry and doubt to keep us from being obedient to Philippians 4:6.
People of the world do not know Your love, but we do. It is a love that doesn’t fail or disappoint. This does not mean that life will be a bed of roses. In John 16:33(NLT), Jesus Christ told the disciples, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” We will go through things on this earth, and some of them will be very unpleasant. People will dislike us because we love You through the Lord Jesus Christ. They will come against our efforts and say mean things about us. The world system is filled with darkness, and it can seem impossible to navigate. Even though we have to deal with these things, You tell us that Jesus Christ has overcome the world, and we can overcome it too, because his love is in our hearts.
You tell us in Isaiah 41:10(NLT), “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” You are the Creator of all things. All victory belongs to You. When life hits us hard and we feel like giving up, we can run to You! We should never give up, but instead run the race faster than ever before, because the finish line is there, and we’re going to make it! You are bigger than our problems. You are always with us, and You have promised to strengthen and help us.
Isaiah 54:17(NKJV) states, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Weapons may be formed—they may be developed by people, because the devil doesn’t want us to have good success and will use people and situations to throw fiery darts. You will shield us as long as our trust is in You. You will prevent the enemy’s weapons from doing lasting damage.
Stress is a form of fear, and it conveys that we are not doing what You have instructed in Philippians 4:6. Instead of training our minds to have thoughts filled with anxiety, we can train our minds to concentrate on the promises of Your Word and choose to believe YOU and not what the world wants us to believe. Thank You for helping us to renew our minds to Your Word, and teaching us through the indwelling Holy Spirit to be strong and of good courage. Thank You for working out all the troubling details of our problems and conditions, and for turning everything around so that it works for our good and Your glory!
Thank You for Your goodness, mercy, love, and grace. Thank You for saving us through Jesus, and for bringing us into Your family. You are so awesome and amazing, Most Holy God. Thank You for Jesus Christ, and thank You for the Holy Spirit. Please help us to be a blessing to Your Kingdom, and let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Stress of Dealing with Life”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.