Let Your Worries Go

Thanks god, my dearest and all dear friends! ...
(Photo credit: Thai Jasmine (Smile..smile...Smile..))

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11

New International Version (NIV)

       One thing I know is that if I left things to my mind's devices I could be in a constant state of worries.  I'd fret myself sick over little things that don't really mean all that much.   My life, my comfort, and my happiness would be obliterated by the big worries that actually can have consequence to me, my loved ones, and the world around me.   There is more than enough for me to worry about and little that I can do about much of it.

         A little bit of faith can go a long way.   God doesn't mean for us to worry ourselves sick or let our concerns about what could happen stop us from appreciating the good things that are happening every day.  We are in this world for a short time.   Let's praise God for what we have,  pray to God for what we need, and love God for the good things that are yet to come.

         We can easily worry ourselves into bad health.   What's the point of doing that?  It's all good--even when it's bad.   Ugly times are eventually followed by beauty.  The world keeps on turning as generations pass in the parade of time.   Trust in God.   He knows what He's doing.

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Romans 12:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

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Pray Like You Mean It

Prayer is the language (Photo credit: Lel4nd)

The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

        A wandering mind can be a tough thing to keep reined in.  That's my experience at least.  There will be times when I find my quiet place and moment when I fully intend to focus on prayer, then my mind will wander off to my concerns and worries and I'll momentarily leave God out of the conversation.  It's somewhat difficult to control since this is the way I tend to think.

        The daily distractions that we face can often make guided focused prayer a bit of a challenge.  Our conversations with God should be directed toward Him.  Prayer life can easily turn into a ritualized rote of recitation if we don't put our mind into it.   We should be guided by the spirit within us, but we should think about where the spirit is leading us.  Prayer is not about empty words with no thought behind them.

         We have much to be thankful for and many reasons to offer up praise to God.   All that we do in our prayer and praise life should have meaning and purpose. 

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

1 Corinthians 14:15

English Standard Version (ESV)

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What to Do When You're Feeling Down?

Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, alabaster, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

       I know I have a great deal in my life for which to be thankful.   How about you?

       In times of sickness and adversity my earthly self may wonder why God has let me come to the point where I am.   My prayers may seem to go unanswered.   Time can seem like it might last forever when things are bad.   And then I remember what forever is in God's terms.

       Blessings in my life have been far more abundant than hardships.  Many have had things far worse than I have.  My life has been easy compared to what it might have been.  In part I have the faith of my fathers to thank for my good life.  My earthly father, my grandparents, and those ancestors of whom I have only heard and never known.   Their faithfulness has been passed down to my generation and hopefully to the generations that may be yet to come in my family line.

        Then there is my own faithfulness.  Sometimes I have been weak and rebellious.  And there have been more sins than I want to admit.  But our God has provided me salvation in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.   For God has loved you and me so much that he forgives us when we come to him in repentance. 

       God has been good to us all and we should rejoice in that.   Let us bow before Him and let His Will be done in us.  The earthly realm will take its tolls on us, but God will give us our greatest rewards.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.  

1 Peter 5:6-7

21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

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We Have Every Reason to Rejoice!

Prayer (Photo credit: Chris Yarzab)

Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 2:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

         Do the matters of this world seem to get in your way to worship sometimes?   

       It can seem like we are under a continual assault of woes and hurts, but we are also the recipients of many blessings.  I'm not sure why we so often focus on the negatives of life.  Perhaps we take the positives too much for granted and see the negatives as the forces that rule our lives.  And sadly they frequently do.

       I know it's easy for me to say to you to just let go of the hurt.  Then I look at myself dwelling on mine.  It can be a mess!   But if I stub my toe and curse my misfortune, I need to remember those who have lost limbs or loved ones.    For every problem I have, there is someone else with a bigger problem.  I need to rejoice in the blessings I have received.

      The troubles we are facing now are just temporary nuisances.  They are the little things that can be taken care of by a big God.  

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29

New International Version (NIV)

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Where Is the Celebration?

English: Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, stained glass, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Clap your hands, all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.

Psalm 47:1

New International Version (NIV)

         There are always parties and celebrations going on somewhere in the world, but often the pain and suffering seems to supersede all of that.  You probably hear as much complaining around you as I do and like I do you may do your fair share of complaining sometimes.   Sure, I suppose I can always find something to gripe about, but I'm probably looking at life the wrong way when I do.

          Life is short.  Life is a marvelous gift that God has given us and so often it is squandered.  I guarantee you that you don't have to look too hard to realize that there is a lot more in this world to celebrate than there is to be unhappy about.  Still many hang on to the negatives and try to drag everyone else down with them.

           I think I'll lift my face heavenward and give God a big round of applause.  God, You made this all perfect and we keep screwing it up.   Sorry Lord, but please forgive me for my negative contributions and give me a charge of Your positive energy.  

            I feel better already.  The celebration is right here.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

New International Version (NIV)

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