Prayer, Thanksgiving, Peace

Have you ever tried to do it all on your own without asking for help? In my case, I have been trying to walk out what I know to be the will of God in my natural strength. It seems that if I am to walk out the will of God, I should do it with God, in his supernatural strength. So, this morning, I committed myself to praying and petitioning The Lord. Not just a fly by night prayer, which I am so often in the habit of doing; "Oh, yeah, I checked the box off. I prayed. Ok, what can I do now?" but a sincere prayer, spending time in prayer with the Father, worshipping my Savior. 

In my prayer, I poured out my heart, which I sometimes guard and try to keep hidden. However, he is such a wonderful, loving, Father, and he just wants us to commune with him. And the things that I think I guard aren't guarded at all without him. The things I think are hidden he already sees. So, this morning, I opened myself up. I became vulnerable again. I let my inmost desires, my inmost feelings, my inmost cries for help be heard to the one who can do all things. When I was praying, I cried, I bared my soul, I let it all be known. I asked God for his help, rather than just my own. After I prayed and petitioned The Lord in Jesus' name, my heart was pure before him, and I began to thank him and praise him. How awesome he is and so worthy to be praised! And you know what happened? An overwhelming sense of peace flooded my soul. I quit my worrying, because he had given me a peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Immediately following my prayer, I opened my online devotional and the scripture that came up was Philippians 4:6-7, NIV. It says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus." What a promise! I've read this before, and I've felt it's truth before, but what an awesome reminder it was to me this morning. I came to my God anxiously. I began to pray and petition him for the things I need. Then, I offered up praise and thanksgiving. And the peace of God flooded my very soul, my heart, my mind, my being. The things that I was previously "guarding" in worry, he took and they are now guarded in peace. 

His word is living and true. If you are struggling with worry, let go. Give it to him. Pray and petition him. Praise and give him thanks. And watch your worry disappear and your heart and mind be filled with peace.

God bless you today!