Overwhelmed and stressed or hopeful?
Worried and anxious or filled with peace?
The state of mind that I wish to be is obvious. I want to be a joy-filled, hopeful person - at peace about my life and in my relationships.
I know I have the key, the answer. I know how to be joyful in any circumstance. I know what it is to be filled with hope. I know what it is to be at peace. Jesus provides all this for me. He is my joy, because he shares his reward with me. He is my hope, because he brought me from darkness to light. He is my peace, because he did for me what I could not do for myself, live without sin and overcome the punishment for my sin.
I KNOW these things... But, there are times I find myself angry or frustrated, overwhelmed and worried. I have come to realize, that my mind is incessant. Here is the definition I found on dictionary.com for incessant:
incessant: continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending
I can be either incessantly thinking about myself, my problems, my relationships, my failures, my successes and the list goes on.
Or, I can be incessantly praying.
In Philippians, Paul urges "pray without ceasing." What a difference prayer makes. I think I finally realize why Paul urges this for believers. We NEED help!
I need help in everything. I need help to love my husband and kids. I need help to care about my neighbors. I need help to put aside my insecurities and be who God created me to be. I need help to know when to say yes and when to say no. I need help to understand God's word. I need help to use my finances wisely. I need help to hold my tongue at times and to speak up at other times. I need help to trust God - that he knows my needs before I even ask. I need help to forgive people who have hurt me. I need help to be disciplined in all areas of my life. I need help to raise my kids in a way that would honor God. I need help to distinguish truth from lies in a deceitful world. I need help to not just seek earthly successes, but to seek heavenly rewards. I need help!
Prayer is my help!
It says in Romans 8:34 "Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." WOW! In the Message it says this:
The One who died for us - who was
raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God
at this very moment sticking up for us."
Speaking of incessant. Wow! Jesus praying for me!?! At this very moment!?!
Lord, help me to remember this when I am frustrated or overwhelmed or worried. I can pray incessantly and ask for help in all circumstances.
And when I don't have words to pray, I can trust that Jesus is praying and apparently HE prays...
And when I don't have words to pray, I can trust that Jesus is praying and apparently HE prays...
...incessantly.
