"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praise shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (The Message)
And there it is again. DON'T FRET! Isn't it canny how the Word goes right to one of our major battles in life? DON'T WORRY! Sounds condemning, but it's not. Rather than beat us down, Paul finds reveals a way for us to redirect our energy. We are to turn our fright in to fight. We're to transform anxiety into an acknowledgement of the mighty power of God.
There was an old hymn I grew up with that was themed with a great admonition. "Take it to the Lord in prayer. In his arms he'll take and shield thee, take it to the Lord in prayer." Maybe you forgot the words. Just hum a few bars. That will do just fine. The fact is, we find our solace, our peace, our strength, and our victory within the presence of the Living God. We get their through prayer and praise.
Don't settle for a little folding of the hands in worry. Go for the upraised hands of one who knows his God. Worry will most definitely be displaced when you do.
Pastor Jim
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