All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

In the middle, a prayer ... and peace: updated podcast!

Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f9837af2/in-the-middle-...

Sometimes our lives do not get the message that this is supposed to be both a holy and joy-filled season of the year. The fact is--trials do not let up. For starters, in the last week, I have had the privilege of praying for two young women battling cancer.... did I say 'young'? It is mine to pray and also to fan the flames of faith-filled hope in our loving, miracle-working God.

Today marks the start of the second week of Advent, turning our hearts toward peace. And again I will say, how I love the notion of preparing my heart to recognize Jesus' first coming and anticipate his second! In Isaiah's prophecy about the coming Messiah, he said he would be called the Prince of Peace.1 And since I have stood right there on the shepherds' field in Bethlehem, I can just imagine the angels who announced his birth that day, saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."2 Jesus Christ is our peace--and yet ... maintaining peace can be challenging. And so we get real with God in prayer, based on the Holy Spirit-inspired words of Scripture.

Dear Lord,

It seems like I make up my mind to trust you in everything, obeying these verses: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. When worry has crept in, I prayed. I asked you for strength, I asked you to answer my prayer… I even looked back and remembered your goodness to me in the past, thanking you that I am not alone, that you are with me. And then I experienced the promise in the next verse: Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.3

But Lord, I’m only human. When the worry overwhelms me again, coming like waves that will surely knock me down, how my heart aches! When the fatigue of ‘again…cancer?’ threatens to choke me… what then? O, speak to me, Lord. In the back of my mind I remember something about You being the lifter of my head… I am looking to You in the vast unknowing of the days ahead. Will You speak to me, Father?

Friend, here is how I believe God would answer the sincere cry of our hearts:

"Indeed I will, my child. You are correct about your memory - David prayed “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”⁴ Look to Me to be your shield, look to Me to lift you up; do not depend on anyone else to do that for you. I am there in the middle of the night; I am there when you drive down the road, seemingly alone with your thoughts… I know when you are overcome with what might come next. Run to Me. Look then for My presence. I am the friend who stays closer than a brother.⁵

Permit me, Child, to remind you of My promise:

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”⁶

As you awaken in the morning, greet the day by making a choice and declaring, “This is the day the Lord has made…I will rejoice and be glad in it!”⁷

Before your feet hit the floor,

Determine to walk in My presence today, taking Me with you wherever you go.

Look around you - see how the birds sing... why, I created them for your delight!

Look up at the skies above, for surely the heavens speak of My glory and My limitless creativity!⁸

Clear your mind and your conscience as David did, by praying

‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.’⁹

Surrender the day ahead to Me… go ahead:

Commit everything you do to Me. Trust Me, and I will help you.¹⁰

Two more thoughts I have for you, dear Child - remember that I am the same God who divided the Red Sea for my children to escape captivity on dry land; I am the same God who raised Lazarus from the dead; I am the same God who forgave my good friend and disciple Peter for denying he ever knew me, then I made sure he knew I forgave him when I met with him on the shore of the Galilee, water lapping at our feet. O, and then just days later, that same scared Peter preached so powerfully about Me that 3,000 people put their trust in Me that day. Yes, that was Me then and it is Me now. I was the God of the miraculous then and I am the God of the miraculous today. Remind yourself with this:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.¹¹

Child, I know that when you hurt, it is natural to think mostly of yourself and how you are feeling; stop it. While it may feel natural, it will make you self-centered and cause you to be selfish, even if you are unaware. Look around you - see who you might encourage, who you might lift before Me in prayer. And as you think of others, see if it doesn’t give you the sweetest attitude!

And obey Me in this, as hard as it may seem at times: Always be joyful. Never stop praying.Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is My will for you who belong to Me.¹²Thanking Me changes you. It changes your outlook, lifts up your countenance and makes you pleasant to be around.

I love you, you know. Nothing you can do will change that, but it is wonderful for both of us when you choose Me each day. Trust Me. Period. No. Matter. What." Your Father

Thank you, dear Lord, for your words which are always right and true. Thank you, Lord, that no matter what is happening in my life, You will always have the last say. Lord, I believe - and when my faith is weak, help me believe all the more! Thank you, Lord, that because I have prayed, You have heard my requests and You are at work. I praise You, God, for loving me as You do - for wanting a close relationship with me forever! Amen.

In You, God, All is Well. The song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2UvpqKMp4Y&list=RDI2UvpqKMp4Y&a...

Please share this with others who are hurting or challenged or need the words of God to be at peace.

With love,

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Isaiah 9.6

2 - Luke 2.14

3 - Philippians 4.6-7, NLT

4 - Psalms 3.3 ESV

5- Proverbs 18.24, ESV

6 - Hebrews 13.5 NLT

7 - Psalm 118.24