When we're HELD, it changes things.

Do you ever just get sick of yourself?

Friends have said I just want to get past the constant thoughts in my head -

there are so many and they are exhausting.

Besides, they keep me from being able to concentrate, to remember what I am reading!

A young person looked at me yesterday and asked,

Is peace even possible?

It is. It truly is. But it will not be found in ourselves.

Peace can only be found in the One who offers it freely, though it requires a move on our part - a turning toward Him, an acknowledgment of God Almighty. Prayer.

But first, sometimes our minds are so full, so weighed down by the thoughts and situations that assail us, that a little processing is in order. I have helped many a person with this exercise - a movement toward mindfulness through calming your always-at-work mind. Get a piece of blank paper, turn it 'landscape', or horizontal and interview yourself.

Write some headings such as:

-is there something or someone I am regularly worried about?

-are there fears, anxieties or 'what ifs' that plague me? what are they?

-are there unanswered questions/mysteries that haunt me?

-is there negative self-talk that is undermining me?

-what keeps me awake at night?

-what is going great in my life?

Briefly write your thoughts in each category, assessing your general disposition., about a 10-minute exercise.

The idea is to take your thoughts, i.e., your 'subjective' and make them 'objective' - written so you can read. And then lay that paper aside and pray. Your prayer will address these goings-on in your heart and mind.

With God's help, address the areas that keep you constantly thinking (about yourself) and move toward wholeness. Here is a sampling of how I pray each morning, often using words from the Bible to pray, (hence the footnoted numbers). I also put pen to paper in a small lined journal to stay present or mindful.

Dear loving Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of a new day, the gift of life. With the psalmist I want to say, 'This is the day that you have made--let's rejoice and be glad in it!1

You are my strength…my rock, my fortress, and my savior - my protection.2 

Search me, O God and know my heart…point out anything in me that offends you,3

        [be still a moment… is there anything you should say ‘sorry’ for?]

Forgive me, Lord, of my sins, and give me a clean heart.4

Fill me again with your Holy Spirit.5

Lord, I ask you for your wisdom;6 help me see things as you do.  

Would you bless my life, and let me be a blessing to someone else today? 

Remind me not to worry, Lord, but to pray.7

I pray for those who are far from you, who do not even know how lost they are without you. O God, draw them to yourself, I pray!  Put someone in their path today to speak of you please.  [say or write their names]

I pray for those who are sick and need your healing touch today. [names] 

You are a miracle-working God who tells us to pray continually because you are listening; you never forget our prayers and you love us.  You never grow tired of hearing from us and you do not fall asleep on us either.8

God, I lift up those who need your protection [names]

        I lift up those who need your strength and peace [names]

        I lift up those who are grieving and lonely [names]

        I lift up those who are caught in addiction…set them free! [names]

I pray protection for our military men and women--[names?]

I pray for those who are hungry, those who are being tortured or killed for their faith in You, for those whose countries are at war ... O God, help.

And for our country, I pray - O God, draw people to yourself!  Forgive us for how we have turned our backs on You and Your ways. Draw our president and elected officials to yourself; soften and change their hearts, Lord God, to see things as You do. 

Lord, I commit myself to You.  I want to honor You God, with what I think about and what I do.  “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”9

And now I just gotta look around and say thank you.  

Lord, I thank you for my eyesight, my hearing and my mind.  Lord, I thank you for Heaven, freedom, the Word of God, ______, ______,_______....   

Remind me all day long to thank you for the good things I see and people I encounter--cause me to be a grateful person, dear Lord.  I know you said to 'give thanks in all circumstances because I know this is your will'10 for me, so help me... remind me!

Okay, well I guess that is all for now, God. Thank you for hearing my prayer--and thanks that I can pray all of these things in the power that is in the name of Jesus, Amen! Talk to you later, Lord, I am sure of it.

POWERFUL SONG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91vvde12--A&list=RD91vvde12--A&start_radio=1

Talking to Jesus draws us closer to him

and makes us better people too,

Christine

^{1 - Psalm 118.24}

^{2 - Psalm 18.1-2}

^{3 - Psalm 139.23-24} 

^{4 - Psalm 51.10}

5 - Ephesians 5.18

^{6 - James 1.5}

^{7 - Philippians 4.6}

^{8 - Psalm 121.4}

^{9 - Psalm 19.14}

^{10 - 1 Thessalonians 5.18}