I have this wonderful little devotional that I'm borrowing from my son entitled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. So often I read the devotional and it speaks to me on such a personal level. Here is a January entry that I felt must have been written especially for me at this point in my life. It spoke to me in such a profound way that I had to share it!
** Please note that the "Me" and "I" referred to is Jesus speaking and the "you" is "you/us"Sarah Young writes:
Trust ME by relinquishing control into My hands. Let go, and recognize that I am God. This is My world: I made it and I control it. Yours is a responsive part in the litany of Love. I search among my children for receptivity to Me. Guard well this gift that I have planted in your heart. Nurture it with the Light of My Presence.
When you bring Me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before Me. Speak to Me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank Me for the answers that I have set into motion long before you can discern results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep on stating your concerns to Me, you will live in a state of tension. When you thank Me for how I am answering your prayers, your mind-set becomes much more positive. Thankful prayers keep your focus on My Presence and My promises.
Psalms 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
2 Peter 1: 3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
I changed some of the font color above to red because that particular portion was written for me! Me, Kim, the "worrier", the "fixer", the "problem solver", the "planner." And so many times I do find myself getting tense with the constant re-praying of a request. I find that I'm all but begging God, getting uptight and even worrying if I prayed "enough" about it all! Remember in an earlier post I wrote how I realize that as my faith is growing, I'm also realizing how small my faith is? Thanking Him for the answers that are on the way just gives me so much more peace and truly does keep my focus on His Presence and Promises and continues to grow my faith!! Our adoption is obviously at the forefront of my mind almost continually. I've changed my prayer from asking God over and over to show us the child He has for our family to thanking Him for the child He has chosen for us and will show us! This has helped me to truly keep my focus more on Him and His promises!
I LOVE this babe! what a great reminder to always pray with thanks. We seem to forget that God always wants whats best for us and therefore His answers are perfect, and come at the perfect time! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this too....and love what you wrote Merle...so true...really takes the anxiety of praying "the right thing" out of it all. Love you both, Kendra
ReplyDeleteCan I say "I love this" too :)... For the last year, I've felt the need to praise Him more. I agree with you, it helps keep my focus more on Him and less on the situation. Hmmm, maybe that's why He tells us to praise Him over and over again in Scripture! I love the Jesus Calling devotional too. I use it often. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder! Thank you
ReplyDelete