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| Prayer of Hope |
Read it and profit from it.
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice"(Philippians 4:4NLT)
When the Apostle Paul says,"Always be full of joy in the lord," he doesn't say to only be joyful in good times. Even, when times are tough, the Bible teaches us to be joyful if we follow this simple strategy.
Don't worry about anything.Worrying doesn't change anything. It is stewing without doing.There is no such thing as born-worriers. worry is a learned response. You learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it from experience. that's good news: the fact that worry is learned means it can also be unlearned.
How do you unlearn it?Jesus says in Matthews 6:34,"Ttherefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry bout itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"(NIV). He's saying don't open your umbrella until it starts raining. Live one day at a time.
Pray about everything.
Instead of worrying, use your time for praying. If you prayed as much as you
worried, you’d have a lot less to worry about. Is God interested in car
payments? Yes. He’s interested in every detail of your life. That means you can
take any problem you face to God.
Thank God in all things. When you pray,pray with thanksgiving.Tthe healthiest emotion is not love but gratitude. It actually increases your immunity.It makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness.People who are grateful are happy.But people who are ungrateful are miserable because nothing makes them happy. They are never staisfied. It's never good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude ,of being thnakful in ererything, it reduces stress in your life.
Think about the right things. If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life,you must change the way you think, because the way you think determines how you feel. And the way you feel, determines how you act. The Bible teaches that, if you want to change your life,you need to change what you are thinking about.
This involves a deliberate, conscious choice where you choose ot think about the right things.We need to choose to think on the positive and on God's Word. It is the result of not worrying,praying sbout everything, giving thanks, and focusing on the right things. Paul says we will then "experience God's peace,which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:7 NLT).
Why do you worry about? Talk to God about your worries and honestly tell him why you worry.
If you prayed as much as you worried,how do you think your life will change?
God says he has your best interest at heart.Thank him in all thigns, even if you cannot understand what God is up to in your life.
What do you think about most? What do you think God wants you to think about?
Are these two things out of alignment? If not, then why not?
Thank God in all things. When you pray,pray with thanksgiving.Tthe healthiest emotion is not love but gratitude. It actually increases your immunity.It makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness.People who are grateful are happy.But people who are ungrateful are miserable because nothing makes them happy. They are never staisfied. It's never good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude ,of being thnakful in ererything, it reduces stress in your life.
Think about the right things. If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life,you must change the way you think, because the way you think determines how you feel. And the way you feel, determines how you act. The Bible teaches that, if you want to change your life,you need to change what you are thinking about.
This involves a deliberate, conscious choice where you choose ot think about the right things.We need to choose to think on the positive and on God's Word. It is the result of not worrying,praying sbout everything, giving thanks, and focusing on the right things. Paul says we will then "experience God's peace,which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:7 NLT).
Why do you worry about? Talk to God about your worries and honestly tell him why you worry.
If you prayed as much as you worried,how do you think your life will change?
God says he has your best interest at heart.Thank him in all thigns, even if you cannot understand what God is up to in your life.
What do you think about most? What do you think God wants you to think about?
Are these two things out of alignment? If not, then why not?
