This morning I was listening to worship music and praying and turning over to God, once again, circumstances and people that were weighing heavy on my mind and heart. I was going to write, "such is the life of a pastor's wife", but in truth, we all have this in common don't we. We all have loved ones and circumstances that we are concerned about. As I prayed God brought to my mind a portion of scripture from John 10:25-30 in The Message Bible "My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from Him." God was reminding me that those I've been praying for were all His born again children, His sheep, and yet I wasn't praying with conviction that God was truly able to keep them safe and secure, protected from the Destroyer. I'm ashamed to say that I was praying as if God was going to let go of them if I didn't pray the right words or the right way or hard enough. God wants me to keep on praying-but not out of worry or fear or anxiety. He wants me to pray in faith, confidence and conviction that He is securely holding all those that I am concerned about. I was reminded that I can be confident that God is caring watchfully and affectionately for me and for those for whom I'm praying. "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC) And yet, another promise of God's firm grip on me as well as on those I'm praying for- "...for He, God Himself, has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! (Hebrews 13:5 AMPC) I assume that, like me, you have those that you are burdened for. Let's stand on the truth of God's Word together as we pray in faith knowing that God's got us as well as them firmly in His hands.
Such an encouraging reminder this morning. I am so grateful that God loves and holds my friends and families. His grip on them is firm and tight and able to withstand anything which may come their way.
ReplyDeletePS - Your congregation is blessed to have you!
Thank you, Joanne!
DeleteOh, I do do that in my daily prayer for my children. Love the reminder. I do pray in anxiety at times, and your post hit me that yes, I should be praying that faithfully, he is the God of all, and it will be done if it's his will. Love this. Thanks. Have a great Sunday and week.
ReplyDeleteI pray that your week is blessed as well!
DeleteI'll never forget when God interrupted my worried prayers and whispered, 'if it concerns you, it concerns Me!' Sometimes we just need that reminder, don't we? So good! Glad we are link-up neighbors!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good word God gave you-one I need to remember!
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