I detest worry. I can’t sufficiently explain in words how utterly disgusted I am at what worry does to the body and mind. So much so, that I have made it my life’s mission to help myself and others to eliminate worry from our response repertoire.
Does this mean that I never worry?
Not quite!
It means that I am mastering the art of IMMEDIATELY capturing those thoughts and reminding myself of what God instructs, which I do by executing Philippians 4:6 (NIV):
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
once I do this, I watch verse 7 take form:
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This morning was a perfect example of that. Amid what was happening, I had to remind myself of what I should do instead of worry, so I did just that.
Though my heart prayer posture remains contrite, humble, repentant, reflective and trusting, my physical prayer posture changes, depending on how I am led. This morning, I paced my living room in prayer. As I brought my stuff and the stuff of the land to God in earnest prayer, I walked to the glass door and looked out at the dry land with the intention of praying for rain, and there it was: God’s response to me in the form of His creature:
The tiny bird grazed between the dry and what’s left of the green grass, and I instantaneously heard it, “have I not provided for the birds,” and I smiled in reassurance of God’s promise to those of us who love and trust Him:
And I thanked Him! (then I grabbed my phone and took a photo).
Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [a]cubit to his [b]stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [c]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble
The Holy Spirit reminded me a week ago that to strengthen my faith, I should “keep remembering.” I am here today, because of the things I have navigated. I am standing because God brought me through tough things and times. What appeared impossible became possible with God. I am standing here today giving God all the Glory because of what I went through, so I am reminded, because I remember.
Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder to someone that we should continue to STAND, and hold strong to what He tells us in His Word, which NEVER fails.
PARENTING, ADVOCACY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN 