Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Prayer.
It seems like the last two years everyone has faced challenges of varied sorts, but the struggles have been real and difficult.
People are worried on every front, filled with the tensions of decisions, fearful for loved ones, and concerned how to move forward.
Remembering something I read earlier in the week, I reached for the book still on the counter:
“Concern makes us do something to ease the situation. It moves us to take constructive action. But worry burdens our minds and bodies without helping us to find a solution to the problem. Worry is like racing the engine of an automobile without putting it into drive. You burn energy, but you don’t go anywhere.”
(from God Is My Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom, page 26)
And that is where the beauty and preciousness of prayer enters.
When our hands are tied; when we don’t have any idea of how to change a situation or make it better; when there is nothing at all we can do – we can pray.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will 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 4:6-7, NLT)
There is One who can move in any and all situations. His concern for us moves Him to action.
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138:8, NKJV)
We pray,
He is moved with concern and
we are filled with peace and assurance.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
yes, I so love the encouraging promise of psalm 138. Thank you for these words, Joanne.
Really well put together. Corrie Ten Boom such a wise person. It has certainly been an interesting couple of years 😉 God bless. Returning the visit from #4
Can’t really do nuthin’ else,
said all I’m gonna say,
so I’m gonna hope it sells
when I kneel and pray
right to Whom It May Concern,
whoever’s listening in the sky,
the God whose love I need to earn
for I’m sore ‘fraid to die.
And then a Voice beside my ear,
not loud but neither quiet,
really calm and really clear,
“Well, pray, boy, go and try it,
and you’ll soon find that you feel
that I have heard, and I am real.”
I appreciate the contrast of concern moving us to actively pray versus worry burning energy, but accomplishing nothing (other than digging a hole of fear!).
He’s moved a few mountains for me!
Joanne – thank you for this nudge toward a thoughtful, pro-active, concern instead of instantaneous knee-jerk worry, anxiety, and fear.
Prayer is so very important Joanne, thank you for sharing.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Amen Joanne so wonderfully spoken.
FMF #18
Love this.
Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful and concise explanation of the difference between worry and concern!