GOT STRESS?

If you have any stress in your life, welcome to the club.  We all have stress, worries, concerns, things that get us down.  As Christians we know that we are not supposed to worry.  We are not supposed to fret (Psalm 37).  But, we do struggle.

I am gradually reading through Timothy Keller's book on prayer.  So far, I would say that it is an excellent book and I recommend it.  The other day, I came across this paragraph:

"Years ago I was preaching on the Lord's Prayer and commented--rather offhandedly--that since adoration comes before asking for 'daily bread,' we need to spend time thanking and praising God for who he is before we go to our prayer list of needs.  One woman in my congregation took this to heart and a couple of weeks later related what a difference the advice had made.  'Before,' she said, 'I would run right to my prayer list and the more I went through all the problems and needs the more anxious and burdened I would get.  Now I've started spending time thinking about how good and wise he is, and how many prayers he's answered of mine in the past.  And when I get to my own needs--now I find I can put them in his hands and I feel the burden coming off me rather than on me.'"  Timothy Keller, Prayer, pg 190

I have usually started prayer with some praise and thanksgiving, but this really resonated with me.  Some years ago I started writing down requests whenever someone would ask me to pray about someone or something.  As we all know, it is easy to say you will pray and then forget to do so.  Keeping the list has been very helpful.  Then of course, there are the needs of my children and grandchildren.  

Maybe you have children who have left the Lord.  Perhaps you lost a loved one and the grief is still powerful.  Maybe you are overwhelmed by the evil in the world.  Perhaps abortion has struck close to home.  You might have a child or grandchild who has bought into the transgender lies.  It is so easy to become anxious even as we pray fervently.

It is when we stop to think of the greatness of God and all the amazing things he has done in the past and even in our own lives that we can rest and know that he is taking care of things.  

Consider Psalms 106 and 107.  The psalmist recounts many mighty deeds of the Lord.  He praises God and calls on him to act.  

Sometimes just remembering the creation, where God spoke all things into being, can remind us that God is bigger than all the problems.  

Have you seen the images sent from the James Webb Space Telescope?  With this amazing technology we can see more of the great works of the creator.  The writer of Psalm 8 calls the creation the work of God's fingers!  How can we not praise such a God!?

Spend time meditating on the greatness of God.  Consider his mighty works.  Remember how he has worked in your life in the past.  Look at the kingdom of Israel and how God worked for them.  Thank him!  Praise him!  Adore him!  Then lay all your burdens down before him.  Give him those wayward children.  Give him the grief, the pain, the sorrow.  The God who created the world, raised the dead and healed the sick, is able to take all of those things and leave you with peace and trust.