Above my writing desk in my tiny office at home is a wall-art stencil, a quotation that my husband gave me last Christmas. It reads: “Pray about everything. Worry about nothing.”
Like many women – mothers especially – I have a tendency to worry. I think my hubby hoped a “subtle” reminder on the wall might cure me of the habit!
Daily I have worked under the silent supplications of this verse. Yet today, a year later, the verse came alive, jumping off the wall and into my spirit as if to find its true voice. And I felt compelled to give voice to this verse, which comes directly from Jesus:
worry (4)
“As delegates get ready to assemble high up in the Swiss Alps, the world appears on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” (USA TODAY, January 19, 2015)
This week’s annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is drawing captains of industry and government from around the globe, to the alpine ski town of Davos, Switzerland—Europe’s highest town. Over 40 heads of state, 2,500 business leaders, cultural emissaries, and experts in many areas of human endeavor will participate in five days of workshops, listen to speeches, and network in an attempt to make the world a better place in which to live.
Their task of creating conditions to restore confidence and trust in the world’s future will not be easily achieved in light of intractable global problems. Economic uncertainty worries many. The Ebola crisis has claimed over 8,000 lives. Islamic extremists persistently threaten. Cybersecurity is a worrisome challenge. Greece’s upcoming elections are causing nervousness about the future of the Eurozone. China’s economic growth has slowed dramatically. Last year’s being the hottest on record has made climate change evident. Russia’s proxies in Ukraine continue to make the region volatile. The world is on edge.
Surveying the international situation, it feels like “everything nailed down is coming loose” (the angel Gabriel in the musical “Green Pastures”). What else could possibly go wrong? Where will the next act of terrorism occur? Is there an antidote to the poison of despair? How can we keep from going crazy when the world is falling apart?
As Jesus predicted future events, he said “You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. Here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth. When all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” (Matthew 24:6-7; Luke 21:25-26 NLT) When the outlook is bad, we should try the up-look.
The motto of the World Economic Forum—“Committed to improving the state of the world”—is certainly a noble endeavor. We wish them success in achieving their high goal. However, Christians are citizens of two worlds, and the one we currently live in is temporary. Our challenge as dual citizens is finding a reasonable balance between our heavenly and earthly citizenship—not becoming so heavenly-minded we’re of no earthly good, while simultaneously following the counsel of Scripture—“Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here” (Colossians 3:2 TLB).
Whatever happens in this uncertain world, those who are trusting the Lord Jesus Christ to return and solve problems the world’s experts have never been able to fix, can begin each day with a beautiful melody in their hearts—“Be still, my soul, your God does undertake to guide the future as he has the past. Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake; All not mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.” (Katherine von Schlegel)
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will be singing at the forum’s opening ceremony—a beautiful beginning, whatever the outcome of the week’s meetings. It would be wonderful if he would sing a song he wrote –“I pray you'll be our eyes, And watch us where we go; And help us to be wise, In times when we don't know. Let this be our prayer, When we lose our way, Lead us to a place, Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.”
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT)
Johnny R. Almond
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity
Interim Pastor, Nomini Baptist Church; Montross, Virginia
Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/
Father,
You are God of all (1).
I confess that I often approach both You, and Your gift of prayer, with too small of a mindset. Sometimes, I imagine the things I have the ability to accomplish or dream up, and then ask You to do only that much. Yet, You're able to do immeasurably more, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 (2). Other times, I only pray thinking of the things of which I want or desire. While it's not wrong or bad to do so, I confess that I often forget or neglect to worship, praise, and thank You for who You are, what You've done, and are doing (3). I often fail to pray for others' concerns, joys, and for the lost (4). I confess that I mostly consider Your actions and provisions ahead of You, Yourself. Forgive me and continue to grow my trust, joy, and understanding in/of You (5).
Thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, compassion, and care (6). Thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me (7). Change my thinking, understanding, compassion for others, and more (8). Continue to fill me with Your Spirit, that I may see others, and their situations, through Your eyes (9); that I may hear what they say, and don't say, accurately, as with Your ears (10); and that I may read, take to heart, and apply what Your Word says (11).
Help me to pray from Your Word and heart (12); think Your thoughts; see myself, people around me, and our matters of agreement and disagreement accurately and lovingly as You do. I am not capable of any of these things on my own. I yield to You. You're the Rock that I stand upon (13). You are my Joy and Strength (14), (15). You are the Light of my life in this dark world (16), (17). You are the Lifter of my head when I become discouraged, distraught, and even self-centered (18). You are the Corrector of my vision; helping me to see You, myself, people, and matters with far greater accuracy than I could ever imagine or attempt to understand on my own (19).
You are Lord of All. Some try to convince me and others that You are not Lord at all (20). Help me to love and pray for them with Your perfect love, compassion, and care. Also, quicken the hearts and minds of other Christians to meet these people where they're at, to pray for them, and with them as Your Spirit leads and prompts. Increase my sensitivity to Your Holy Spirit's promptings. I desire to be obedient to bring You, and Your Name, glory; fulfilling things You've prepared for me to do since before You created time (21).
I worry not about what's to come because You are there (22), (23). I worry not about the things of the past: for You are my perfect Redeemer (24) (25). I worry not about the present (26), because You are near, and Your Spirit and Word are guiding, sharpening, correcting, and renewing me; providing light to my feet and a lamp for the path before me (27).
I worship You, Jesus; Lord of All. Nothing is too great or small; for You created and care for it all. Continue to shepherd me through this day and night ahead (28) for Your glory alone. In Jesus' name, and in increasing and endless praise, (29) Amen.
(Numbered Scripture references). Their links, within the prayer, will take you to the verse(s), online.
1. Isaiah 37:16
2. Ephesians 3:20-21
3. Revelation 1:8
4. James 5:15-20
5. Nehemiah 8:10
6. 2 Corinthians 12:9
7. Acts 5:32
8. Luke 11:13
9. Psalm 33:13-14
10. Psalm 34:17
11. Psalm 119:105
12. Luke 11:1-10
13. 1 Samuel 2:2
14. 1 Chronicles 16:27
15. Psalm 28:7
16. 2 Samuel 22:29
17. John 1:5
18. Psalm 3:3
19. Exodus 4:11-12
20. 1 Thessalonians 4:8
21. Ephesians 2:10
22. Mark 13:11
23. Matthew 6:34
24. Job 19:25
25. Psalm 19:14
26. Matthew 6:27
25. Psalm 19:14
26. Matthew 6:27
27. Psalm 119:105
28. Psalm 23
29. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In most American worship and church services, God is worshiped by the singing of praise choruses, hymns, and other songs. Sometimes, congregants are encouraged to pray silently while music quietly plays in the background. While these are completely good and acceptable forms of worship, something seldom seen or modeled in American churches or around society is worship-based prayer.
Background
Around two years ago, I was introduced to worship-based prayer. It was different than other ways I had learned to pray. Throughout my life, prayer was mostly an ask-and-receive form of communication with God. Prayer was a last-resort; something to do when all my creative and constructive efforts fell short. Worship-based prayer moved prayer to the top of my priorities- it made prayer enjoyable, frequent, and it quickly deepened my personal relationship with God!
Worship-based prayer isn't the newest form of prayer, nor is it the only way to pray. What it is though, is a form of prayer that deepens one's understanding, reverence, closeness, awe, and wonder of who God is. It helps the person praying to push back against his/her flesh, the world, and our adversary- all of whom constantly try to diminish and eclipse God from our minds, hearts, eyes, and attention. Worship-based prayer restores and/or expands a person's understanding of the fullness and completeness of God- in His attributes and beyond them!
God is Always Worthy to be Worshiped
One of the ruts that worship-based prayer pulled me out of was a mindset that God was to be worshiped on a Sunday morning, but then put away and seldom considered again until the following Sunday morning. Until introduced to worship-based prayer, God's attribute of Provider was pretty much the only attribute of His that I considered or focused upon with any regularity. Later, as my prayer life grew a little more, I'd ask God to work in my life with greater frequency, but largely, my prayers were still 98% request-oriented.
But there is no one else like God. Consider what God said to Job in Job 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 (please read these instead of quickly skipping past them).
God is matchless and is complete in power. God is infinite in each of His attributes. His creativity, sovereignty, holiness, love, grace, power, wisdom, justice, mercy, being all-knowing, being everywhere at all times- always, and more, are perpetually and perfectly infinite. He alone is complete in every way- lacking in nothing! Even typing these out has lifted my heart in worship to Him- hopefully the Holy Spirit is lifting your heart in worship as well! But don't just take my word for it, search the Word- for it is authoritative and true!
God can and should be worshiped in all times and in all places. Worship is not represented in a physical position or series of positions (as some religions and faiths attempt); it's the position of the heart before God. It exalts God as Lord over all, Maker of all, and amongst everything He's created (He's perfectly personal).
Worship is not to only be done in one location. While worshiping in a church building is good, we can worship God everywhere. We can praise Him in our hearts while we shop for groceries, wash dishes, tidy the house, while we drive or ride from one place to another, and more. We can praise Him while in a hospital bed, while we're in distress, while things are going well, and when things don't seem to be going as well as we'd like.
He doesn't change even though our hearts turn in different directions away from him at times.
Worship Defeats Worry
Worry is a familiar and common sin in America. It's so common that little is thought about it. It's accepted as something people routinely do. Some even call themselves "professional worriers," as if it were some badge of honor! But few press into God to overcome worry. Jesus spoke directly about worry in Matthew 6:25-34. While the worries of that day consisted of where the next meal would come from, and other basic and essential needs, worry can worm into almost any situation or circumstance- if allowed.
When we worship God, He is seen and understood more fully as who He truly is.
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” - Romans 10:8-11
Worry puffs up problems, challenges, circumstances, dreams, or even desires, to become larger than they should be. It can make the circumstance eclipse a person's view of the fullness of God; sometimes to the point where God doesn't seem as powerful, authoritative, perfect, present, good, compassionate, or any other of His perfect attributes. Worry causes a person to question God and allows self and circumstances to dominate one's heart and/or mind instead of God.
Worship-based prayer helps put worry in its place. It's not enough simply to know that worry is a sin and that one should not participate in it. It must be eradicated entirely! This is done by reading and praying worship-based Scriptures, praying for the Holy Spirit to illumine the Word as we read it, then help us take to heart what it says; praising and worshiping God for the truth of who He is contained therein! Praying Scripture is also an excellent way to memorize Scripture! When we memorize worship-based Scripture, we develop a growing reservoir of truth about God within our hearts and minds- a reservoir readily available to draw from, especially in difficult or challenging times!
When we see God rightly and accurately, everything else falls into its exact and appropriate place before Him. It won't necessarily make our circumstances perfect, but it will help us to see God and our circumstances correctly- which is important. When we see God and circumstances inaccurately and out of proportion, that's where trouble and confusion quickly begins.
Here's a Psalm that's useful in "tuning one's heart" to speak, meditate, and praise God for who He is. Let's worship at His footstool! (v. 5)
The Lord reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice—
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
and he answered them.
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
Lord our God,
you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
though you punished their misdeeds.
Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his holy mountain,
for the Lord our God is holy. -Psalm 99
Carry worship of God with you wherever you go! You'll bless God as you do so, and He'll bless you in seeing and knowing Him more completely and deeply than ever before. Continue in worship now...
