Anxiety Reducing Prayers

Daily Gratitude Year 5- Day 130: Today, I am grateful for anxiety reducing prayers. 

"God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to choose joy instead of anger. Help me to trust in your power instead of my plan. Help me to elevate your name instead of my own." 
-Whitney Daugherty

This image and prayer were found at the Love God Greatly blog. Good stuff!

I think that life seems to speed up with each new technology. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy so many of the conveniences, but they come with a cost. We are constantly bombarded with messages, distractions and beeps, clicks and dings. Anxiety levels seem to be higher than ever in all ages. 

When distractions increase, focus decreases. Does the important stuff get lost? Relationships take time. God stepped out of the heavens to be in relationship with us, but frankly, it is easy to let the schedule fill up and lose sight of the goal. He wants us to know Him and be known by him. To love Him and be loved by him. He is an up-close and personal Lord, not a far away distant King. We are invited into his courts daily in prayer. Who ignores a king's invitation? (I'd rather not answer.) Okay... sometimes it is me.

He is Truth. He is light in the darkness. He is the Way when we feel lost. He is the power, when we come to the end of our own strength. I think he might enjoy us submitting to his purpose and plan before we burn ourselves out. 

What if we presented ourselves a vibrant, living and energized offering... instead of a tired, frustrated and burnt out mess? He'll take us either way. Love does that. But, His joy must be full when we offer him our best and not just our leftovers. 

Let's revisit the prayer:

Focus on Truth.
Give thanks.
Choose joy.
Trust His power.
Elevate His name.

How many senseless battles do we fight? 

In a study on The Sermon on the Mount, I once had this thought introduced. Meek isn't weak! 

Meek is like the strong and mighty horse when it is being broken for a rider. It fights. It resists. The horse proudly throws back it's head an snorts in defiance. It can be a long process! But, the patient cowboy waits. And, in time... the horse realizes that the cowboy can be trusted. Together, they can go amazing places and do great things. 

The best cowboys don't want to break the spirit of the horse, they want to teach the horse to submit in full strength to the master... to be led and to be useful. Controlled strength... not a broken spirit. And, every good horseman takes care of their horse before they take care of themselves at the end of a long ride or workout. 

Our Father does not use us up and cast us away. He longs for us to use our gifts to his glory. He knows were are not perfect. He wants us to choose to be spirit controlled, not self controlled. 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5

When we give Him the reins... nothing is impossible. He reigns.

The Bossman gave this verse today. I think it fits with His typical loving twist. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

He has forgiven you... and me.  We know we must forgive others to be forgiven. 

Yet, we struggle to forgive ourselves and stay weighted down by our mistakes and struggles. Don't let imperfection and what feels like failures keep you from seeking a closer walk with him. Be kind. Be tenderhearted. Be forgiving. We are forgiven and the sin debt paid, for all who claim him.

I am glad we can come to him with bold, honest prayers and find peace in return. He is good. He is faithful. He is patient.

Today, I am grateful for anxiety reducing prayers.