Prayers and Promises (Reprinted from Beacon of Hope Newsletter)
Life can be hard and sometimes it seems that with each passing day it gets increasingly more difficult to make right choices or to keep from being a victim of another person's bad choices.
As our troubles and problems pile up and we try to figure out what to do and how to get out of the mess we have made with our life, the situation becomes more confusing and complicated. We don't know what to do or where to turn for help. Often we attempt to make long term plans on how to make the problem better and we become overwhelmed with how impossible a solution seems. Our human tendency is to look for complicated answers to life's problems. Easy answers seem just that - too easy.
Jesus tells us solutions to problems don't have to be complicated. He tells us to take one day at a time and to trust Him with each day, as it comes.
In Matthew 6:33-34 Jesus says to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
This is telling us what we need to do each day and that is to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. We do that by praying and studying His Word, the Bible. When we seek Him through prayer and Bible study, His promise to us is that all these things will be given to us.
Does this mean we will be rich in material possessions and need nothing else? No, what it means is that God will give us His Holy Spirit and through His Spirit in us, He will show us what we need to do to solve any problems or deal with our troubles. It means Jesus will give us His peace and bring comfort and good counsel through His Spirit dwelling in us.
Jesus also tells us in John 14:6, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." He doesn't say to us that He will show us the way or that He will tell us which direction to go. He says that He is the way and if we follow Him we will never lose our way in life. If we truly follow Jesus, He will show us the only way to go and will give us a life we never dreamed could exist. He will give us a life of joy and peace, even in the middle of our troubles.
As you pray about your problems, specifically ask God to show you what you need to do, or not do; and then ask Him to help you hear Him and be attentive to how He will lead you and show you what you need to do.
The following is simply a sample prayer for anyone who may not be accustomed to praying. My hope is that it will be a tool to help you get started on a daily prayer routine. God hears even the simplest of prayers, so just pray from whatever is on your heart.
"Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus' name. Thank you God for loving me! Will you please forgive me for the sins I have committed and help me to stop doing things that hurt other people, myself, and especially You.
Please God, show me how to take one day at a time and to trust You with each day. Help me to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness and not to worry about tomorrow but to give each day to you and to trust You to lead me through it. As I learn to take one day at a time, help me to remember that You are my refuge and strength (Psalm 41:6) and You will get me through the day.
Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
