Forgive me, O Lord, for I have allowed fear, doubt and worry to occupy my mind causing me a painful uneasiness over impending or perceived harm. My concern for the future and the unknown overwhelms my faith and trust in You. I allow anxiety to come between us, causing me to feel apprehensive and vulnerable. My anxiety is a reflection of my failure to believe in You or that You’d respond if I called. When I pause to look rationally at things … when my mind can recall all you’ve done for me … when I remember the provision You’ve readily supplied, I see there is little reason to be anxious. I know that You’ve made sure that my load is equal to what I can carry today and, if I try to carry yesterday’s worries and tomorrow’s anxiety, I am destined to fail. I’m sorry for picking up burdens that I don’t need to carry. I’m glad I can lay my burdens at Your feet and know they are handled.
You have said “who of you by worrying can add an hour to your life?” So why do I worry about food, clothes, shelter, my health or money? When I do, it is a sign of wavering faith and lack of trust. Rather than listening to destructive thoughts of my enemy, I should focus on good things, Your promises, Your warnings and the seeking of Your Kingdom. Therefore, I will not fret over tomorrow and the unseen because Your provision is sufficient to meet any need I have. As I turn to You for strength and aid, my mind is filled with Your thoughts and Your character which provide a pattern for my life. I must come to realize that people, obligations, things, goals, and objectives compete with You for my time. Any of these things can bump You out of first place and gain a foothold that leads to anxiety sneaking into my life. Planning for my future is a good thing, but worrying about it is a waste of time and energy. Worry and fear look to consume my thoughts and undermine my trust in You.
As I go forward, I know that trust is the key to eliminating anxiety from my life because You have said that “whatever is hidden is meant to be exposed and whatever is concealed is to be brought into the open”. This is why I must have ears that listen for what You have to say. When I feel anxiety circling around me, I need to fall on my knees and pray for strength, reassurance and guidance. I should never forget that if I remain in You and You remain in me, we can overcome anything. When I start to think I know enough to handle problems on my own, I probably do not know what I need to know. The truth is that I should not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make my needs known. And only then can Your peace guard my heart and mind. What a wonderful thought it is to be anxious of nothing. It seems impossible but, if I take my needs to You “believing”, it will be done as I asked. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present Your requests to God.