He Will Hear From Heaven
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2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Philippians 4:6,7 RSV
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As I lay in bed this morning, I spent a few extra minutes thinking about the day, I resolved to “pump up” my prayer life. I don’t mean just for today. I thought about several future events and the potential impact on those involved. I found myself shaking my head and clucking my tongue, certain it would be devastating for those involved. Wow! That’s not sounding very humble, is it? Nor is it evidence of keeping my mind in Christ Jesus, my savior and intercessor.
I also listened to the news reports about a fatal plane crash, followed by updates on the death toll in Iraq - on US military, missionaries, hostages, and the Iraqi people. (This is why I don’t usually listen to the news in the morning!) And I think of the survivors of all the “big” disasters in the past year and focus in on my own little world: the red-haired homeless man I’ve talked about - where does he go when the weather is so bad in Richmond? And the road crews and utility workers and the people living in the mid-west where the weather is so much worse. I fret over how the weather will impact my co-workers and . . . well, the list goes on and on. I think you get the idea!
Should I mention Christmas shopping, cookie baking, house decorating and cleaning, wrapping gifts? OK, let’s not even go there. When I opened one of my regular morning subscription e-mails, these two scripture were presented. I opened a couple more, and the topic of those: prayer. Imagine that! I was just thinking about prayer . . . That’s what some of us call a God-incidence. And I don’t think I need to tell you I “get it.” I sat in silent prayer this morning before I began my writing. And I
will get back to my daily prayer time. Because after all, no matter how much I fret and worry and get that nervous knot in the pit of my stomach--I’m not in charge! God is. And He wants me to give it all to Him, in recognition of His power to control the course of history, to protect the homeless and the helpless, to intercede in my life, so I will be reminded to intercede for the world.
Oh! It’s
not all about me! Thank goodness!
I pray today you will have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Mary
