[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Thursday June 29, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotion Thursday June 29, 2006

This week's devotions are written by Seminarian, Kelsay Parker. 

 

PRAYER PROMISES

This spring I served as a Chaplain intern at a nursing home and independent
Senior's apartment tower in downtown Minneapolis.  One Thursday a month I
was invited into a ladies' prayer chain meeting.  The women who prayed with
me were amazing.  They believed that their prayers were heard, and needed!
Each time we met, we read scripture and then each woman would recite a
favorite "prayer promise."  These promises remind us why we pray, and how
important it is to remain in conversation with God.  Do you have a favorite
prayer promise?  This week I will share some of my favorites.  I encourage
you to meditate on the scripture and to pray with confidence however you
feel comfortable!

 

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not worry 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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus."

 

"Don't worry.be happy!"  I remember this phrase being pretty popular.  Why?
What is it about these four words that is so fashionable?  If I could wager
a guess, I would say that this phrase is a catchy way to dismiss the really
messy parts of our lives.  We don't want to see or experience grief,
depression, loss, and despair.  So when we are confronted with it, we toss
out this happy axiom to help us escape.  If you've ever had someone tell you
"Don't worry.,"doesn't it make you just wonder what gives them the right to
tell you not to worry?

 

So what about when Paul tells us, "Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God"?  Is he trying to dismiss the harsh reality of being
human?  Is he attempting to gloss over how hard it really is to stop
worrying?  No, Paul writes to us out of faith in God.  God who is bigger and
more powerful than all of our worries.  God who promises us life with him,
free from worry.  

 

Pray today, giving all of your worries to God, for he is more powerful than
them.  In Jesus, he has promised to freedom from all that threatens to worry
you.

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/dailydevo_zlc-aa.org/attachments/20060629/4397853b/attachment.html