Road Trip

Several years ago, when our kids were much younger, we were on a road trip and stopped for a break at a travel stop/convenience store.  We were getting ready to get back in the car and one of my sons asked Gina if he could have a snack.  The other one was waiting out by the car to resume the trip.  Gina purchased the snack and they came out to the car, as they were getting in and buckling up our son who hadn’t gotten a snack became upset because he was without!!  He said tearfully, “I didn’t know we could have a snack” in all my fatherly wisdom I stated very simply “you have not because you ask not”.  It wasn’t very well received but Gina turned to him and said, “do you want something?”  His response was a resounding “YES”!

Gina turned and looked at me with a look that said “go get the boy a snack”!  I stepped out of the car and ducked my head into the car and said, “I don’t know what you want so tell me or come in with me”  we headed into the store and purchased the items he wanted and got back out on the road to finish out trip.

As followers of Jesus Christ we understand that He knows everything about us yet we are told by Him to “Ask”

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

We are given a Kingdom Principle here.  Even though God knows what we have need of, He wants us to ask.  It is part of the relationship we have with Him.  It brings us into a place of communication with our Heavenly Father when we come to Him asking, seeking and knocking.

Jesus said “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. Matthew 7:8

God our Father desires good things for His children.  My kids learned over time that if they wanted something all they had to do was ask.  God is so much better, greater, able than we are.

Matthew 7:11 “if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

What do you need today?  Peace, freedom, deliverance, healing in your body?  Maybe a marriage restored or a relationship with a child or a parent repaired.  Perhaps you have hurts or offenses from the past.  Is it unforgiveness?  Go to Him and ask, seek His will to find your answer.  Knock on the portals of Heaven through prayer for your answer.  He will answer!!!!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I call out to you in faith.  Hear my cry Oh Lord, attend unto my prayer!!  I need You.  I need Your provision in my hour of difficulty.  Help me to walk in Your ways and see Your goodness manifested in my life.   I will testify of Your great love toward me.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

A New Way of Thinking

Living in a state of confusion? Perplexed? Anxious? There is an antidote that provides relief from the ravages of the enemies of the mind.   The what if’s that cause restless nights, the list of to do’s, regrets and angst’s.  God, who created heaven and earth, He cares for you.  He never created us to carry the burdens of this world. 

I Peter 5:7 AMP says this:  casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully.

God has given us a prescription here in His word to treat the pain that we suffer from the weight of mental distress.  But as you know, and you do if you’ve ever been prescribed a medicine by a doctor, you must take the prescription prescribed if you want to see the desired results.  Why we don’t take as prescribed can vary from person to person.  Maybe we think we know best? Perhaps we don’t believe in its power? Or, we may secretly fear the change that it could bring.

The scripture from I Peter 5 gives clear instruction on what to do with those unwanted worries, concerns and anxieties. When you’re cleaning out your junk drawer in your home, sifting through it deliberating between what’s worthy to remain in the drawer and what’s trash you can find those decisions tiresome.  But we don’t have to cautiously sift through the worries that weigh us down mentally.  We are given clear instruction about what to do with them, cast them out, cast them on Jesus!

Philippians 4:6-7 is another excellent prescription for relief, it says:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heats and minds through Christ Jesus

This scripture is followed by giving us replacement thoughts.  When you have cast your cares, prayed and thanked the Lord then begin to become conscious of your thoughts. What are you thinking on?  What thoughts have taken up the space formerly occupied by worry, concern and anxiety?  Verse 8 gives us specific instruction on our thought life, it says to think on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy ----meditate on these.  It may take some time to discipline your mind to think on these things, but the Holy Spirit is there to help you.  Give yourself to His Word today.  Let the truth of His word penetrate every corner of your mind. His prescription is powerful and works every time. Trust him with every concern, He cares for you!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you that you care for me, that you love me unconditionally.  I give you all that concerns me today, every anxiety and worry.  Forgive me for trying to handle them myself.  I trust you with them.  Let your peace rule in my heart as I ingest your Word and meditate on it. In Jesus Name, Amen.