I Am Just Going to Pray

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“I am just going to pray.”

I am slowly but surely learning to say this and do this when faced with stressful situations.

But it isn’t an easy lesson to learn at all.

My Modus Operandi

The thing is, I keep going back to my default thinking which is to:

♦ mull over stressful situation >>> ♦ vent to friends in real life or online + complain to the man >>> ♦ set about researching whatever can be researched >>> ♦ rinse and repeat, oh at least 7 times.

But after all that, I usually still don’t know what to do.

Out of My Hands

Because a lot of times, the situation is stressful mainly because it is something beyond my capability or out of my control. So no matter how much I vent or complain or research, I cannot affect the outcome. Instead, I am left helpless and frustrated.

I Am Just Going to Pray About It

What I need to do is give it to the Lord.

And so, slowly, but surely, I am learning that my response should be:

“I am just going to pray about it.”

AND… to learn to make this my FIRST response to any stressful situation, not the last, and not only after venting and stressing about it.

Stress and Its Negative Consequences

There are countless studies that tell us that psychological stress leads to a physical manifestation of physical illnesses. Stomach aches, migraines, heart palpitations, etc.

Worrying and running around like a headless chicken brings nothing to the table. In my case, stress and worry cause the eczema patch on my ankle to itch terribly or cause me to eat all the chocolate in the house (this is why there is seldom chocolate in the house).

The Peace of God

As Paul instructed the Philippians in 4:6-7 (NKJV):

Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus

Be anxious for NOTHING, he says. Instead, we are to bring EVERYTHING to the Lord in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Everything. Big. Small. Current. Past.

E . V . E . R . Y . T . H . I . N . G .

So, “I am just going to pray” is a biblical response. Not a cop-out. It is the secret to a life of peace.

And many times, when I remember to just pray instead of angst over the situation, I have experienced His peace that floods over me. Because He is the God of Peace (Philippians 4:9).

Too Simplistic?

Simple does not equal easy.

Yes, just praying is such a simple piece of advice, isn’t it? And it sure sounds super spiritual.

But have you tried just praying when you are flustered and worried about something? I don’t know about you but for me, the default flight or fight response always kicks in and the last thing I think of doing is to just pray.

If you are like me then we need to discipline our minds and hearts to calm down and trust that He knows what is happening. Only then are we able to just pray.

Give Thanks

Regardless of the situation or situations we find ourselves in, give it/them to the Lord in prayer. And give thanks. No, I am not being sadistic or perverse.

We may not like the situation we find ourselves in at all. But we can still thank Him for the situation because it is drawing us closer to Him.

Thank Him for the opportunity to pray over the person or environment that is causing stress.

Thank Him for using the situation to transform you to be more and more like Jesus.

Thank Him for the other situations in your life that are not giving you this kind of stress.

What Do I Pray For?

Sometimes I pray for a change in the situation; for wisdom to know if we are to push through a situation or to walk away.

Other times I ask the Lord to direct us to the person or organisation to go to for help.

And a lot of times I pray for the Lord to help me see people through His eyes and for Him to change the hardness of my heart.

Whatever the Lord lays upon my heart, I give it to Him to pray. It is not automatic at all. I am still learning to do this. And that’s why I have it as a reminder on my phone’s wallpaper.

Change and Uncertainty Ahead

The days ahead seem to be filled with so much uncertainty. It can be stressful trying to plan ahead when you can’t see clearly but, only if you allow it to stress you.

Remember,

“I am just going to pray.”

and declare, “not My will, but Yours, be done.“

How About You?

Are you also anxious about something? Someone?

Let us remember Philippians 4:6-7.

Set it up as your phone’s wallpaper or copy the verse down and stick it where you spend the most time to be reminded.

Related Posts

Trust God & Embrace Change
Letting Go, Trusting God
I Am Not Being Super Spiritual
The Greatest Weapon in Christian Parenting
What Good Does Worry Do?
10 Health Problems Related to Stress that You Can Fix

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