"TRY PRAYING INSTEAD"

         Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and 

          Petition, with thankgiving, present your requests to God. And the 

         Peace of God will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.

                                              Philippians 4 : 6-7

What do you worry about? Other people's opinion of you? Your family? Money? Grades? Your safety? Whatever it is, I want to tell you something-- worry is a total waste of time. It accomplishes zero.

Have you ever found yourself sitting in a hospital waiting room, anticipating a doctor's report on biopsy? Those are anxious momemts to be sure. You think of Paul's words: "Do not be anxious about anything." You believe those words, but that doesn't make it any easier to practice them, or so it seems anyway." Do not be anxious about anything" doesn't mean to be foolhardy, but rather, don't be bothered or troubled.

        Now the doctor may tell you not to worry about your condition, but you can't tune out your problem and forget about it. It just doesn't happen that easily. You can try all kinds of things to get your mind off that biopsy report. But it doesn't go away by itself. You can deaden the pain, or superficially or artificially block out the tension, but that won't remove the cause of the problem.

        Paul has a genuine solution for worry-free joy-- PRAYER. One of our hymns tells us:

                Oh what peace we often forfeit,

                Oh, what needless lain we bear,

                All because we do not carry

                Everything to God in prayer.

        And isn't that true? St. Peter writes, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Getting rid of our worries before they worry us that would be real joy. And that is exactly what Paul suggests, "But in everything by prayer and petition, with thankgiving, present your requests to God." Certainly God knows our needs even before we ask, yet he wants us to ask and promises to answer our prayers. James tells us in his Epistle, "You do not have because you do not ask God."

        Our requests are to be made known to the Lord. In what better hands can any troubles or needs rest than in the hands of God! That's the way to beat worry. Paul's words contain the assurance that God will attend to all we ask or even think. And don't forget, this is done with thankgiving. Our thanks will naturally, be included in Our prayers. A thankful heart is also joyful heart.

        Instead of spinning your wheels on an endless cycle of worry, try praying instead. Take your worries on and shape them into prayers. For instance, say you've been worrying about argument you had with a friend. Take that worry and pray, "Father, help me repair our friendship. Show me what to do." I will. Then I'll send My peace to replace your worry. Try it! It works!