August 6, 2019 - Praying

I’m feeling good and we are enjoying life! At the same time, we are dealing with several “unknowns” right now. Not one. Several. Unknowns. Medically as well as in daily life. Things that I would like to know the answers to, how they will all work out. I’m sure you can relate!

Something so good has been happening in the midst of the unknowns. God has been dealing with me about the difference between planning versus fretting and worrying. He has a lot to say about the subject in these familiar verses. 🙂

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is the formula. God tells us to pray - to tell Him what we need and to thank Him (in advance) for all He has done. Notice what happens next. The verse doesn’t say that God will answer prayers according to our will and we will have all our unknowns resolved. It says that we will experience His peace. Even if we don’t have all the answers. He knows what we need most. And we need to understand the blessing of relying on Him through the uncertainties of life, even more than we need to know the answers to our unknowns. 

I love this quote - it was written by a lady who understands living through pain and unknowns. Her perspective is wonderful:

“But because I believe God’s plans for me are better than what I could plan for myself, rather than run away from the path he has set before me, I want to run toward it. I don’t want to try to change God’s mind—his thoughts are perfect. I want to think his thoughts. I don’t want to change God’s timing—his timing is perfect. I want the grace to accept his timing. I don’t want to change God’s plan—his plan is perfect. I want to embrace his plan and see how he is glorified through it. I want to submit.” - Nancy Guthrie

A final update. Tony has officially said that it’s good to have a cat!! This must be documented. The picture tells the story. These little guys are fine in the garage and outside - but not in the house. We came home yesterday and Shady had captured the offender!!

Have a good day, everyone!