Worry Wart

Most everyone worries, but that doesn't make it right or smart. Just like our mothers told us, "If all your friends decided to jump off a cliff, would you do it, too? No! You're a smart girl. Too smart to be jumping off cliffs." Come to think of it, worry really isn't all that different from jumping off the cliff. Worse, since with worry, we jump again and again and again.

I used to think that worry was inevitable. Sort of like the involuntary response of coughing when you swallow something the wrong way. (Swallowing... Hmm. There's something to think about.) Anyway, God tells us NOT to worry, and I guess I always took it like I would if a friend were to pat me on the hand and say, "Well, try not to worry," while both of us knew that worry WAS going to happen.

Actually, worry is fear disguised as concern. It is doubt disguised as probability or even inevitability. It is proof that we have meditated more fully on the scenarios our unrenewed imagination has manufactured than on the possibility pictures God's Word has offered us. Worry is meditation in the wrong direction. So, if you can worry--have ever worried--you have what it takes to meditate on God's Word. Worry and meditation are simply the practice of dwelling on and replaying over and over again what COULD happen. One is based on fear and the other on God's Word. Meditation MUST be based on God's Word. That's how to tap into the real power. God's Word has inherent within it the power to cause itself to come to pass. It is seed. Divine seed--which is to say--God-power seed.

How to kick the habit? Replace worry with meditation on God's Word. On purpose. Take your imagination by the ear and make it meditate on God's Word. Now, anything new is usually hard at first. Especially a new way of thinking. New grooves must be formed in the mind, and it is easy to fall into the old ruts of thinking that are well worn and familiar. But in this exercise, you have God's help. Any time you are handling God's Word in expectation, He is there to enable. He is resident in His Word.

So, meditate regularly, on purpose. And everytime you catch yourself worrying--STOP--REPENT--and replace with MEDITATION on God's Word. According to 2 Cor. 10:5&6, we are supposed to take insubordinate thoughts (those thoughts that don't agree with God's Word) captive and bring them into obedience to Christ. If worrying is a way of life for you, then you'll have opportunity to correct yourself many times day and night. But, the more you practice, the easier it will get, and you'll become proficient in agreeing with God. God's Word, when embraced in faith--and that's what meditation accomplishes--brings peace and relief and rest.

Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula J

When It's Not Working

This last weekend, I wasn't singing in harmony. I wasn't singing at all. Didn't know my part. Didn't even know the song. I ranted, I raved, I cried. But singing? Not a note. And my husband? Not even a Pooh hum. Maybe it was the stress of the holidays or my birthday or maybe I was just being ruled by my tone deaf flesh that can't carry a tune in a bucket.

I tried explaining my point of view--my needs. I was careful not to use the words "you always" or "you never". I steered away from assigning blame or implying guilt. I was willing to concede that the problem and discomfort it was causing me was probably partly or even all my fault. (how pathetic is that?) I got sad, then mad, cried, and yelled as I saw no gleam of comprehension or sypathetic chord in my husband's eyes. I was singing notes I had composed myself.

So, I finally gave up and quit trying to be in charge of the song and all its parts and gave the baton back to the Choirmaster. I admitted to God that I didn't know my part, couldn't remember the song, felt like no one else was remotely interested in singing, and if there was going to be any singing of songs, especially in harmony, in our house, He was going to have to arrange and accomplish it, because I was out of ideas and frankly wasn't sure I had the energy for it and maybe, the way I felt right then, maybe I wasn't even interested in singing any more.

And wouldn't you know, that very evening, my husband and I were back to singing our song in harmony. As easy as you please. No sweat, no mess. No delving into anyone's psyche or deep seated motivations. Just peacefu comfort, quiet regard for one another. A sense of well-being. Harmony. (Yes, there were mutual apologies. Painless, I might add.)

I told you all that to say this. Sometimes our life experience will not mirror the truth of God's Word. And we might feel like our prayers, our faith, God's Word--none of it, is working. The results just aren't panning out. But if, in your heart of hearts, you believe God's Word and you've planted it through meditation, you'll be able to let it grow--to sprout, get leaves, and produce fruit. Sometimes, all it takes is to get out of the way--to quit digging around in the soil constantly checking and analyzing the seed to see if it's begun to sprout. Trying to think of ways to force it to sprout. Just put it in the ground. Plant, water, give it light-- through meditation. That's your part. Sprouting and growing and producing fruit--that's God's part. He can't sing your part, and you can't sing His part. Harmony.

Stay Constant in Prayer,
Paula J

Pulling Together

I thank you, Father, that you grant my husband and me to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus that together, we may unanimously with united hearts and one voice praise and glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5 & 6)

I'm hoping that you are beginning to meditate on these scriptures we are praying and you are being given some spiritual insights. Some Holy Spirit inspired AHA!'s. Here are some of mine.

unanimously--that means everyone is moving in the same direction. We all put our strength, our force toward the same goal. We are in accord and all in favor of the same thing. Putting our power behind a common goal. No one is dissenting or putting up road blocks or dragging his feet trying to thwart progress on purpose or through negligence.
united hearts--agreeing in our intentions
one voice--each saying the same thing. Agreeing with our words--making our words agree with God's Word.

I am seeing possibilities in this scripture such as you and your husband
1. Being united in Christian faith
2. Being united in raising your children
3. Being united in the goals for your life together
a. your mission
b. your finances
c. your life view

John 15:8 says we glorify God when we produce fruit or beneficial results. I think the possibilities I have listed above would qualify as fruit. As you let the Holy Spirit inhabit your imagination concerning this scripture, He will give you images that are especially just for you and your husband and your life together. Remember, there are no limits in God.

Be Constant in Prayer. (Romans 12:12)
Paula J

Three Part Harmony

Many times when we read scripture, at first it seems too good to be true. And although we might never say we don't believe it, we act like we don't believe it, or at least we put it into our "Yeah, if this were a perfect world" file.

That's why meditation of scripture is so necessary. Meditation helps you to visualize what the scripture is saying and brings it from just words on paper or nice ideas to attainable, real life--my life--possibilities.

For instance, our next prayer is based on Romans 15:5&6. In the Amplified Bible it says this: Now may God, Who gives the power of patient endurance or steadfastness, and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may unanimously with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Wow! That sounds like Jesus, you, and the man in your life (husband, son, father, brother) are singing in three part harmony a song that God composed just for you.

So, in order to personalize this scripture and turn it into a prayer, pray it like this: I thank you Father, that you grant (your husband's name) and me to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus that together, we may unanimously with one voice praise and glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Remember to Stay Constant in Prayer.
Paula J

more meditations on Acts 13:52

Thank you that my husband is continually filled [throughout his soul] with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Here are some more of my insights as a result of meditating this scripture.
Throughout his soul: the soul is the seat of the mind, will, and emotions; to have the mind, will, and emotions continually filled throughout--every nook and cranny--with joy makes for a strong mind since joy is strength(Nehemiah 8:10). We all want to possess a strong, sound mind and desire that for our husbands, too, regardless of age or circumstances.
Since the Holy Spirit is the counselor, teacher, and author of Wisdom, think of the advantage of having a mind continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
The will is our decision maker. To have the will (decision maker) continually filled with the Holy Spirit would guarantee that decisions would be guided and influenced by Wisdom. A will continually filled with joy, would guard against decisions prompted by fear. Fear based decisions always tend toward death (in all its forms.)
One of the purposes of emotions is to give us clues to what is happening around us. They are a little like a thermometer. If our emotions are continually filled with and governed by joy and the Holy Spirit, we can gain an accurate picture of what is really taking place, but we won't be led by emotions or let emotions take over a place of leadership that they were not designed to operate in. We don't want emotions to act like a thermostat and govern what takes place. Being filled continually throughout your soul with joy and the Holy Spirit can diminish or eliminate feelings of superiority, inferiority, low self-confidence, anger, resentment, fear, despair, hopelessness, or any emotions that would lead to lust, greed, or covetousness, etc. To sum it up: be led by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the pressures of the flesh. (Galations 5:16)
Stay Constant in Prayer,
Paula J

Notes on my meditation

Acts 13:52 May my husband be CONTINUALLY FILLED [throughout his soul] with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Here are notes on some of the insights I gained while meditating on our scripture prayer.

CONTINUALLY: to be constant; not up one minute and down the next; no moodiness; no big fluctuations in outlook; responses and reactions are not governed by circumstance but by the fruit of joy (Gal. 5:22)

FILLED: to the full; no room for anything but joy; joy has displaced sorrow, grief, grouchiness, moodiness, touchiness, negativity, pessimism.

There's more, but I'll leave it until next time.

Be constant in prayer,

Paula J

Meditate to Build Faith

When I am praying a scripture prayer, I find it helpful to meditate on the scripture throughout the day or at least, during the particular time that I have set aside for prayer, Bible reading, and meditation on scripture.

Meditation is just rolling the scripture over in your mind and heart--examining it to see how it will affect your situation as it takes place in your life. No sitting cross legged required! It gives you a chance to imagine or visualize how things will be when your life looks like the picture the scripture paints. Some people feel more comfortable with the term "ponder". Both terms are scriptural. God told Joshua to "meditate". David uses the term "meditations of my heart". Mary "pondered" the things she had been told concerning the birth of Jesus.

It gets your mind and heart quiet, so you can hear what God is saying to you, and when we truly hear God, that brings faith. Faith is the catalyst that brings the promise from the unseen into the seen.

Give it a try. Expect the Holy Spirit to teach you how. Till next time,

be Constant in Prayer,
Paula J

Joy: Acts 13:52 Amp. Bible

Usually, as I read my Bible, I keep a look out for Word descriptions that paint a picture of what I'd like to be reality in my own life. So, when I came across Acts 13:52, it just kind of jumped out at me because I'd been thinking about this project of praying for our husbands. There's nothing worse than having to be around a grumpy or moody person. One who blows hot and then cold. And if he's your husband? Well, that would wear a person out, wouldn't it?



So, here's our first prayer. "Father, I thank you that my husband is continually filled [throughout his soul] with joy and the Holy Spirit according to Acts 13:52. In Jesus' name, Amen."



I phrased this prayer as if the answer is already a done deal. That's because I like to "call things that be not as though they were". Romans 4:17. It's the way God does things, and if it's good enough for Him, well, you see what I mean. Besides, if your husband already operates in joy and the Holy Spirit, then this prayer gives you an opportunity to be thankful on purpose.



A joyful, Holy Spirit filled husband. Who could want for more? Don't you just love it when your husband is happy? It seems to somehow build your own confidence. Things just go more smoothly for everyone in the household when your husband is joyful. It puts the whole family at ease. My husband tells this story about his childhood. When his dad came in from work and stopped to pet and speak to the dog, everyone looked forward to a pleasant evening. But if he passed the dog without saying anything, they knew that it would be a good idea to retire to their rooms as soon as possible. A joyful husband not only does himself good, he affects the atmosphere for the rest of the family. Even the dog!



If you will go ahead and read versese 50 and 51, you'll discover that the guys being described as full of joy in verse 52, had just been run out of town by the city big wigs. Talk about a bad day at work! But that's not what determined whether they had joy. They were exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. Joy Regardless. That's the kind of joy we're praying for.



Be Constant in Prayer,

Paula J

Join Me In Prayer

The Holy Spirit has been urging me to gather my friends together to pray for our husbands. If this is something that seems right and necessary to you, please join me. Periodically, I will blog a prayer based on scripture that can be personalized for your husband. If the prayer is something you desire to come to pass, you can offer up that prayer as long as it seems good to you.

I do not know what is in store for our husbands,(sons, fathers, brothers) but I know that the Word says the Holy Spirit will tell us of things to come, and I believe that we will be praying our husbands into good position to be victorious in all those things to come.

Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula