Instead of Worrying, Start Praying - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 15, 2018
Instead of Worrying, Start Praying
By Rick Warren
“In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).
Worry won’t do you any good. But don’t just eliminate it from your life. God always replaces a negative with a positive. God always has something better for you.
In the case of worry, replace it with prayer.
Right after God reminds us not to worry in Philippians 4:6, he follows it up with this: “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).
Don’t panic, Paul says, but pray!
If you stopped worrying, you’d have so much more free time on your hands. It would create a great vacuum, a void in your life. Pray during that time.
If everyone who says they don’t have time to pray would spend their time praying instead of worrying, they’d have a whole lot less to worry about.
Notice the Bible says to pray “In everything.” Some people think God is only interested in you praying about “religious” matters. But that’s just not true. God is interested in everything in your life.
Also note the word petition. It is a specific, detailed request. Get specific with God. Tell him exactly what you want and what you need. Most people pray too vaguely.
In 1 Peter 5:7 the Bible says, “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him” (CEV). God wants us to take our problems to him, to pray instead of worrying.
I remember a few years ago reading a study from a life insurance company that found people who attend church once a week live almost 6 years longer than the general public. Why? Perhaps people who attend church every week are more likely to pray than to worry.
No problem is too big for God’s power or too small for God’s concern.
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Preparing Your Heart for Christmas Calendar and Booklet
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The weeks leading up to Christmas are so full of excitement and preparation that December can be kind of a blur. Before you know it, you’ve missed the true meaning of Christmas.
That’s why Pastor Rick created the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional.
This two-part resource includes a calendar with a special door for every day of December that opens to reveal an inspirational word and Bible verse. Use it with the companion daily devotional guide to help you and your family draw closer to Jesus and prepare your heart for the real celebration.
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Preparing Your Heart for Christmas can help you spend the holidays . . .
• Worshipping instead of worrying
• Slowing down and reconnecting with God
• Expressing gratitude for the true meaning of the season
Don’t wait! Give a gift by November 12 and request your copy of the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional for yourself or as a special gift for someone you love.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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