Scripture for meditation: Philippians 4:6-9
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Christ says: Luke 10:38-42:
"As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?"Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (NIV)
St. Francis de Sales comments in An Introduction to the Devout Life:
"Anxiety is the soul's greatest enemy, sin only excepted." He explains that "when the heart is anxious and disquieted within itself, it loses the power to preserve the those virtues which are already acquired, and also the means of resisting the temptations of Satan, who does not fail...to fish in such troubled waters." He cautions us to recognize that "Anxiety proceeds from an ill-regulated desire to be delivered from the evil we experience, or to acquire the good to which we aspire; nevertheless, nothing aggravates evil and hinders good so much as anxiety and worry." St. Francis advises us thus: "Therefore, if you earnestly desire to be delivered from some evil, or to attain to some good, above all things calm and tranquilize your mind, and compose your judgment and will; then quietly and gently pursue your aim...." He asks us to check out hearts morning and night to be sure it is in our hands and directed toward God's will, and not "been snatched by some passion or anxiety...When you feel disposed to worry, command yourself to God, and resolve in no way to gratify your desire until your anxiety is entirely allayed...acting not in accordance with your inclination, but with reason.
St. Louis counseled his son,"If thy heart be ill at ease, hasten to open it to thy confessor, or to some pious person, and by means of his comfort thou wilt be enabled easily to bear thine affliction." In other words, don't be afraid to ask a holy person for help and prayer!
Prayer: please say it very slowly
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
My thoughts:
We see in the prayer that Christ taught us, that God is our Father, He will take care of us always. His is the will that matters, not ours. If we truly believe that He will give us our daily needs, forgive us our failings, and protect us from evil, we have no need of anxiety. Turn it over to God.
Your prayer to God:
Take time to offer your current anxieties to God, picturing Him sitting across from you, holding your hands and offering you His counsel and advise as He did to Martha. Remember how much He loves you.
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