PRAYER: Sometimes it’s the only thing that carries us through
Note: My inspirational messages come from what helps me, and that is my Christian faith. To my Jewish friends, I wish you peace today and hope you find something in here to relate to. We all pray to the same God and I think He can help us all.
By Sally Tippett Rains
Here we are in August, headed for September and it seems like the world is still falling apart. Many of us feel disconnected, angry, sad, nervous– you name it. This multitude of feelings can produce bad emotions. Once we fall apart due to our emotions it’s hard to live our lives the way we would like to. These emotions are the emotions of the world. In times like this we need to leave the world behind and find our own solid ground again.
When we can’t control our emotions, we go down a bad path. Those spreading anger or fear want to take over our lives through our emotions. When we do things based on our emotions we let the bad in. If you are posting angry things on social media, who is making you angry? Are they worthy of ruining your day?
Do you find yourselves worried about things you can’t control? Are your emotions just all over the place?
Some days it just feels like we are out here all alone– and there is no one to throw us a life preserver. But we are never alone, and those are the days we need to save ourselves, by remembering that God is always with us.
When I feel like I am treading water and can’t get my foot on solid ground I head for the Bible. I just need to get me some Word.
Maybe this verse from Psalms 62:2 can help: “From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
When we need peace, we can call to God. That’s what prayer is; it is dialogue with our Heavenly Father. Just like our earthly father, we can (and should) go to Him when times are good and when times are bad. We don’t have to let our circumstances, fears, or emotions control our lives. We don’t have to be defined by what happened to us. We can be our own hero and save ourself. Make the choice right now do do whatever it is you need to do to get to solid ground.
The times that seem impossible to us are the times that God will help us. Our prayers can be anything from a bold request to a grateful thank you– to a little whimper for help. “Help me Lord, help me. I’m lost, help me get to solid ground.”
And like that song says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.”
If you haven’t heard that song in a while, here is Michael W. Smith’s rendition: CLICK HERE.
This week I came upon another song and the lyrics are perfect for these times.
Country legend Reba McEntire teamed up with Christian singer Lauren Daigle for a beautiful reminder of how we can really choose happy. Their song, ‘Back To God’ is both peaceful and powerful.
Reba wrote the lyrics and though the song came out a few years ago it is perfect for our times. My prayer this week is we all find peace in our hearts– that we find a safe place to stand– no matter what is happening in the “world” around us. And while we are looking for that safe place to stand– we should get down on our knees, because it is there we will find it.
To hear Reba’s song, “Back to God” click the audio player below:
Back to God
By Reba McEntire
Have you heard the sound
Of Mama’s cryin’
Or do you turn away
When you see the face
Of the innocent dyin’
In these darkest days
Are you not afraid
That it’s too late
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Gotta keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and scream His name
‘Cause we’re still worth saving
Can’t go on like this and live like this
We can’t love like this
We gotta give this world back to God
Do you feel like givin’ up?
Has your heart been broken?
Are your kids okay?
Will they come home safe?
Do you lie there hoping?
You can make a wish, you can knock on wood
Oh it won’t do no good
Fold your hands and beg…
“You gotta get down on your knees, believe
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Gotta keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and scream His name
Cause we’re still worth saving
Can’t go on like this and live like this
We can’t love like this
We gotta give this world back to God”
“We can’t love like this
You can hope the best
Make a wish
The only answer is
We give this world back to God
Oh, give it back”
Think about this: If the things we are doing aren’t working to give us peace… if we seem to be on sinking sand, always desperate to try and get on our feet…our best chance to get through it is going back to God. And it’s worth repeating this twice: While we are looking for that safe place to stand– we should get down on our knees, because it is there we will find it.
Bible Verses
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.” –Psalm 34:17
“God is our refuge, our strength. –Psalm 46:1-3
Quote
“I trust life not because I trust the world, but because I trust the God who lives in my heart.” — Marianne Williamson
Action Plan:
If what you are doing today is not getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow, and you are still treading water– or still on sinking sand. Figure out ways to get to solid ground. We can save ourselves. We just have to want to do it.
One Last Thought:
I use this every night of my life (in bed) to calm myself down before I go to sleep. As my mind starts racing about all I am thinking about— in my mind, I physically say: “Stop. Settle down, it’s time to go to sleep…” then I Thank God for my blessings, which is all about what I am thankful for. Then I focus on Others and pray for my family and closest friends, and finally I end up with Prayers for those who have asked me for prayers or prayers for the world.
Remember when your mother would say, “Settle down, it’s time to go to bed?” It’s still good advice.
When you focus your mind to be thankful for what you have and then pray for others, you are focussing your life in the right direction. May that direction lead you to great things this week. Choose Happy.
Sally Tippett Rains is a motivational speaker, inspirational writer and author of 13 books, including Choose Happy; Find Contentment in Any Situation.
She is the volunteer Executive Director of Rainbows for Kids and content manager for STLSportsPage.com.