Few of us can go through life claiming to never worry about anything. From personal health to world affairs, most of us turn to God at various points as a source of hope.
Each person approaches faith in a personal and unique way, but all of us are looking for basically the same things: hope, comfort, and encouragement. There are two simple but important sources that can help us to overcome worry about the things that matter most.
Prayer
Simply close your eyes, bow your head, and lift your praise to God. Confess your wrongdoings and thank him for giving you life as well as providing for your needs. He is always there when we call on him, as Paul reminds Christians in Acts 3:19 (NIV): “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,…”
There is not just one special time to pray; anytime is fine. God is always listening. I Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) reminds believers to pray always. We don’t need an appointment or to make elaborate preparations to pray to God. The only thing he requires is a contrite heart and a humble spirit.
Peter tells us in his first letter to place all our worries and concerns on Jesus because he cares for us in I Peter 5:7 (NIV). God loves you, and like a true father who cares for his family, he welcomes you into his presence with prayer at any time. When you talk to him with sincerity and trust, you will likely experience a sense of relief.
Confessing your sins and expressing your needs can remove the weight of anxiety from your spirit. Find a quiet place when you have some time to confess past regrets, current needs, and future hopes.
The Bible
People with whom we are involved in a relationship generally communicate via letters, cards, phone calls, or text messages. Similarly, God wants to hear from you while you are building a relationship with him through prayer.
Long ago, our heavenly Father foresaw the needs of his human children, and he prepared a lengthy series of communications to be delivered by his prophets, judges, and disciples. These messages have been collated into a volume that has been known for centuries as the Bible.
Divided into two parts, the Old Testament provides an extensive history of God’s creation of the world and humanity’s place in it. Those books of the Bible also describe how God set apart his people, the Jews, to be devoted exclusively to him. There are also prophecies in the Old Testament that foreshadow the birth of Jesus and future return for the final battle between good and evil on this earth.
The New Testament explains the birth and earthly ministry of Jesus as well as his death on the cross to pay for everyone’s sins followed by his resurrection from the grave. Jesus and his Apostles after him predict future events known as the End Times, which many Bible experts believe we are experiencing right now.
The Bible is our Creator’s unique letter to each person who wants to know him and be saved from the consequences of their sins. It prepares us for the future destiny of the new heaven and earth following the Battle of Armageddon when evil will be finally and forever defeated. The Book of Revelation describes the amazing future of those who accept Jesus as their Savior who reign forever with God.
By praying and reading the Bible daily, you can learn what it means to be saved for all eternity as well as what to expect in the times ahead. You can focus on building your spiritual life alongside your earthly life. You only need a tiny amount of faith to reach out to God, and he will gladly receive you.
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive our sins and help us to become more like you. Thank you for giving us your Word and your Spirit to sustain us here and prepare us for the life that is to come. Give us the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to do your will and reach others as indicated by the Gospel. Amen.