four little words...

so...i've been on a little break from watching the news lately...

without living a life of denial...because obviously our economy is not doing to good right now...and no matter what industry you are in...it is a trickle affect...everyone is touched by it...
people are losing jobs...people can't find jobs...bills are coming in...without the funds to pay them...

yeah...i can be stressed all on my own...without the nightly news to help prod me along...so i've tried not to watch...

i have noticed that my life has been filled with worries and anxieties...there was one morning where i just wanted to pull the covers back over my head and forget everything...i'm sure we've all felt that way at one time or another...

i opened up my bible and came across four little words in philippians..."the Lord is near"...coincidence? i think not...

in reading these four little words...i was reminded of the profound truth that prayer isn't something i had to do...rather...prayer is something i get to do...i get to bring every worry and concern that i might have on any given day...God's cure for worry is always the same...prayer...not pulling the covers back over my head...His way involves action...that action begins with making everything known to Him...

because "the Lord is near"...we need not be anxious for anything...
because "the Lord is near"...we can have peace within...a deep abiding peace that passes all understanding...
because "the Lord is near"...joy fills every part of our lives...
because "the Lord is near"...our hearts and minds are renewed and restored in Him...
with this restoration we are able to become...once again...fresh...vibrant...and alive...

this is when i realize the importance of taking my eyes off myself...and thinking instead about whatever is true and noble, right, pure, admirable and lovely...we can then start seeing a little more clearly again that a great deal of that which surrounds us is excellent and praiseworthy...
but...this truly does not come naturally to us...

this is what i was encouraged by that morning as i set out to face another day under the care and direction of the Holy Spirit...

when we allow Him to...He is renewing us physically, mentally and spiritually...