Don't Worry, Just Pray!

Read Ephesians 3:14-21

A missionary wrote a newsletter to thank his supporters for being "prayer warriors." Because of a typing error, though, he called them "prayer worriers." For some of us, that might be a good description.
In his book Growing Your Soul, Neil Wiseman writes, "Prayer must be more than a kind of restatement of fretting worries or a mulling over of problems. Our petitions must move beyond gloomy desperation, which deals mostly with calamity and despair."
I know there have been times in my life where all of my prayers just seem to cry out for help. There are times in each of our lives that we need God just to do something on our behalf, but if that becomes the sole reason for our prayers, we are missing out on what pray is really about.
When we can really learn how to pray for people instead of delivering us from people, we will see mighty moves of God. Instead of praying, “Lord, make a way where I am not so stressed about my boss”, to, “Lord, bless and encourage my boss, and help them to sense your love,” then God will have an avenue to really make a difference. When you think closely about it, wouldn’t you rather have your boss saved, than for you to be delivered from your job? The Lord's amazing answers will not only help others, but also help to cure your own anxiety!
There is an old song that said, “Why worry when you can pray, trust Jesus, He’ll lead the way, don’t be a doubting Thomas, trust fully in His promise, why worry, worry, when you can pray.” That song is still so fitting because we often forget that when we pray, He hears our heart's cry, and will meet our need. We tend to worry even when we pray. I do not mean to sound harsh, but when you worry, you are basically saying that God doesn’t care or is unable to care for you. Do you really believe that?
Paul was no "prayer worrier." He prayed for God's people that they might know the strength, love, and fullness of God, who is able to do far more than we can ask or even think (Ephesians 3:14-21). Such confidence made Paul a true "prayer warrior." Are your prayers like that? Fervent prayer dispels anxious care.

“I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”
- Henry Ford