Passport

     Passports are needed to travel to foreign lands, but passports expire.  They have to be renewed and, often, it takes time to obtain those renewals.  They are also expensive. 

     When I think about traveling to Heaven, a foreign place for me, I am so thankful that my passport has not and will never expire.  Once I accepted Jesus as the Son of God, I obtained a permanent passport.  It never expires.  I am prepared and ready in the “blink of an eye” to travel to my forever, foreign land, a land where there will be no ills, no troubles, no sorrow; a land where I will find joy, love, peace and be in the midst of my Savior.   

     Do you have a permanent passport which never expires?  It is free.

 

Prayer Example

      I often share what someone else has written as a reminder for myself.  In the Morning and Evening devotional the author gives very good examples of a prayer life by showing how Jesus prayed just before His arrest.  It was:

Lonely- No one else was around-others slept 
Humble- He fell to His knees and even face forward
Filial- He prayed to the One, the Father, who was above and higher 
Perseverance- He prayed three times 
Resignation- Finally, "Not my will but Yours."

     When I consider the example of how Jesus prayed in His final days on earth, I am reminded how much He sacrificed for me.  In the flesh, He was lonely, burdened, and even fearful; yet, He was humble, determined, and willing to give His life for me, a sinner, unclean and unworthy.

Images

     In Philippians 4:6 we are told, "Be anxious for nothing," and 1 Peter 5:7 tell us, "Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you."

     Our weak, unfaithful flesh often keeps us from "letting go and letting God" take over to prevent much of our anxiety.  I was given a couple of visuals to use several years ago and found yet another one this morning.  Although most of my readers may already have these available visuals stored away for use when needed I am sharing again.  When anxiety starts to take over, not only pray but have faith: 

Imagine:  God's hands holding all your troubles, then walk away and leave them there.

Imagine: A box.  Fill the box with all your worries.  Lock the box and give God the key without attempting to take the key back.

Imagine:  God's shoulders standing taller and above your own shoulders.  Then visualize all your worries falling onto the taller shoulders taking all the weight that need not fall upon your own. 

Simple let the Lord take all your troubles away.  The only thing left is to praise God and rejoice with Him for bearing the load.

Psalm-Focus on God

     The book of Psalm helps me focus more on God than my problems.  I find when I thirst for Him, my heart is at peace-problems dissolve.  

     Psalms 63  gave me great comfort.  "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water "(vs 1).  "For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy." (vs7)