May 5, 2015
A Little Warm Spot
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Yeah, this is a good one!
A little while back, I used this passage quite literally while my husband was in the hospital. He was not conscious and stayed that way for a day and a half. While waiting for him to get to his room in ICU, I sat in a quiet waiting room at 2:00 in the morning thinking about this verse. Is it really possible not to absolutely freak out when something really bad is happening? So, I experimented on myself.
Don’t worry about anything... Ok. So, I did not sit there and google bacterial meningitis on my phone. I did not project various scenarios in my head; I went on to #2.
Pray about everything... Well, I prayed about one thing. Lord, wake up my husband.
Tell God what you need... Oh, God, I need my husband!
And thank him for all he has done... This part of the “checklist” changed everything. I went over and over in my heart of all the things I’m thankful for. I just rattled them off in rapid succession and when I was stuck for a second to think of a good one, I inserted a smaller one like being thankful for the flowers in my garden and the mountains we can see from our back yard. Thankful, thankful, thankful. I overwhelmed my heart with thankfulness, gratitude, and joy, and my heart was guarded. Dread did not creep in, fear did not overtake me, and even though I was still sad, sorrow wasn’t running the show. I can’t describe it, but there was a little warm spot inside my heart.
You know what I’ve come to notice? That little warm spot is there all the time! I have practiced this passage of scripture before in my life over childbirths, job interviews, relationships, etc. I was very happy to find out that even with REALLY big matters at stake, God doesn’t go anywhere. He already knows what I need before I even ever ask (Matthew 6:32). Why not just be thankful for what he’s already done?
I am super thankful that God did, in fact, heal and completely restore my husband’s health from a disease that most people who get it don’t live through. But I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the little warm spot that guards my heart would still be there no matter what could have happened in that hospital. And being super thankful that I haven’t had to find out is one more wonderful thing to add to the thankful list!
Dear God,
I get choked up when I remember this time. I didn’t like seeing Rob in that state and I didn’t like being away from our kids, and those things choke me up to remember. But I get even more emotional recalling your presence with me there. Warm and amazing. I love you so much. I love that EVERYTHING that I know about you and believe about you is absolutely true. Your supernatural presence in my life affects all of me making my heart warm. And I am so glad, so appreciative, and so thankful in Jesus name, amen.
A Little Warm Spot
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Yeah, this is a good one!
A little while back, I used this passage quite literally while my husband was in the hospital. He was not conscious and stayed that way for a day and a half. While waiting for him to get to his room in ICU, I sat in a quiet waiting room at 2:00 in the morning thinking about this verse. Is it really possible not to absolutely freak out when something really bad is happening? So, I experimented on myself.
Don’t worry about anything... Ok. So, I did not sit there and google bacterial meningitis on my phone. I did not project various scenarios in my head; I went on to #2.
Pray about everything... Well, I prayed about one thing. Lord, wake up my husband.
Tell God what you need... Oh, God, I need my husband!
And thank him for all he has done... This part of the “checklist” changed everything. I went over and over in my heart of all the things I’m thankful for. I just rattled them off in rapid succession and when I was stuck for a second to think of a good one, I inserted a smaller one like being thankful for the flowers in my garden and the mountains we can see from our back yard. Thankful, thankful, thankful. I overwhelmed my heart with thankfulness, gratitude, and joy, and my heart was guarded. Dread did not creep in, fear did not overtake me, and even though I was still sad, sorrow wasn’t running the show. I can’t describe it, but there was a little warm spot inside my heart.
You know what I’ve come to notice? That little warm spot is there all the time! I have practiced this passage of scripture before in my life over childbirths, job interviews, relationships, etc. I was very happy to find out that even with REALLY big matters at stake, God doesn’t go anywhere. He already knows what I need before I even ever ask (Matthew 6:32). Why not just be thankful for what he’s already done?
I am super thankful that God did, in fact, heal and completely restore my husband’s health from a disease that most people who get it don’t live through. But I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the little warm spot that guards my heart would still be there no matter what could have happened in that hospital. And being super thankful that I haven’t had to find out is one more wonderful thing to add to the thankful list!
Dear God,
I get choked up when I remember this time. I didn’t like seeing Rob in that state and I didn’t like being away from our kids, and those things choke me up to remember. But I get even more emotional recalling your presence with me there. Warm and amazing. I love you so much. I love that EVERYTHING that I know about you and believe about you is absolutely true. Your supernatural presence in my life affects all of me making my heart warm. And I am so glad, so appreciative, and so thankful in Jesus name, amen.
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