Turn Your Worry Into A Prayer

“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Would you say you are a worrier?

Worry is defined as "a sense of uneasiness or anxiety about the future.' It can overwhelm us or even sometimes immobilize us. However, through diligent and tender reflection on scripture and prayerfully surrendering our burdens to Jesus, we can release worry’s grip on our hearts. If you are a worrier (or think you might be), take the first steps today towards freedom from anxiety by starting on a journey with the Lord to a life of peace and freedom. The Lord has told us not to be anxious about anything, but rather, with prayer and thanksgiving, talk to Him about our concerns. And God has promised us peace when we do that.

Lynn Cohick, Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University, says the following about worry:

“Worry is a signal that our gaze has shifted to the swirling clutter of events at our feet. We must lift our head and raise our eyes to the throne of God, the figure of Jesus present with us.”

Worry is a signal that something is not right or not being managed well. When a worry comes to you, turn your worry into a prayer. This is the way to move from worry to rest and peace.

First, ask yourself: what are two things you are presently worrying over? You could consider one thing about work, and one thing in your personal life.

Move from worry to peace and rest this week with these three steps.

1. Memorize Philippians 4: 6-7 and put these verses in sight. Consider putting it on your computer screen, in your planner, or as a sticky note on your fridge.

2. Each time your mind starts to go into your “worry zone,” say a prayer. Let God know your requests. Focus on what God will do in the situation. Don’t look down at the ‘’swirling clutter of events of your feet.’ Instead, shift your gaze to the Lord and focus on Him.

3. Repeat step number 2 as often as you need to!

Taking this to God in Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promise of peace when I bring everything to You. Forgive me for the times I have been worried and did not turn to You first. Please give me the wisdom, understanding, and clarity of thought to recognize when I start worrying and automatically turn my gaze to You. I know You want me to be free from my fears. Thank You for the direction and rest You provide in every situation. I pray You will be honored, others will be blessed, and I will rest in Your peace as I follow Your will as I bring everything to You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May God bless you this week as you commit to turning to Him first with each worry that may arise during your day.

Have a wonderful week!

Bonny O’Hare, Christian Women at Work

How to Create More Margin

Margin to me means making space in your life for what is important to you outside of work and your to-do list: God, family, friends, volunteering, hobbies. This is an area that God has been recently speaking to me about: making more room for Him, and increasing the amount of physical, mental and spiritual rest I get on a regular basis.

"Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone." Mark 6:31-32 NLT

Just like the margins and space on a document, we need room to breathe and grow in all areas of our lives, to help balance what we do, being mindful that we are a whole person. If God created the world with a day of rest, and Jesus modelled getting away for time of rest, and recharging, we should too.

Below are the main points and my comment/reflections on an article which has greatly helped me make more margin in my life.

10 Ways to Create Margin in Your Life by Brad Bridges (click this title for the link to the article.)

1) Use all of your vacation days.

Our family doesn't have paid vacation weeks, so we have to plan carefully when we want to take a vacation. We try to take days off whenever we can on a regular basis to make connection and rest a priority in our family's schedules.

2) Protect your day off religiously.

This is harder for me than my hubby. I do some freelance work from home, but I now block off chunks of time most of the weekend to unplug from work and let myself relax, laugh, sleep, hang out with my family and friends. 

"Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

3) Don't schedule meetings back to back if you can help it. 

If I am the one scheduling something, I try not to do more than 2 major things in a day. When I have to do more than that back to back, I work in a break as soon as I can, to relax and refocus before beginning another task. I find too many meetings in a row makes me less productive, and that most employers will understand if you have a major deadline you need to complete before you can meet.

4) Make sure that you delegate more responsibility.

I do this whenever I can. At home, I share the cooking, cleaning and errands. At work I do not take on someone else's tasks if they are there to do them. By clearly knowing what I am to do, I can better focus on my task at hand and be available to assist or train when asked.

5) Only check email during designated times during the day.

I check both my personal & work emails at set times: after my quiet time & before breakfast, over my lunch break, during my afternoon snack break, and right after dinner.

6) Get up earlier in the morning. 

I am the first one up at home, and usually second to bed. I know I need 7-8 hours of sleep to feel well rested and recharge my inner batteries. In the fall/winter, I have to get up 15 min earlier than I do in the spring/summer to do light therapy to help my seasonal affective disorder remain well managed. 

"Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

7) Put meetings with God and yourself in your schedule book.

I write my weekly schedule in pen to block quiet time & bible study firmly into my week. In really stressful seasons, I use an app to make sure that I don't miss this important time as it is a priority to me to remain connected to God each day.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2

8) Turn off the TV and/or the internet.

I downgraded our TV channels last year. We only watch a few shows as a family when we choose to, so we are not a slave to the TV schedule or have to watch commercials anymore. I also disconnect from WiFi after dinner until the next morning, which helps make for a quieter lifestyle for me. Once a month, I stay offline for the whole weekend.

9) Learn how to say NO.

I don't allow the "needs" to stress me out anymore. I only have the same amount of time everyone else does, and God is helping me balance when to prioritize people over work. I no longer apologize if I need to say no to a request, which becomes easier when you know why you should say no. I am capable of doing more than I do, but not all at the same level of excellence or focus.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."  Matthew 5:37 ESV

10) Exercise. 

I make the time to do so because my body needs the physical release, and it helps me sleep better and fight off the blahs. Do what you can with the time you have. Even stairs vs elevators is a start towards a healthier you! I aim for a minimum of 5000 steps daily, but normally hit 10,000 3-4 times a week. 

I would add:

11. Be intentional.

Making down time or margin more of a priority is an intentional act. You too can start doing so by making some of the changes above, modifying as you go along based on what works for you.

What would you add to this list?

Taking This to God in Prayer:

God, I would like to put more margin into my schedule, but I don't know where to start. Would You guide me to the first step You would like me to make towards connecting more with my family, friends and You, as I learn to unplug from work in healthy ways. Speak Lord, I am listening. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

May God bless you as you make more margin for Him to move within your life, both at work and at home.

Karla Lees

Christian Women at Work

Praying for others at work

This current season has been a difficult one for me professionally. I have had to navigate some unusual situations, as I work with and for people that are also my friends, not just co-workers, who are in unsettled seasons themselves. My faith has helped me say yes to new opportunities, let go of some familiar tasks and mentor others to take them on, and say no when led to do so by the Spirit.

This year, I have been studying and working through the book of Ephesians with a small group of women at my church, and the passage written by Paul in Ephesians 3:14 – 21 recently came to mind to pray over my co-workers.

Because sometimes we feel helpless to do anything, but prayer is always the most important action we can take for those we care about.

Together, let's take a closer look at these verses, and why they are great ones to pray for others you may know who are going through a difficult time or circumstance.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, (vs 14, referring back to vs 13 “I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”)

Because Paul doesn't want other believers to become discouraged by his situation, he lifts them to God in prayer. He is concerned for the well being of those he cares for.

(the Father) from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (vs 15)

Paul recognizes that we are all God's children, regardless of where we live. We are united by our Maker, who has made each and every person on this earth, some of whom now reside in heaven with Him. From this perspective, everyone we meet is technically family, whether they know God or not.

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (vs 16-17a)

This first blessing invites God to strengthen the one Paul is praying for right into their innermost being, and that they would accept Jesus and all the richness the gift of salvation can release into their life.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (vs 17b-19)

These next verses are filled with the many ways Paul prays blessing over the one he is lifting to God in prayer:

1. that they would be rooted (a deep planting) and established (visibly growing) in love.

2. that they would have power along with all God's redeemed children

3. that with that power they would be able to grasp, to hold onto tightly, the depths of the love they can have in Christ

4. that they can know this love that is far greater than just knowledge

5. that they would be completely filled up with all God has for them.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, (vs 20)

And now that Paul has blessed the one who he is lifting up in prayer, he reminds us here that God is MORE THAN ABLE to do way more than we can think up or ask of Him, and that He is able to do His work through us!

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (vs 21)

In this verse, Paul blesses God and prays that He would receive the glory from His children from every generation to ever come, past, present and future! Paul prays that the God He is asking to do all the blessing would Himself be blessed by both the results and the praise of the ones He is blessing!

Taking a closer look at this passage reminds me of a few key things we can take to implement in our own prayers for those we care about.

1. Invite God into their situation if they are a follower of His.

2. Invite God to reveal Himself to them if they are not yet believers.

3. Pray for them to be strengthened beyond what they are capable of on their own.

4. Ask God to help them discern truth, not just the knowledge they need in their current situation.

5. Ask God to bless them in any way He wants to - whether it's the gift of presence, wisdom, provision, etc.

Taking this to God in Prayer:

God, I don't always know how to pray for my co-workers, especially the ones who don't know You. Thank You for giving us so many examples on how to pray for others in Your Word. May I never forget that the two main roles I have as Your daughter are to praise You and lift my loved ones and any concerns to You in prayer. You remind us that You are able to do way more than we can ever dream up or come up with on our own when we bring situations and people to You in prayer, and invite You to move in them. To You be all the glory, always. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

May we continue to bring our faith to our workplaces as we lift our co-workers, bosses, employees and clients to God in prayer, believing that God loves them even more than we care for them, and He will move to bless them when we invite Him to do so.

Karla Lees, Christian Women at Work

@hopenhispresenz