“ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open, and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”
2 Chronicles 7:14-16
Where do you take disappointments?
You have shared them with relatives, friends, and neighbors. But, you have never taken them to God.
In his letter to the Jewish Christians dispersed outside of Palestine, James, a servant of and brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, wrote:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms,” James 5:13.
NKJV-Bible Gateway
Before you go anywhere else with your troubles and disappointments, go to God.
Perhaps, you do not want to bother God with your cares. You think he has got enough wars and famines in the world to tend to; he will not have time to care about your hurts. If that is your mindset, then I think you should let him decide.
There is no doubt in my mind that if Jesus cared so much about a wedding that He provided the wine; cared so much about a centurion dying servant that he healed him; and cared so much about Cornelius, that He sent Peter to minister to Cornelius, then, He cares for you too.
Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NKJV-Bible Gateway
Even though the Bible tells us not to worry when problems come, we do anyway. And yet, only a few of us, if any at all have experienced the plethora of issues the apostle, Paul endured without worrying. Despite his more than fair share of problems-threats on his life, beatings and imprisonments, he writes the following.
Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV. Bible Gateway
Essentially, Paul is saying if your problem cause you to worry, it means you do not have a solution. Hence it is time to take it to Jesus in prayer.
Heavenly Father, I come before you with a sad heart today. Once again, our country is reeling from another mass shooting. This time it was at a Municipal building in Virginia Beach. Twelve lives have been cut short by the hands of a lone gunman. And as usual, our political and religious leaders are sending ‘thoughts and prayers’ to the bereaved and the survivors. But thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need action.
Lord, gun violence in these United States are as common as oxygen and water. Still yet the men and women in our Congress are not convinced that they need to pass meaningful gun legislation, to put the brakes on gun violence.
My good Father, I pray that you will pull back mask from over the eyes of those individuals in the United States Congress who cannot see that gun violence is a significant social problem. Soften their hearts, Lord. And bring them to tears every time gun violence wreaks havoc on our citizenry.
Heavenly Father, I place the bereaved and the survivors in the hollow part of your hands. Comfort them, Lord. And I hope they can find solace in your Holy Word.
Amen.
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