Since
this is a lengthy but very important post, we have split in into two
parts. Part One covers steps 1 to 5 and Part Two covers steps 6 to
10.
STEP
1. PRAISE
Psalm
9:1 says
“I
will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your
wonders.”
NOTE:
Praise is expressing to God your appreciation and understanding of
His worth. It is saying “Thank You” for each aspect of His
Divine Nature. Your inward attitude becomes your outward expression.
When you praise God, you help yourself by expanding your awareness
of who He is.
STEP
2. CONFESS
Psalm
139:23 says
“Search
me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
NOTE:
Ask
God to search for sin and point it out to you, even to the level of
testing your thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are
you to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows
you, you can repent and be forgiven.
STEP
3. WATCH
Colossians
4:2
says
“Devote
yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
NOTE:
Have
you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? This verse
tells you to “devote” yourself to prayer and be “watchful” in
prayer. Your persistence is an expression of your faith that God
will answer your prayers. Your Faith shouldn't die if the answer
comes slowly, for the delay may be God's way of working His will in
your life. When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present,
always listening, always answering...maybe not in ways you had hoped
for, but in ways that He knows are best for you.
STEP
4. INTERCEDE
1
Timothy 2:1-2
says
“I
urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and
all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness.”
NOTE:
Although
God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to let you help
Him change the world through your prayers. How this works is a
mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a
reality. We are all urged to pray for each other and for leaders in
government. Your earnest prayers will have powerful results.
STEP
5. PRAY
Philippians
4:5-7 says
“Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.”
NOTE:
Verse
5 tells
you to be gentle (reasonable, fair minded, and charitable) to those
outside the church, and not just to fellow believers. This means
that you are not to seek revenge against those who treat you unfairly
nor are you to be overly vocal about your personal rights.
Verse
6 tells
you not to be anxious about anything. This may seem like an
impossibility...we all tend to worry about something. You are advised
to turn your worries into prayer. If you want to worry less, then
pray more. Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.
Verse
7 tells
you that God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace
is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good
feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Your
citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, your destiny is set, and you
can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard your heart against
worrying.
End
Of Post (Part One)