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We often short-change ourselves greatly because we haven’t learned to take everything to God in prayer.
God has invited you to cast all your care on him because he cares for you. All of your cares would include:
- Your job
- Your sore leg
- Your car which keeps breaking down
- Bills that are due
- A promotion you want
- A test you have to take
The list is endless. If there is anything in your life that you feel you cannot pray about, then my guess is it shouldn’t be in your life. There are no sacred and secular categories to God. Everything in our lives should be something that we can pray about.
Often when people contact me for counsel or advice, the first question I ask is, “Have you prayed about this yet?” And I’m surprised to discover how often they give me a sheepish look and admit that they haven’t. They’re trying to find answers and solutions without going to Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor. Who better to go to for help and guidance?
I remember once when I was facing a rather sudden and troubling problem, that my first reaction was to call my best friend for help and advice. Now, thank God for good friends that we can turn to. But before turning to a good friend, shouldn’t we first turn to the Lord? Well, I couldn’t reach her right away and I can’t begin to tell you how frustrated I was—actually angry at her for not being accessible the minute I needed her.
But in that moment the Spirit of God said, “You have a Wonderful Counselor who is always available.” So, instead I turned to him, and he is always available. Oh, what a blessing is in store for us when we learn to pray about everything first, before we seek other counsel, before we try to manipulate and figure out, before we start worrying and fretting and giving up.