Tag: prayer

  • From Worry to Worship

    From Worry to Worship

    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…”

    Worry is often our first reaction when life feels uncertain. It creeps in quietly and quickly—through unanswered prayers, unexpected detours, or the weight of responsibilities that feel too heavy to carry. Yet in Philippians 4:6–7, Paul offers a different response.

    Instead of letting worry take the lead, he invites us to pray and praise.

    Worry drains our energy and clouds our vision, but worship redirects both. When we worship, our focus shifts from the size of our problem to the greatness of our God. Prayer becomes our release valve—where anxiety is exchanged for assurance.

    Gratitude becomes our weapon—reminding us of God’s past faithfulness and His unchanging nature.

    It’s not that our circumstances instantly change when we pray; it’s that we do. The peace of God doesn’t depend on the absence of trouble but on the presence of the One who calms the storm inside of us. His peace “guards our hearts and minds,” standing like a divine shield against fear, doubt, and despair.

    So, when worry starts whispering, let worship rise louder.
    When anxiety starts to spiral, lift it up in prayer.
    When your thoughts feel tangled, anchor them in gratitude.

    Because every time you turn your worry into worship, you remind your heart who’s really in control. And in that surrender, peace begins to flow—steady, quiet, and strong.

    Reflect:

    • What situation are you most worried about right now?
    • How can you turn that concern into a prayer of worship and thanksgiving today?

    Prayer:
    Father, thank You for inviting me to trade my worries for Your peace. When I’m tempted to fear, remind me to bring every burden to You in prayer. Help me choose worship over worry, and gratitude over anxiety. Let Your peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Silent Prayer

    Silent Prayer

    When I first began my career in coaching and training, I found it very hard to just sit in silence.

    The silence of waiting for someone to give a thought was palpable. It also arose when waiting for an answer to a question. Or even when asking for a volunteer. I had a need to fill the silence.

    Do you ever feel that way when you pray?

    My prayer often looks something like this…I pray for what I want. I thank. I want. I thank. I talk. I listen. And then I talk some more. I find myself so drawn to stay in conversation with Him.

    I get tired of repeating what I know He already heard. I also get tired of mentioning what I know He has already taken care of. I just don’t know the outcome yet.

    As a natural introvert, I get anxious going to events where I don’t know people. I stress over what to talk with people about. How to start a conversation without relying on weather talk. How to avoid offending them by asking what they may find to be a personal question.

    How to keep a conversation going in- order- to avoid that awkward silence and stand there with nothing to say.

    Can you relate? I am in awe of individuals who can immediately feel comfortable at those events and know just what to say.

    Communication is a two way street. It’s not all up to me to keep the conversation going. It is a joint effort and a combination of both talking and listening. Listening for those clues in the conversation that will spark other topics of conversation.

    I think prayer needs to be the same way. Not just one sided talking about what I want, need, and desire. It’s also about listening.

    Just being quiet in the silence to hear what is being said. We need to just Be.

    When I sit in the quiet and silence my mind. I realize I am being drawn not to keep talking to Him. Instead, I am drawn to “be” with Him. To just rest in His presence and know I am okay.

    He asks us to “be still and know that He is God.” We don’t have to work to fill the silence.

    I have been in a time of In-between lately. A time of no longer and not yet. This in between place is also a place that can feel very silent. A time of feeling very alone. A time when I am drawn to fill the silence with anything but that…silence.

    What God has had me doing doesn’t seem to be working. However, I am not yet in the fullness of God’s promise. It’s easy to feel stuck, uncertain, and restless. I have found in scripture that this in-between season is not without purpose.

    In 2 Corinthians 5:5, we’re told that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

    Even in the waiting, God is working in us and through us.

    I have found that the best things to do when in a season of in-between, is to:

    1. Pursue intimacy with God: I have used this season to deepen my relationship with the Lord. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and worship. As I have drawn near to Him, I’ve found comfort, guidance, and strength for the journey ahead.
    2. Reflect and learn: It has been a time to reflect on the season I may have to leave behind. What has God taught me? What can I carry forward into the new chapter? What are areas for growth? What do I need to surrender to God?
    3. Prepare for what’s next: I might not know exactly what God has in store. However, I can prepare my heart and mind. I can develop habits, skills, and character that will serve me well in the future.
    4. Serve others: I have looked for ways to serve and bless those around me. It has been a powerful way to shift my focus from my own waiting to being a blessing to others.
    5. Trust in God’s sovereignty: I am remembering that God is working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). I trust that He has a plan, even when I can’t see the outcome.

    If you are navigating the in-between, hold fast to the promise of Jeremiah 29:11.

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

    My friend, I pray that you find peace, purpose, and joy in the in-between. Know that God is with you every step of the way.

    Trust Him enough to simply rest in His presence. To simply be…

    In the silence.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Where is God in the Shadows?

    Where is God in the Shadows?

    Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence. ~Paul Claudel

    We have many questions when we face difficult and tragic situations. One of the biggest is: “Why do bad things happen to good people.”

    A natural response when bad things are happening, is why? If God is good and all powerful, why doesn’t He stop the pain and suffering?

    God sits with us in our sadness. Accompanies us through the valley of the shadows. Holds our hand in our moments of fear.

    Suffering will look different for every believer in Jesus Christ. However, the desired end result should look the same when following Christ. 1Peter 4:12-13 MSG says, 

    “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 

    When I choose to let Him, God fills me with His presence in my spirit. I can feel strong in the middle of that weakness.

    Emotionally, it’s called a pit of despair for a reason. A hole can be dug inside us so deep that it seems everything good has been excavated from our lives.

    We all experience it in different ways. You may have lost someone you love. Or you may have found yourself in situations you never dreamed you would be facing.

    A pit is dug. And despair is the first visitor that wants to knock at your door.

    It’s in those moments I pray for God to get me out of His way. It’s those moments when I start praying for Him to change my heart for what He wants. Pray that I can be aware of the opportunities He has planned for me.

    It’s taken me a while, but I realize, this life is not about me. It’s not about my wants and desires. It is about Him. It’s about me saying yes to what He can do through me.

    It requires me to trust Him completely. It doesn’t change the loss. It doesn’t improve my earthly situation.

    But it does change the suffering.

    It allows me to not answer the door to despair and instead invite His presence into the pit. The pit looks jagged and deep. It turns out to be a God-shaped hole in the center of our beings. A hole that is dug by circumstances and choices, and we can choose to fill it with His grace.

    We all live in a place of unknown realities. He has ensured that we don’t have to suffer.

    We get to choose whether to trust Him. Then, ask Him to show us how He wants to use us.

    Then, say yes.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • The Luck of the Irish: Finding Blessings Beyond the Blarney Stone

    As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, many of us will be donning green attire, searching for four-leaf clovers, and perhaps even kissing the Blarney Stone in hopes of securing a wee bit of good fortune. But as Christians, we know that our blessings come from a much higher source than a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

    While St. Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with all things Irish, it’s essential to remember the real story behind this beloved saint. Patrick, a humble Christian missionary, was instrumental in spreading the Gospel to the Emerald Isle. His unwavering faith and commitment to sharing God’s love with the Irish people had a profound impact on their lives and culture.

    As we reflect on the concept of “luck,” we’re reminded that our blessings come from God’s sovereign hand.

    Jeremiah 29:11, we’re told, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

    This promise reassures us that our lives are not governed by chance or fate, but by a loving God who desires to bless and prosper us.

    So, what does it mean to experience good fortune as a Christian? Is it merely a matter of chance or coincidence? Absolutely not!

    When we acknowledge God as the source of all blessings, we begin to see that every good thing in our lives is a direct result of His loving providence.

    In Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Moses cautions the Israelites against attributing their success to their own strength or abilities, reminding them that it is God who gives them the power to prosper. This same principle applies to our lives today. When we recognize God’s hand in our blessings, we’re compelled to give thanks and glory to Him, rather than relying on luck or our own efforts.

    As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let’s not get caught up in the notion of relying on luck or chance for our blessings. Instead, let’s fix our eyes on the One who is the source of all good things. May we, like St. Patrick, be faithful in sharing God’s love with others and trusting in His sovereign providence to guide our lives.

    How can you, like St. Patrick, share God’s love with others and trust in His sovereign providence to guide your life?

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Awaiting Grace

    Awaiting Grace

    I had some deadlines I was trying to meet, and errands that needed taken care of. I was in a hurried state as I ran the errands, causing me to be impatient.

    As I was waiting in line to check out, I realized how much time we spend waiting. And, how we are typically in a hurry!

    We wait for Uber rides, phone calls, vacations, and doctor’s appointments. We wait in check out lines and for packages to arrive.

    Waiting for answers is a fact of life—nobody gets out of it. So the question is not if we will wait, but rather how we will wait. How we wait may also determine how long we wait or if we give up!

    My impatience because I was in a hurry caused me to put my things back and leave. Now I just have to make that trip to the store again! I gave up.

    As Christians, we also wait for…

    His birth.

    answered prayer.

    His death.

    His resurrection.

    His coming again.

    Our faith is often tested by waiting. Waiting on God, means that our life is under His authority and direction. If we move ahead without God’s direction, we live in a life of turmoil, anxiety and uncertainty.

    That anxiety leads to impatience. That impatience may lead to giving up. Giving up on His direction and plan.

    Waiting on God is not a passive state. It is an opportunity for growth, spiritual development, and active engagement in His plan. A plan where we focus on faith, trust, and obedience.

    We learn about God’s perfect timing and His ability to be in charge of every detail. We so often long for proof, but that is where faith comes in. Faith is believing and trusting in God, even without seeing and knowing.

    Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of Faith – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

    Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

    In the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of waiting is, to remain stationary in readiness or expectation; to serve.

    So what do we do in the wait?

    Focus on the readiness of your spiritual development.

    Be in prayer – Seek God’s guidance, strength and wisdom during the wait. Ask Him to give you an open mind, a humble heart, and faithful feet. To know, accept, and walk where He is guiding you.

    Study His word – His word is truth. Allow His truth to shape your understanding and deepen you faith in the plan He is forming.

    Focus on how you can serve others.

    Serve and minister to those around you, showing compassion and love. You can do this by engaging and participating in church and/or community outreach.

    Be in the present moment. If you focus on the future, you are missing what God is needing from you now. Because if this is your life, if this is where you are at, then this is where God is too. Don’t waste time worrying about a future you have no control over.

    What is unknown to us, is not unknown to Him.

    Lent is a time for waiting. Waiting for his death. Waiting for Easter Sunday. The resurrection. The grace we receive because of His love for us.

    I pray for strength. Strength in our faith to trust in His plan. Be encouraged and take time to grow spiritually during this season.

    His gift of grace provides us His love, forgiveness, and acceptance even though we haven’t earned it. It’s a gift that can transform our lives and relationships. 

    It’s worth the wait!

    With love and joy,

    Laura