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•A Prayer for the Anxious Heart•By Anthony Valente👉 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.(Philippians 4:6-7)Growing up, I learned very early on that not much in my life would stay consistent and that the pattern of my life would include a lot of change, and sometimes drastic change. It did not take long for a heart of anxiety to be formed in my life because there was not much in my life that I could run to for security.As I got older, I ran toward other things, other people, trying to fill a void in my heart only God could fill. As a result, I was constantly anxious and depressed.But, after my life hit rock bottom, my eyes were truly opened to my selfish existence and my deep desire to find something firm and secure. I realized God was the security and peace I was searching for, even in the midst of change.Change is just a part of life. How we handle that change is where we will discover where our hope and sense of security lies. If change is causing you to worry or stress out, you need not to run to other things or people to try to fix your anxiousness. You will always be disappointed, left feeling empty and even more anxious. You must run to God.Philippians 4:6 tells us that we must not allow anxiety to overwhelm us, but instead, we are to come to God in prayer and cry out to Him with our requests, full of a thankful heart knowing He hears us.“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”Nothing is too small when it comes to our prayers to God; He wants us to come to Him about everything! God not only hears our prayers; He responds with giving us His peace and protection.“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”God’s peace is like nothing else this world can offer; it is beyond all human logic or reasoning. He promises to protect our hearts and minds when we dwell on our position in Jesus, as forgiven children of God. He is not only the Creator and sustainer of life, but He is our heavenly Father that longs to protect and provide for us.When you are anxious, do you find yourself looking to other things, mind altering substances, or people to calm your heart? We must learn to run to the throne of God first and ask for His peace to invade your troubled heart when we are faced with changes in our life that may bring about many unknowns and uncertainties. The Lord is faithful to bring peace to our lives that will carry us through the storms of life when we are tempted to worry and live in fear.Let us pray.✝️ Heavenly Father,My heart is full of anxiety. Things feel so out of my control. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. But I know You are the author of my future. I trust that You hold my life in Your hands.Help me to grow in that trust when I am tempted to fear the unknown. Holy Spirit, remind me to cry out to God when I am scared instead of looking to other things or people to try to distract myself from the worry. Like scripture encourages us to do, I cast all my anxieties upon You, Lord, knowing that You care for me because You are a good Father that longs to provide for my needs, both physical and emotional.I remind my heart right now to remain thankful; You hear every request and every cry. I continue to cry out for help. I lift my eyes to heaven and fix my gaze upon my ever-present help in time of need.Lord, thank You for being a constant in my life. Thank you for being my solid rock when everything around me seems to be shaking. I choose to rest in Your peace — a promise that You are faithful to keep. I trust and love You Lord.In Jesus’ Name, AMEN 🙏 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.(1 John 4:18)Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9)Oh, love me — and right now! — hold me tight! Just the way you promised.(Psalm 119:76) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.(John 10:27-28)Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].(Proverbs 4:25)(pic verse)I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.(Ezekiel 36:26-27)Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld