When troubles come......

I am sitting here in my cozy studio - just about ready to head for bed, but feeling somewhat disjointed because of some sad news I just got this week. It always amazes me how often things seem to happen in 'threes'.

I won't bore you with the details - but I would like to share with you something that I have used for years in counseling others that has been a great help to some, and especially to me.

When you have some tragedy clinging to your mind that you just can't seem to shake, even after you've laid your burden on Christ and been grateful for the assurance that anything that hurts you is important to Him, there is another thing that you can do.

When the sad thing keeps coming back to you, instead of praying the same prayer over and over for the situation at hand, remember that our enemy loves to accuse us and use this very thing to torture us or try to minimizethe power of God in our lives. I have learned to take up the gauntlet and in addition to praying for the people involved I determine to take on a 'kingdom building project' to pray about as well.

For instance, I'll decide that anytime that I find my mind being invaded by fears, or 'I should have's', or 'if only's', I earnestly pray for my son's ministry as a Pastor to his church in Tucson. I pray for his preaching, the problems that I'm aware of, the congregation and their many projects to reach out into the community and serve, the children that are growing in understanding through the ministry of the parents and teachers, the physical needs, the building projects, etc . etc .

By praying for the positive - the negatives seem to slip away. They may come back - but then I just pray for another kingdom building project. That's what God loves to hear - and our enemy hates to hear.

It says in Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good". Good advice - and a wonderful use of our time.