This Christmas season I’ve decided to explore the book of Psalms. As I read, I hope to grasp a better understanding of God, His love, and that I will draw closer to Him.

Psalm 3 comes from a time when David was running for his life from his son Absolom.

Fear and anxiety are paralyzing emotions. They can grip your heart and and leave you naked, vulnerable, and utterly exposed.

I ran track and cross-country when I was younger. I recall being at a meet in Cedartown, GA. It was a very warm spring Saturday. I was running the two mile race. It was the only event I would be running that day. I recall being in the pack on one of the first few laps.

Racing through my mind was I’m not going to make it to the end of this race. I had sat out in the sun ALL day! I had let the elements of the day drain me so that at race time I didn’t have anything to give. on about the third lap I knew iwas not going to finish well. As I made my entry into the first turn I recall thinking I can fake an injury and get out of this race… Which means I will not have to face the humiliation of defeat… (I didn’t like to lose).

I stuck it out and finished the race. I didn’t do so good at the finish.

The moment I felt like there was no hope and that I should give up – something turned on inside of me. It’s strange and maybe you can relate to this voice that says, “Keep fighting and don’t give up!”

Instead of dwelling on the “thing” that the enemy uses to bring you down – dwell on the Son of God. Allow the thoughts to take you into His presence and tell Jesus what is on your heart. As you do, you will come to know God in much the same way as David. You will also be able to say,

“But you, GOD, shield me on all sides,
You ground my feet, you lift my head up high; With all my might I shout up to GOD, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.” (Psalm 3:3-4, The Message).

“Real help comes from GOD.
Your blessing clothes your people!” (Psalm 3:8, The Message).

I’ve started teaching my daughter to drive. It’s been a great experience and I have cherished every moment with her behind the wheel. I can tell with each day she sits down in the drivers seat she is gaining more confidence.

In Andy Stanley’s message, “Pray until the peace comes,” he asks, “What drives your prayers?” I answered, “Fear and worry.”

As my daughter got behind the wheel for the first time I know she was afraid. I’m not sure what she was most afraid of (the car, messing up, or how I might react to her messing up). Over several days she has gotten better with more and more confidence.

As I’ve observed and coached my daughter, I’ve thought about my own fears and how often I don’t allow God to coach and train me through my fears. I am not like my daughter learning to drive as I tend to grip the steering wheel of life too tightly, step on the gas too hard, and when it comes to braking – I haven’t quite managed how to delicately apply them. I’m getting concerned that maybe I’m frustrating God with my inability to overcome my fears.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and want be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves.” (James 1:5-7, The Message).

“…get serious, really serious. Get down on you knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet,” (James 4:8b-9, The Message).

2009 has been a great year for me. It has also been a very difficult one. I know a week ago God began leading me to focus on prayer for the remainder of this year. A much different kind of prayer.

“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” (James 5:16b, The Message).

The title of the talk I heard Andy Stanley give, “Pray until the peace comes” has become my personal theme for the rest of this year. I must let God in on what my deepest fears and desires are.

The words of Paul sum it up,

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers. Letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message).

I’m praying until the peace comes.

Day after day I pray, “God help me with this, give me this opportunity, help me do that.” My struggle is that I can’t seem to get past this prayer. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest shows me that I’m afraid of what Oswald Chambers calls becoming “frost bitten.”

My desire MUST be to please Jesus no matter what it costs or how frost bitten I may become. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I should desire nothing less and nothing more than Jesus – his love.

This love from Jesus compels me to live within the realm of his purpose for life. “I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him… He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. (My Utmost for His Highest, November 10).

I MUST trust and walk by faith.