"Prayer Helps Us Overcome"

Scripture:   James 5:7-8 Romans 5:3

James 5:7-8 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

It is often difficult to understand why such a compassionate and loving God would allow His people to suffer. As a young woman battling a painful, lifelong illness, I would like to encourage other women who are struggling to trust in and to depend on God through the storms of life.

Have you ever been gripped by worry or fear? Worry is a completely unproductive emotion. It is the advance interest we pay on troubles that seldom come. The Bible gives us the best antidote for worry – prayer. God wants to be the first one we turn to in times of worry or crisis. When you do, he promises a special blessing if we do the following four things.

•  Stop Worrying and Start Praying. Don't ever think that your need is too insignificant for God's attention. He wants us to pray about everything.

•  Tell God Your Needs. Even though God is all-knowing and is well aware of your situation, he desires that you verbalize your needs to him and place them in his hands

•  Present Your Request with Thanks . Instead of praying with feelings of doubt, we can thank God for his answers in advance because of the promises he has made to us in his Word.

•  Receive God's Peace . Once you do these things, you will receive God's peace. In Philippians 4:6-7 the word Peace, translated from the Greek, literally means that God's peace will “mount a guard or garrison” around your heart and mind to keep and protect you during those difficult times in your life.

The next time you are tempted to worry…..channel into prayer all the energy that you would put into worry. Tell the Lord you are putting it into his hands. Tell him you trust him. And thank him in advance for what HE will do!

If you want to overcome worry and experience Peace, real PEACE……here is the antidote!