Friday, December 22nd Carolyn Kightlinger
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6:7
I keep a notebook by my bed with my prayer list on it. I had to start keeping a list because it is hard to remember everyone I felt I needed to pray for daily.
Many on the list are friends who need healing or their family members who do.
I also pray for my friends who have entered a new stage of life where one is the caregiver of the other. I pray for families and friends to be comforted when they lose a loved one.
After reading this verse I realized I had forgotten to pray with thanksgiving. So I began another list on the other side of the paper with praises on it. It has the names of people who have been healed or my blessings. For example, a coworker and her husband that have been battling with his kidney disease for at least 10 years. Now they also need healing for her breast cancer. I ask for healing and also praise God that the husband is still with us after all this time. A friend’s child spent a year at St Jude’s when he was nine. Even though he is now in college, he is still on my list as a praise because he did survive. Many times I praise God for his blessings on me. He has given me Jesus, my family, and many dear friends. Even though my parents are gone, I often praise him for giving me many years with them and the love they showered me with. I praise him for the wonderful in-laws he gave me. I praise God for the beautiful world around me. I now look for ways to not only petition God for, but to thank him.
When you are in prayer, look at what you are praying and think about how you can turn it into a praise.
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