Tension traveled through my body like electricity. What-ifs swirled through my mind and my world began to tilt out-of-control.

“What do I do? What do I do?” I ask myself.

My stomach burned and knotted tight. Yet my circumstances remained. Worry. It didn’t change one thing except my stomach lining. What good could come from worry?

Then Philippians 4:6 (NLV) came to mind, “Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need.”

Learn to pray…Do not worry…Let worry be a reminder to pray. A reminder that God is in control and we are not. A chance to pry open our tightfisted hands and lay our circumstances at the throne of God. An invitation to speak to Him who is able and give Him everything I am unable to do.

Maybe tension and knotted stomachs can become cues to remind us to pray. The worry that wrinkles our brows could be the same thing that drives us to our knees.

“I don’t see how this will turn out…” Pray.

“What am I going to do?” Pray.

“Is she going to die?” Pray.

“Is it cancer?” Pray.

“Why?” Pray.

“I’m worried about her.” Pray.

God can transform worry into prayer and thanksgiving. Isn’t that the way with God? He redeems our sin and makes beauty from ashes. Our worry can drive us to our knees and help us pray continually.

Has worry ever driven you to your knees? How has that looked in your life? I would love to hear from you.

We are looking at praying continually and discovering ways to do that. Below you can find the other posts in this series:

Because I Don’t Want to Sleep Anymore

Praying to a Jealous God

Pray Continually Day 3

10 Things to Pray While Praying Continually

Praying Scripture

Yikes…I put the “F” word in the title. Did that scare some of you off? I mean isn’t fasting a bit archaic and Old Testament-y. Don’t we live in the era of grace and shouldn’t we just not fast? I am slightly hypoglycemic and well I really like food. So really fasting?

OK, are we done with the crying? I agree fasting has been a struggle for me. I essentially didn’t understand the concept well. I “tried” it off and on during my Christian walk. In high school I fasted a few times with my youth group and then a few scattered times the rest of my life. Currently I am listening to John Piper’s book A Hunger for God. Through this book the concept of fasting is becoming less foreign. Fasting helps me remember I need to hunger for God above food or anything else.

Also while reading about some well know Christian leaders of the past (like John Wesley) I found out they fasted. It wasn’t a super human 30 day Daniel fast. Instead they set apart two days a week and fasted from 8AM to 3PM. They went about their daily routines, but when their tummies complained they were reminded of their need for God.

So once a week on Wednesday, I fast. Everyone fasts differently, the logistics are between you and God. For me, I don’t eat when I wake up until about 2 PM. This fasting from food reminds me of my desperate dependence on God. I long to hunger for God like I hunger for food on those days.

Do I think everyone needs to fast from food to grow closer to God? No. Sometimes God calls us to fast from TV or social media or some other activity. These times of fasting need to draw us to prayer and intimacy with God. While fasting when we hunger to eat or watch TV or check Facebook then we should be turning our thoughts to God. Praying.

Fasting is one way that helps me draw closer to God and pray continually. How about you? Have you ever fasted? Is God calling you to fast? What helps or hinders your fasting? I can’t wait to hear from you.

Today is Day 5 in our quest to pray more continually. Check out the first four posts here:

Because I Don’t Want to Sleep Anymore

Praying to a Jealous God

Pray Continually Day 3

10 Things to Pray While Praying Continually

Have you tried praying scripture before? What I mean is using scripture as your guide or direction as you pray.

Praying scripture is powerful because we know God’s word is His will for our lives. God’s word holds promises for us, but sometimes we miss the point of the promises. For instance I have heard folks pray like this:

“God, You promised in Your word no weapon formed against me will prosper so I believe now I will be healed of cancer.”

It is true God’s word does promise “no weapon formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). However we have to remember God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Cancer may bring physical death to the man or woman who prays this, but God brings victory in other ways. The weapon of cancer can only kill the body, but not the spirit and not for eternity. It will not prosper even if it results in physical death.

There are other examples of praying God’s word. I love praying about the armor of God as I shower each day. While I wash my hair I pray the “helmet of Salvation” will protect my mind and thoughts. I also ask God to remind me it is by His grace I have been saved and not by works so I extend grace to others. As I clean my feet I pray every where I go I am ready to share “the gospel of peace.” I pray I will live in peace with God and man as I share Jesus’ love and grace to a world hungry for Him.

Consider praying God grow the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Remember this is not fruit you can produce yourself. This fruit only comes from God’s Spirit. Praying He grows patience and kindness and gentleness in your life are wonderful ways to pray scripture.

Using God’s names as you speak to Him can be humbling and comforting. When you feel invisible pray to the God who sees you. If you can’t see a way through or out of your situation pray to the God who is able. When you struggle knowing what to do next pray to the God who has plans for you. Over all our prayers we also need to pray like Jesus did and pray “…not my will, but Yours [God's] be done.”

Praying scripture is powerful. What scriptures do you pray?