As you begin spending time with Jesus, pay attention to what is on your heart and mind. What are you thinking about? What are you feeling? Is something bothering you? Are you worried or anxious about anything? These are the things you should talk with Jesus about today.
In Philippians 4 Paul tells us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Tell Jesus if you’re worried
If something is on your mind today, don’t worry about it. Pray about it! Worry is a sign that we need to spend time with Jesus, telling Him what is troubling us. Ask for His help, and let His peace guard your heart from the attacks of the enemy.
By the way, this does not mean that we are never to feel worried or afraid. I don’t think that’s possible in this world. The Bible does not teach that followers of Jesus are guaranteed a worry-free life. On the contrary, we are told we will have troubles in this life (John 16:33), but that Jesus has overcome and we can, too.
But we are not to wallow in our worries, as if we did not have a loving Father who is watching us and walking with us. We do have a loving Father who asks us to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) So rather than worry, we pray.
Tell Jesus if you’re at peace
Do you find there is nothing pressing on you at the moment? Are you calm and at peace? I love these days! It’s on days like this I can spend my time with Jesus telling Him how much I love Him and how much I love to spend time with Him. These moments feel as if I am living out the words of the Psalms:
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
God’s promise to those who love Him
In Psalm 91, God makes a promise to those who love Him and spend time loving Him:
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)
God promises that He will protect those who pursue a relationship of love with Him. He promises that He will hear us when we call, that He will be with us and rescue us, and even honor us for our trust in Him. What a promise to those who love God!
Next steps
As you spend time with Jesus today, do these things:
- Listen to your heart and mind. If anything is worrying you, talk to Jesus about it.
- If you find that you are calm and at peace, thank Him for that, and spend your time loving Him and listening for His voice.
In either case, you are honoring God and obeying His call on your life. I hope you enjoy Him today!