There were many things that ran through my head to keep me from sleep this morning around 4am. Were You calling me to fourth watch prayer? Or was it simply worry? Well it doesn’t hurt to err on the side of prayer. So I head up to my prayer room and see what time with You becomes. It’s always good, I am excited. I can sleep later.
After a time of thanks and praise, I start by listing my worries. Being honest is usually a good place to start: finances, health of loved ones, spiritual heart conditions of my family, painful losses, I’m low on time and high on asks of me.
I’m spread too thin and my heart is producing discord instead of trust. I’m mindful of Matthew 15:18 and this becomes a fresh prayer :”what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person.” May I remember this?
My heart is full of worry and anxiety right now. I feel like You reminded me to look at Your past faithfulness. Matthew 16:5, which is literally 5 verses after the feeding of the four thousand, “The disciples reached the other shore and they had forgotten to take bread.” And verse 7, “They were discussing among themselves, ‘We didn’t bring any bread.” v.9 Jesus said, “don’t you remember?”
And v. 11 “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” In 16:1-4 The Pharisees were asking for a sign to test Him. He said they were evil and adulterous to ask for this. The only sign they were going to get was that of the sign of Jonah. This is the sign of His salvation.
Jesus, You steered people to the big picture…
You conquered sin and death at the cross, I am forgiven-I will remember this!
You have been faithful to meet all my needs over and over-I will remember this!
You started this morning giving me this song:
I love how the song sings, “I will bless, in the middle of the storm, when I don’t know which way to go, I will bless Your name.” May my heart find rest in remembering Your salvation and faithfulness. All the things I am fretting about, I can pile them all up, slide them over to You, and slap a big label on them, “Trust.” I know You got this.
Streams 1/28/2026 ” So it may be that God is dealing with you. Loving you better than any harper loves his harp…He wrings your heart strings with some torturing anguish, He bends over you tenderly, striking and listening,…while His heart bleeds for you, anxiously waiting for that strain-‘Not my will , but thine be done’-which is melody sweet to His ear…Nor will He cease to strike until your chastened soul shall blend with all the pure and infinite harmonies of His own being.”
Suggested Bible Reading:
Matthew 15 and 16