You lie down but you cannot sleep. Your worry list is long. There are bills to pay, children to fret about, friends to agonize over, and tests to stress about.
Since you can’t sleep, try this. Get out a sheet of paper and label it “My Worry List.” Write down everything you’re worried about. If you need more than one page, fine. Just keep filling it out. Then take another sheet of paper and title it “My Thanksgiving List.” Write down everything you are thankful for. Hopefully you need more than one page, great! Just keep filling it out.
Now, place the “My Thanksgiving List” in front of you and begin to thank God for everything on that list. Let Him know how grateful you are for all the things that He has given you and done for you. Don’t rush. Spend as much time as you can. Then take your “My Worry List” and station it in front of you and begin to share your anxieties with God. He already knows about them. But vocalize the places that are keeping you up at night.
See if your worry list doesn’t begin to fade away. Your worries might not necessarily vanish, but perhaps your perspective on them adjusts. Worry refuses to share the heart with gratitude. That’s why the apostle Paul said:
“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 minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer doesn’t necessarily change our circumstances and make them better, but prayer always changes us and makes us better.
Ryan Smallwood
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