Casting Cares in Prayer

Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

What to do with anxious thoughts? Give them up through prayer and petition. 

What do you get in return? Peace that surpasses understanding to guard your hearts and minds.

Fair trade? No! But a really good one! Thank You Lord! Amen!

If I awake in the night and can't get back to sleep because of an active mind I go fishing with The Lord.

Huh???

I have created a story that I participate in. It had it's beginning in a childhood memory.

Once, long ago, when dragons walked the earth....oops! No, when my mother was having my second sister, my brother Peter and I caught the bus out of town to where my grandparents were camping by the river. They had a big green canvas tent, inside were 4 fold up beds with lots of colourful blankets on. In the corner was a small suitcase with our clothes in. I have fond memories of that suitcase, little piles of our clothes folded neatly, lots of choices. There was a kerosene fridge to one side and hanging from the centre pole was a kerosene lantern with little cotton filaments that were lit as the kerosene soaked them. I loved the sound of the lantern burning and watching the bugs collect around the lantern at night.

Outside the tent was the fire on which the big iron kettle sat, always close to boiling for making billy tea.

I remember the first thing I would do was remove my school bag and school uniform and put it all on the nearest bed, remove my shoes and wiggle them in the sand. I could smell the river and feel the breeze.

My grandfather had an old tin boat and I remember the sound of it scraping across the pebbles and he launched it out into the river. I can hear the sound of the water lapping against the tin boat and hear the creak of the oars in their moorings, the swish of the water and looking down into the water would see the fish swimming among the weeds.

The very first thing I always do, in my memory, is remove all symbols of work and worry, thus the bed. The removing of my shoes represents freedom from constraint. The play clothes in the suitcase represented freedom as well.

I have never caught a fish as I am always asleep before then. However this place is safe and full of good memories. These memories I have created from bare bones of memories in my past and now the Father is my grandfather and the Holy Spirit is my grandmother and Jesus is my brother.

In the past I had never had a hug from either grandparent but now I do, contact is important because I am loved.

This dream allows me to cast all my cares upon Him and walk into freedom He promises. I can pray and yield my concerns but in the middle of the night they are back, this way they are dealt with, effectively. Try it!