Be Like Joseph: He chose worship instead of worry. When things morphed into a living nightmare, he believed his God-given dream.

Welcome, Praying Pals!

We are so glad you've joined us to pray. As you know, PrayingPals.org offers a way for thousands of Christians worldwide to gather online and pray for prayer requests. In addition to church, it's a great way to get extra prayer. Please share about it with your friends. Take part in our weekly prayer time in three easy-to-apply steps. Yes, it's as simple as 1, 2, 3...

1) Focus on God's Word with the devotional and prayer tip of the week.

2) Pray for all submitted and consolidated prayer requests.

3) Send in your prayer request and/or praise report.

Or simply click here to listen and pray with the radio version of this week's devotional and prayer time with Stacie Ruth. (NW Iowans can tune in each Sunday to KCHE 92.1 FM at 7:20 AM to listen and pray.) Remember to pray for your pastors. Amen?

Click here to join in the devotional and prayer time with the radio version.

1) Take God's Word for It

a weekly devotional by Stacie Ruth

Be Like Joseph: When Things Morphed into a Living Nightmare, He Believed His God-given Dream and Worshiped Instead of Worried.

Have you ever been tempted to think (almost subconsciously) that, if you worry about it enough, then somehow you know it will not happen? Reminder: Worrying never stops bad things from happening. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted)..." (Matthew 6:31) We're to trust, pray, and obey...yet not worry. What a load off of our minds! What a gift!

Consider this: What if Joseph had worried instead of worshiped? When Mary said that she was expecting Jesus, Joseph was tempted to either worry or worship the Lord and follow Him.

"And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:19-21)

Like Joseph, choose to believe God. Replace worry with worship. And remember that, even on the wildest journeys of our lives, God never misleads you. Trust Him. "Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually."

(Psalm 105:4, AMP)

Like Joseph, welcome Jesus regardless of any outward conditions or inward worries. Determine today to seek "His face continually..." (See I Chronicles 16:11.) Amen?

Shared with His love for you,

Stacie

Stacie Ruth Stoelting Hudzinski, www.PrayingPals.org

Do you know Jesus personally yet? Now is the time. Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Click here to learn more.

Prayer Tip of the Week

When tempted to worry, determine to worship. Replace your worries with worship. Our human brains can focus on one thing at a time, so we cannot just "stop worrying" without replacing those bad thoughts with something else. Little wonder the Scripture teaches us to worship and bring our thoughts captive to Christ! For instance, if you're worried about having enough money, praise the Lord for never forsaking you.

2) Prayer Time:

"Lord God, thank You for hearing us when we pray. Today, we lift up all requests submitted to PrayingPals.org and ask for Your best for each request. Please heal and be with the sick. Help the persecuted. Draw unsaved loved ones to Yourself. Help the widowed and grieving. And be with those who desire Godly spouses or are in challenging marriages. Please provide jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless. We also pray for U.S. military members, who protect the innocent and yet are in harm's way, and for their families. We pray for another great awakening in America and beyond. We ask You to draw us all closer to You and ask You to use us as we share about Jesus. We love You and surrender our will to Yours. We love You. We praise You! You are good all of the time! In Jesus' Name, Amen."

3) Share Time:

Share your prayer request at www.PrayingPals.org. If you have a praise report, please send it by e-mail instead at info@prayingpals.org.

Reminder: Be sure to encourage your local pastor and love your neighbors with intentionality.

Special Note to the Depressed and Anxiety-laden:

If you are on the brink of suicide, immediately contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the way you prefer: You can text at 741741, call 1-800-273-8255 (en Español:1-888-628-9454), or use the Deaf and Hard of Hearing version at 1-800-799-4889.

For other battles with less acute depression and anxiety, here are other free options which will help you talk, pray, and find a Christian mental health professional in your area:

Schedule a free conversation with Focus on the Family's Counseling Department. Call them at (855) 771-HELP (4357) from 6:00am to 8:00pm (Mountain Time).
Call Hope for the Heart at 1-800-488-HOPE (4673) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-1:30 a.m. CST; Closed weekends. Línea en español 1-855-867-0824.
Utilize this web site to find someone in your region: https://connect.aacc.net/?search_type=distance.

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