Kate Dreston, Christian Author

If you are one of the many who deal with anxiety, you are not alone. God created us with this emotion. Sometimes, it can keep us from danger, but there are times it can take us off track. We can become anxious about a situation when we fixate on: the worst-case scenario every additional problem that might happen the amount of stress and extra work the problem creates how the issue will negatively affect us emotionally/physically When this is our mindset, we are thinking in the context of our human capabilities. Instead, we should be looking to the One who has control over everything. The following Bible passage lays out three steps we can take when anxiety rears its ugly head: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."  Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV) #1 – Connect with God We are to petition God with our needs in every situation. Just as a lamp needs a source of power, Christians need to communicate with the Savior. Without prayer, we are not connected to the power source. #2 – Be Thankful Even in hard times, believers must make a conscious decision to be thankful. We can overflow with thanksgiving because we have the gift of salvation, and the Holy Spirit will help us through anything. Keeping a thankful spirit helps sustain us through life’s difficulties. #3 – Focus on Higher Things Turn your focus to the truth about God. Find comfort and peace in: God’s sovereignty (ability to be in control of all things) God’s omnipotence (being all-powerful) God’s omnipresence (being all-present) God’s omniscience (being all-knowing) When we keep our eyes on Jesus, our anxiety tends to diminish. If you find yourself nervous, worried, troubled, or fearful, follow the instructions given in Philippians. God will help you find a peace that transcends all understanding. *Originally posted at https://katedreston.substack.com

“But God, who am I to do what you’ve asked?” “But God, what if they don’t listen to me?” “But God, I don’t speak well in front of others.” “But God, can you send someone else?” Sound familiar? These were the excuses Moses gave to God when he was instructed to convince Pharoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (Exodus 3-4) With each excuse, God gave a solution: “Moses, I will be with you.” “Moses, they will listen to you because I’ll empower you to turn a rod into a snake.” “Moses, I will teach you what to say and give you a helper in your brother, Aaron.” Have you ever felt inadequate to follow through on what God has called you to do? It’s not uncommon to doubt our skills and abilities, but God is more than capable of enabling us to accomplish His will. Obeying God doesn’t guarantee success. Sometimes the benefit is in what God is teaching us through the process and not necessarily the results. If you are unsure about tackling whatever God has asked of you, here is some encouragement from the Bible. He will be with you. Matthew 28:20b (NKJV) “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” He will provide what you need. Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” He will enable you to accomplish His will. Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” He will provide you with strength. Philippians 4:13 (NKJVJ) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He doesn’t need us to accomplish His plan, but it’s a privilege to humbly obey and glorify Him through our actions. We can trust Him as we step out in faith and obedience. It is more about God’s abilities than it is about ours. He can use us in ways we never dreamed possible. We will never regret following His leading in our lives. May this be our prayer today: Dear Lord, Here I am, use me. *Originally posted at https://katedreston.substack.com

We’ve all had that awkward moment of not knowing whether or not to offer a prayer before a meal. We’re not sure if we should just eat, say a silent prayer, or ask our friend to pray. Maybe you’ve already started eating, and someone says, “Let’s pray.” Oops. If you don’t pray before you eat, I do not think it is a sin. However, I do think it’s a wonderful way to honor God with our words and actions. There are many opinions, but here are my reasons to pray before a meal: It follows Christ’s example. Jesus gave thanks before feeding the 5,000 (Mark 6:41). He did the same before feeding the 4,000 (Mark 8:6). He also made a point to pray at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19). It shows respect. God is our provider. He has supplied whatever food we have to consume. Thanking Him shows a reverence for His generosity. It fosters a sense of gratitude. James 1:17a (NKJV) says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,” Many around the world, for various reasons, do not have the ability to eat a meal three times a day. We should never take our food for granted. It performs an act of humility. Psalm 24:1 tells us everything on earth belongs to the Lord. God’s provision has blessed us with the many plants and animals we use for food. We are dependent on God to meet our needs (see Philippians 4:19). In humility, we come before Him to ask for His blessing. There are no magic words to recite or things to include when saying a blessing. Prayer is more about having an appreciative attitude than words. Throughout the Bible, we are told to have a thankful heart (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). This simple gesture of pausing to acknowledge the Savior can focus our thoughts and hearts back to Him in the midst of our life’s busy schedules. Dear Lord, may I always be thankful for the food you’ve provided. *Originally posted in https://katedreston.substack.com ;