Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NASB)
“Be anxious for nothing.” Hmm. Most of us have seen interviews with professional golfers who have, when asked how they managed to make it through a stressful round, responded by saying, “Well, there was a lot of praying going on out there!”
Who hasn’t prayed before a business meeting or an exam? Or asked for a parking spot when driving to an event for which we are late? I still remember a prayer I said before a golf shot on a par-3 that had previously had my number, “God, help me to trust in the swing that you have taught me.” It worked!
Something happens when we pray. Yes, it moves God to act: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). But, just as importantly, it changes us. When I prayed that prayer before that shot, I was acknowledging what God already knows: I am who I am by his grace and his creative hand, and that includes my ability to play golf, do my job, lead my family, etc.
People are changed and empowered through being in tune with God.I am not saying I should pray before every shot. I would somehow quickly turn that into superstition, like a baseball player delaying the game to adjust his batting gloves after every pitch whether he has swung at the last pitch or not (yes, a pet peeve of mine). And I am not saying that every time I pray before a shot that God intervenes and mysteriously guides my body through the entire swing, so that I have discovered a new way to be guaranteed to become a scratch golfer. Instead, my takeaway is this: In those moments when I am connected with God, when I am praying from my heart and acknowledging his role in my life, when I am admitting he is in charge and can be trusted, I function best.
Scripture is filled with stories of people who functioned at very high levels when they were tuned into God: Moses had his back to the Red Sea and was looking at Pharaoh’s army bearing down on him when he told the Israelites, “Do not fear! Stand by and watch the salvation of the LORD.” It is why David was able to say to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.” Esther said, “And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” And Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
People are changed and empowered through being in tune with God; talking with him is a big part of that relationship, just like it is with any relationship we have with others.
So, today, if you want to function at a high level, without anxiety and with peace in your heart, take a moment to acknowledge to God that he is God; tell him what is on your heart.
Look at Psalm 91:14 (NIV): “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name.” Turns out, he likes it when we do that.
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Bob Kuecker
July 25, 2018
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.