"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2* )
My husband and I love to take walks along the city roads. A few years ago, we decided to start collecting the trash that accumulates in the street gutters we pass by. It is satisfying to move around, breathe fresh air, and contribute to maintaining the beauty of God's earth. However, it can also be frustrating. After we clean up a certain area, we often see even more trash accumulating in just a few days. At one point, I got angry at these constant offenders, but then I changed my attitude and began to pray. With every piece of litter I picked up, I would say a prayer for whoever had thrown it there. Almost immediately, God turned my anger and irritation into forgiveness and empathy.
We can renew our thoughts and attitudes through prayer. It has the power to turn hatred into love, fear into trust, anger into forgiveness, and despair into joy. By reminding ourselves to pray when faced with negative thoughts like fear and anger, we can transform them to align with the mind of Christ. God’s gift of prayer possesses majestic power!
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2023-04-22