Julie Gillies - Prayers to Calm Your Anxious Heart: 100 Reassuring Devotions

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Cover design by Studio Gearbox

Cover photo KanokpolTokumhnerd / Shutterstock

Interior design by KUHN Design Group

Julie K. Gillies is represented by MacGregor and Luedeke Literary, Inc.

Prayers to Calm Your Anxious Heart

Copyright 2020 by Julie K. Gillies

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7792-0 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7793-7 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gillies, Julie K., author.

Title: Prayers to calm your anxious heart : 100 reassuring devotions / Julie K. Gillies.

Description: Eugene, Oregon : Harvest House Publishers, 2020.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020018502 (print) | LCCN 2020018503 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736977920 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780736977937 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: AnxietyReligious aspectsChristianityPrayers and devotions. | Trust in GodChristianityPrayers and devotions. | DiariesAuthorshipReligious aspects.

Classification: LCC BV4908.5 .G535 2020 (print) | LCC BV4908.5 (ebook) | DDC 242/.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020018502

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020018503

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For Emily and Audrey, with love.

I ts a heartbreaking reality: Were a nation plagued by anxiety, which affects more than 40 million adults in the United States. Ive wrestled with anxiety on many occasions and have family members and friends who daily struggle with anxietys oppressive reality.

This book is an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to let your heart rest in Gods calming presence. The devotions are all Scripture based, because Gods Word brings the comfort, stability, and truth that will fill your heart with His peace. Im a fan of learning by doing, so Ive provided prayers you can pray to reinforce each days verse and thoughts.

The Heart Notes section at the end of each devotion is a time for you to quiet your heart and journal your thoughts, getting your anxieties out of your head and into Gods hands. Its a place to remind yourself of all that stirred your soul as you read and prayed. Its a place of praise to reflect on Gods goodness, to notice even the smallest victory and remember how God showed Himself faithful in the storm. Its an opportunity to observe your progress and Gods faithfulness despite anxiety and worry. So take a moment. Breathe. And give yourself permission to rest here in Christ.

As you begin this devotional journey, know this: Though God doesnt always keep you from the fire, Hes in there with you. Though you dont always escape the flood of anxiety that makes you feel like youre going under, He reminds you

When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2).

May the Lord, who is kind, meet you here. May His Spirit breathe on you as you take in these words. And may He grant you His beautiful, calming peace.

.

I know the L ORD is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

PSALM 16:8

H ow would our days differ if we lived with the tangible, ongoing awareness that Gods presence is literally right beside us? Would our hearts race less? Would our minds worry less? Jesus knew our lives on this earth would not be easy. Thats why He said, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

So when unexpected family news jars our hearts, when days of multitasking overwhelm us, or when we have no idea how were going to pay this months rent, we dont have to despair. God is always with us. We are not alone. He is Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14). This means that God Himself is our ever-present stability. We can have peace in Him. Lean on Him. Count on Him. We can remain unshakable because He is our firm foundation, our Rock. And because He is always with us, we can experience the deep, moment-by-moment peace and stability our hearts craveno matter what situations we face. We can confidently say along with the psalmist, I will not be shaken.

Lord, sometimes my heart is overwhelmed and I struggle to find peace. Will You please increase my awareness of Your presence and help me remember that I never face anything without You? Remind me that whatever I walk through, Im never alone. Since You are always with me and You strengthen my heart, I can entrust every concern to You. I do not have to worry. Remind me that I can lean on You and count on You; You are my peace. Help me remain aware that You are Immanuel, God with me. Thank You for enabling me to experience the beautiful peace and stability my heart craves. Because You are right beside me, Lord, I will not be shaken. In the name of Jesus, amen.

HEART NOTES

Now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

W hat we think about steers our lives. We can head in a good direction or a bad one, depending on where we allow our minds to dwell.

Dwelling on the negative steers our hearts toward stress and discouragement and anxiety . I never expected this. Theres no way I can deal with it. Did she really say that to mehow could she? My anxiety wont let me get out of the car; guess Ill just go back home. Each of these thoughts takes our minds to an upsetting, distressing place. A place where anxiety increases and interferes with our peace.

But what if we prayed first, asking the Lord to help us reframe our circumstances and think differently? How might that change our feelings? I never expected this, but God will give me wisdom and grace to deal with it. Did she really say that to me? Then she must be hurting; I will forgive her and pray for her. My anxiety wants to keep me in the car, but Im going to make the effort anyway, with faith that God will be with me and help me.

Dwelling on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise recalibrates our hearts and points us in a life-giving direction. It keeps our thoughts healthy and allows inner calmness to increase. It fills our minds and hearts with hope and light and truth and peace.