I took a little trip with the in-laws and our kids a few weekends ago. As I was packing I made sure to bring my Bible, The Message translation, along with me because I had a strong sense I would need it. I in fact did. I arrived late Friday night and shortly after went to bed. It was the next day when we were getting ready to go to a lake with everyone; as I sat running through a mental check list of all we would need I felt an intense sense of dread overcome me. This is a sense of doom, as if death itself approaches. Sometime this feeling can throw me into a panic which is not what I want. God calls the man of a family to be a strong and confident leader and that is nearly impossible when irrational panic has overtaken you mind. So I did what I was taught by my Father to do; call on Him. I entered my bedroom and prayed. I was immediately instructed to open my Bible and begin reading the first words I saw.
Bless our God, O peoples!
Give Him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
took us to hell and back;
Finally He brought us
to this well-watered place.
– Psalms 66:8-12 (MSG)
After reading this passage I felt an immediate sense of relief. This is not the first time this has happened to me but is the most recent. Prayers do not have to be only abstract or long term needs but can be used to help you in immediate distress. God is good! Use His blessings!