Cross View Blog
A Prayer When We Are Stressed And Anxious
March 22, 2021
Dear God,
I know that You watch over me
and You are there for me,
but I still have fears.
The future seems so full of dangers
like crime, riots, pandemic, pollution of air and water.
There are personal fears, too,
like losing a loved one,
being incapacitated, accidents, sickness and death.
Or, I get anxious about how I am doing,
what people think of me.
Help me to put these fears into Your hands
and leave them there.
I thank You that I can face the fear of death
courageously because of Christ's resurrection.
What a marvelous thing it is to know
that Your Son has gone to prepare a place for me
in Your house of many mansions.
Father, Your word tells me that love casts out fear.
I am praying for much more love,
more for You and others.
Let my love be patient and kind,
not jealous or boastful.
I pray that I may not be arrogant or rude.
May I not insist on my own way
or become irritable and resentful.
Help me not to take pleasure in the wrong,
but rejoice in the right.
I realize that if I love You the most,
I can love others the best.
So I pray for the Holy Spirit
to deepen my love for You.
May the passion of my life be to love You
with all my heart, soul, and mind.
Then my fears will decrease
and I can live with less anxiety
and more peace.
In the name of Jesus, I pray,
who is Lord of all.
Amen!
Paul Emmel
March 20, 2021
The Fifth Week of Lent
Paul Emmel is a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having served as a parish pastor, a correctional chaplain for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and a hospital chaplain and a community counselor. As a retired pastor, Paul continues to serve the Lord and His people, including establishing the Minnesota South District’s “Pastors to Prisoners” ministry.