Wednesday, July 25th, 2018

The world is a confusing place made more challenging by how raucous the political debates are each and every day. Just listening to what is said by each side is enough to make most of our blood boil. But consider the tea kettle: it is made to be filled by water, but that water can only be changed by two things. One, it’s immediate surroundings — namely, the stove or the thing it comes into contact with each day that determines it temperature. Secondly, by an outside force — namely, the person who removes it from the stove. Picture yourself as the tea kettle slowly boiling on the stove, or your immediate surroundings. There is one thing that can immediately remove you from those feelings of anger or frustration with the world, and that is the one who conquered the world: Jesus. We can ask Jesus to remove us from such worldly influences each and everyday through prayer. Thus, prayer is the daily act we can practice that removes the influences of the world from our minds and bodies. All those who call upon the Lord are not doomed to be controlled by the forces of our immediate surroundings. Today, make the commitment to pray over everything that occupies space in your mind and influences your thoughts. Give it all to Jesus and allow him to remove you from the stove.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” — Colossians 4:2