Forbidden Territory

God lives and works today, but maybe you don't feel that way because so many worries and problems are getting you down. Today, we'll be hearing a testimony from the life of Basilia Schlink. This testimony shares how to overcome worry.

We all have mountains of cares. There are cares which we ourselves cannot tear out of our hearts. Cares which want to oppress us so that we are no longer glad to be alive.

Prayer can help. Prayer can make these cares vanish. But what kind of prayer is necessary? In my experience, I found that it is a matter of not giving cares and worries any room.

Shut the door. Don't let them in. Immersing oneself in cares and worries is trespassing on forbidden territory.

They spin a web around us to catch us in the intrigues of the enemy. They want to bring us into despair and hopelessness by painting everything black, as though there were no Almighty God, as though the cross that is laid upon us were too heavy. In these cases, there's nothing to do but dismiss these thoughts, to renounce them, and to begin to think the thoughts of God.

That means we have to think, pray, sing, and proclaim who God is. He's the Father of love. He cares for me.

I can cast all my anxieties upon Him. My will, it may be given to God, the Lord of heaven, who numbers every care of mine. He knows my strengths, so wisely apportions every child that He will ever send to me.

When I surrender myself to Him in this manner, bringing all my cares and troubles to Him in childlike trust, and leaving everything to Him that weighs heavenly upon me, He will take over the responsibility every time. An important point is that we begin to thank Him for the other times and situations where He has granted His aid, when there seemed to be no way out, no solution. This will strengthen our faith for the present situations, which seem to be impossible.

Yes, we can banish cares and worries with prayers of thanksgiving. The prayer of thanksgiving has the power to make these cares yield, and at the same time, it is a joy to our Father in heaven. I praise your kindness, O my Father.

Your heart is filled with love, peace, and love. Your love for your forgiveness, so amazing. And in your arms I rest secure.

You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North Fortieth Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099, USA.

God bless you.