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"The path to peace is paved with prayer."

A thought by Max Lucado from his book. Trade Your Cares for Calm (p. xi). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I haven’t even gotten through the introduction to this book yet but I thought this might be just what you needed today.  

Max says, “Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family of trapeze artists known as the Rodleighs. He traveled with the Rodleighs for a time, watching them fly through the air with elegant poise. When he asked one of the flyers the secret of successful acrobatic flight, the athlete gave this reply:

“The secret is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly . . ., I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for Joe [my catcher] to catch me and pull me safely over the apron. . . . The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. It’s Joe’s task to catch me. If I grabbed Joe’s wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him.”

Max goes on, “In the great trapeze act of salvation, God is the Catcher; we are the flyers. We trust. We rely solely upon God’s ability to catch us. As we do, a wonderful thing happens: we find peace. We find joy. We find it is possible to be anxious for nothing.

“If you’ve been trembling on a tightrope of fear and worry, may I suggest the best solution ever? A trade. An exchange: your cares for God’s calm. You’ll fly a lot freer without allowing worries to weigh you down. And in their place, you’ll receive the Lord’s mercy, goodness, and peace.

“Are you ready to worry less and trust more? The path to peace is paved with prayer.

“Rather than react to circumstances with clenched hands, reach out to the Father with outstretched arms. He’s waiting to catch you, take hold of your anxieties, and in the process, trade your cares for his calm.”

Philippians 4:6–8, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

He is ready and wanting to trade your cares for his calm? 


Yes, yes!
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