Melissa the Prayer, Thankful for His Comfort

Oh Lord, How Great Thou Art.  This is my anthem today.

Oh Lord my God

When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

And when I think of God,
His son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden
gladly bearing He bled and died
to take away my sin

When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow
With humble adoration
And then proclaim My God
How great Thou art

My friend, Sarah, has gotten me into watching a YouTube channel called Good Mythical Morning.   These two guys crack me up.  They are funny and fun and I really enjoy watching what they are going to come up with next.  Yesterday's episode was about a scientific study about how talking to yourself in third person can calm you and reduce your heartbeat and stress level.  Poor Link was stuck in a box with stressful things, including a six foot snake around his head and face.  

I don't think I have laughed so hard since I started watching them.

But the idea of talking to yourself to relieve fear, stress and anxiety - I can see it.  I understand the concept and I even get the fact that when you are talking to yourself, you are less likely to be thinking about the things that are making you stressed or anxious or fearful. Yet, I have found a better way.  

Prayer.

Talking to yourself is all good - ask my husband (haha) - but talking to God, I think that is even better. Those of us who know God and have a relationship know that He provides us with a Comforter - who is the Holy Spirit.  He is promised to us.  Acts 2:38 says, "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  Jesus promises us in John 14:16 that "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." 

So today as I see my friend finally laid to rest, I will be in constant communication with my Lord.  His Holy Spirit will be providing comfort and peace - I know this to be true. I can be assured that I will see my friend one day again when I close my eyes for the last time and walk into the Heavenly home that Jesus speaks about going to prepare for us.  My hope is in the Lord.  Without that Hope, I would be and have nothing.

Grace and peace, my friends,

M