thinkingWhat concerns us most, what we worry about, what dominates our prayer life… these things expose what is really important to us.  These things reveal to us the condition of our heart.  These things show us what controls us.  Next time you are tempted to have a pity party, remember… it could be worse!

The husband of a friend of mine is 45 years old.  Yesterday (Monday) he had a heart attack.  His “widow maker” artery was 100% blocked.  He is in intensive care.  If he hadn’t be in the doctor’s office when the attack occurred, he would have died.

Another friend of mine had a subdural hematoma Sunday night, he is 46 years old.  As I write this he is in Birmingham in surgery.  His prognosis is anyone’s guess.  I’ve heard they called the family in… but I don’t know why.  His wife, 18 year old son and 15 year old daughter are in Birmingham in prayer.  Update: He came through surgery and is recovering.

Another friend of mine has four boys… three are in college, one is a Junior in High School.  Her husband recently left her and moved hours away.  She had to move into another house… has to work three jobs… only gets two days off a month… all their cars are held together with baling wire… bill collectors harass her, and she has inherited a financial mess her husband left her to deal with on her own.

Yet another friend of mine went to see his dad in the hospital Monday.  The dad is a severe alcoholic who’s mind is damaged from decades of drinking.  The son went to the house and took out several 50 gallon bags of empty beer and alcohol bottles that littered the rooms.  His heart is breaking over all he’s having to deal with.  And he doesn’t know what to do…

Then there are Christians who right now are in fear of their life for one reason… they are Christians.  They are physically attacked… put in prison… lose their jobs… and their family disowns them… because they are Christians.

Remember… for you… it could be worse.

What are Americans worried about?

Who will win the SEC football championship game…

Who got elected as president…

What our 401k retirment plan is worth…

The financial future of our nation…

What other people think about us…

What do most Americans NOT worry about…

The price of gasoline (At least for now)…

Who was elected president (At least for now)…

That people will keep us from worshipping Sunday (At lest for now)…

That millions of babies will be aborted (Murdered) this year…

That tens of thousands of Christians will be martryed this year…

That an untold number of people each day enter eternity without Jesus…

With all this in mind, let’s examine our prayer life.  What we pray about is what is important to us.  What dominates our mind, thoughts, spending, and energy is our functional god (Little “g.”  AKA, Idol).  What we think about when we have nothing else to think about is what is really important to us!

So… based on all this… what have you learned about yourself?  How might God change you as a result?