Read Psalm 56:1–4, 12–13

Each morning you awaken to an unpredictable set of hours filled with surprises and trials and potential anxieties.

Many souls start priming the pump of worry even before they get both feet on the floor. All sorts of energy is consumed as the mind runs up and down the dark alleys of imaginary dread.

Yet God desires we rise above such earthly circumstances and soar to new levels of confidence in Him. Here’s a better way to respond to life’s inevitable anxious moments:

O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?... I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. (Psalm 56:1–4, 12–13)

Notice the psalmist’s remedy for fear and worry includes both prayer and praise. Calling on the Lord for help, and then offering your voice in praise for His faithfulness. In Psalm 56, David praised God for the answered prayer he was expecting from Him. The next time you feel your legs giving way for fear of something unknown, try bending them in prayer and bringing those worries to the Lord. Before standing up, remember to praise Him for His goodness. Maybe you should do that right now.

Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681.