PACKAGE PRAYER

—A Spiritual Exercise

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Soft background music may help set the tone. Begin this exercise by closing your eyes, and breathe deeply and slowly for a minute. Now mentally articulate one by one the concerns and worries on your mind today, such as things you need to take care of, or situations at work or with your children, or health issues.

As you bring up in your mind each thing that you’re concerned about, imagine yourself packaging it up and placing it in Jesus’ hands. As you do, thank Jesus for how He’s going to deal with that problem in the way He knows is best.

Take as much time as you need to unload all of your cares in this specific, methodical way.

Discipline your mind to focus on each problem only as long as it takes to call it up in your mind and picture yourself handing it over to Jesus. Once it’s in His hands, don’t dwell on it any longer or let your thoughts wander to the details, but move on to the next problem.

When you have finished going through your list, thank and praise Him for His unfailing love, His unlimited power, His concern for you, and His help in working out your problems. •