Monday's Blessing
Romans 4:18

“For Abraham, hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of any nations, as he had been promised, So numberless shall your descendants be."

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Are you praying and worrying at the same time?

When God promised Abraham and his wife, Sarah, a child, they were both very old and long past their childbearing years.  They had a rather impossible situation.  Romans 4:19 says Abraham did not weaken in faith even when he looked at himself and saw it was impossible.  Both his body and Sarah's womb were as good as dead.  yet verse 20 says, "No unbelief or distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God." Abraham waited twenty long years for God to fulfill His promise, and he never gave up!

This story about Abraham touches home.  It is a touching example because it amazed me that he had such a huge task - really an impossible situation - and yet he stayed beyond the problem-filled task as he hung on to the promise of God. That's what we have to do.

In whatever situation you are in right now in your life - whether it is something with your kids, or your marriage, or your finances, or you think you're never going to recover from you past, or your fighting with an addiction, or sin that keeps trying to cling to you - know that God is greater than any problem you have.  Don't worry, because when you pray and then you worry, the worry nullifies your prayer.  Prayer is something yo do INSTEAD of worry.  It's not something you do WITH worry. Worry says we don't really think God is going to come through, so we are going to have a backup plan in case He doesn't.  Prayer says we trust God to Work it out.

We don't need to know what God is going to do or when He is going to do it: we just need to know that He is with us.  God is working in your life right now in ways you don't see, don't feel, and don't understand.  Just because what is going on in your life right now doesn't feel good doesn't mean God is not working.  He is!

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "not worry when I pray"

Pray:

Help me to meditate each day: "Lord, teach me to pray and not worry.  Remind me that you will take care of it all." 
​
Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me. Remind me that prayer motivates me.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.

Monday's Blessing
Isaiah 50:4

“He wakens me morning by morning, He wakens my ear to hear as a disciple."

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What are your mornings like? A whirlwind of time spent pressing to ensure you're to work on time?  The kids are at school on time?  

I am going to add something more.  A bit of peace in the morning that is going to make things different for your entire day.  Nothing will prepare you to face what you have to do at work today, at home, in a relationship, or in daily life like ensuring you spend some time to commune with God before you busy day begins.

When I first understood that I needed to prepare myself for every day by spending time with God, I didn't know where I was going to fit this in.  I was already teetering by minutes to make it to work on time.  How was I possibly going to fit another moment in my day in the morning? But, I realized I have such a nicer day if I spend a few minutes with God first.  

At the moment, I have Jesus Calling and the Bible near my bed.  I always like to work with a spiritual book and the Bible at the same time to offer more insight to my spiritual needs.  I don't spend extra money on these books, they are all available at my local library.  I take these minutes looking over both and staying quiet for God' personal message.

I know many people feel extremely pressed for time, and the very thought of adding something else to your schedule makes you shudder.  All I have to say is, the more you have to do and the busier you are, the more you really need to spend time with God.  I do not know how you need to adjust your schedule, but I can tell you adding 5 - 10 more minutes for some short readings and prayer is not going to break the bank.  You'll just get off Facebook sooner.  I do know that the time with God is like the money you give him.  He always gives it back in return.

God is in charge of time: He knows how much time you need to accomplish the things you really need to do, and He can protect and help you manage it, if you will spend time with Him first.  Stop trying to fit God into your schedule and make a decision to put Him first, then work the rest of your schedule around Him.

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "put God first."

Pray:

Help me to meditate each day: "I know my time with you is important each morning?"
​
Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me. Remind me that prayer motivates me.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.

I was at the Daytona 500 yesterday and felt compelled by the good Lord to write a few words in prayer for our president. While there, I was amazed at the astounding roar of the crowd when he took the stage and couldn't help but wonder where all this hate is coming from.  Clearly, in this crowd everyone was in awe as Air Force One approached.  Seeing all this, I noticed that over 50,000 people stood to their feet as he gave his address.  I am certain there are so many more out there not at all like the news propaganda professes.  So this President's Day, please join me and others praying that our Almighty God directs and protects him.

​Presidents' Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, in honor of all presidents who have served in the United States. It originated after George Washington's death in 1799 and was originally in honor of his birthday, February 22. By 1885, the entire country recognized the holiday; the celebration of Washington's birth joined the ranks of only four other federal holidays at the time: Christmas Day, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving. It was also the first national holiday that recognized and was named after an individual in American history; the second would be Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (1983). 

In the 1960s congress sought to offer more three-day weekends to the public, hence the shift of Washington's birthday celebration from February 22 to the third Monday in February along with a shift to include the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12), which was not previously a federal holiday. The new law also moved Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day to set Mondays. 

"Did you know? President's Day never falls on the actual birthday of any American president. Four chief executives—George Washington, William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan—were born in February, but their birthdays all come either too early or late to coincide with Presidents' Day, which is always celebrated on the third Monday of the month." 
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Marketers started calling the day Presidents' Day due to how the date fell between Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday, and they ran ads declaring prime sales for "Presidents' Day." Congress attempted to change the name to "Presidents' Day" officially at one point, but it did not pass. Therefore, the third Monday in February is still listed as Washington's Birthday on official calendars, even though it is widely referred to by the public and by many states as Presidents Day. So on this Presidents' Day, as we think about presidents past and present, we remember our current president and offer him our prayers for spiritual growth, leadership, and protection. 
A Prayer for President Donald Trump:

Dear Lord, 
We thank you that no matter who is in office you are sovereign over all. We thank you for the system of leadership and governing we have in the United States, and we pray for wisdom in the upcoming primaries and elections. But we pray specifically today for our current president; we pray that President Trump would draw near to you—that he would seek you above all other things. We pray that you would be an undeniable presence in his life, and we pray for godly leadership over our country. 

Lord, please pour your grace over the people in this country. May the people President Trump governs learn to love each other more; may we listen to each other even when there are many differences. May we stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong according to what you have made clear in Scripture. Give us bold spirits and tongues that proclaim grace and truth, spoken in love. We pray this same attitude for our president that he might ignore the impulse and temptation for harsh responses and choose compassionate ones instead. 

God our Father, you know how we are all tempted daily and that we sin against you every day; we thank you that Christ has died for our past, present, and future sins. Holy Spirit please protect President Trump against the many temptations that come his way; make null the temptations of power and pride and help him to focus on you when he is struggling with decisions and responses. We pray spiritual protection over the president's marriage that he and his wife might continue to grow together in your love and remember the covenant promise they made to each other. 

Jesus, we pray for the safety of our president and his family. Prevent those who disagree with him from taking sinful and unlawful actions against him or his family. Please surround him with security teams that regardless of politics, will keep their pledge to protect the elected leader of the US. Keep close to the president those who offer godly counsel and wisdom according to your Word. Give him a listening ear and an open heart that is receptive. 

We also pray for open communication between President Donald Trump and the legislative and judicial branches of government. Holy Spirit please work among the people in our government to allow them to work together for the glory of God; help them to put people first and to put away differences that delay the work that is needed. Please give our leaders the energy they need to do the work you have set before them.

Lord, we pray that President Trump would trust you and we pray that he would encourage others to do the same. May the president acknowledge that the race you have set before him, is far greater than any other race. On this Presidents' Day, we pray for godly counsel for our president, we pray for godly leadership over this country, and we pray for Christ-centered compassionate hearts for those who rule and those who are governed. Father, we thank you for your mercy, your love, and your sovereign rule over us all. May we look to you in all circumstances God, in your Son’s name, Jesus Christ, amen. 

Bible Verses and Passages about Leadership:

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 

James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Psalm 37:1-8, “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” - Taken from Crosswalk

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are. Amen.



The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia!
And dwelt among us, alleluia, alleluia!

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, before the face of the Lord, for He comes. Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
​

HAIL, and blessed be the hour and moment At which the Son of God was born Of a most pure Virgin At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem In the piercing cold At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, To hear my prayers and grant my desires (mention request[s] here).

Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.


God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make us a people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word, that we may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday's Blessing
Matthew 21:22

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have
faith.”

Do you sell yourself short when it comes to prayer?  Matthew states that all we ask in prayer shall be granted to us, but you must have faith it will manifest.  I can't tell you how many people I come upon that use conservative prayer.  Conservative prayers are those types of prayers that seek what little God has to offer.  You know, asking for those little items in life that "won't be too much of a burden."   Actually, God wants us to ask for exactly what we want.  He expects us to come to the table with all our wants and needs.  Don't be shy! It is our spiritual duty to ask for what makes us happy so that we can bless others with our riches. 

Recently a sick friend informed me that he was going to ask God to make his symptoms bearable so that he will be fit to return to work. 

"Make symptoms bearable?" I asked.  "Why not ask him to heal you?"

"Oh, well, he must have given this to me for a reason.  I just want to be able to make it through the day," he said.

"God didn't rain down sickness on you, Friend," I said.  "The Bible says that you can pray for any NEED and it will be granted if you believe.  Ask for small things, and small things will be granted.  Ask for BIG things and BIG things will be granted.  It's up to you."

Why do we often pray for small things thinking we shouldn't bother God?  The Bible clearly states if we open our mouth just a tad, God will fill it just a tad.  But if we open our mouths wide, then God will fill our mouths wide.  There is great note given to this in the Bible.  One day, Jesus was walking through Jericho with several disciples.  He saw  two blind men in the street.  The beggars began to cry out to him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Many were upset that they would bother the Lord on such a trivial matter, and told them to be quiet.  After all, they were blind, what could God do?  Yet, Jesus said, "Bring them to me."

At that point the Lord asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”   It wasn't that he had no idea what they wanted.  He simply asked to see how much faith they had in him.

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”  They could have said, "Lord, please let us get through our days."  But they didn't.  They thought BIG and asked BIG.  Most of all, they believed it would be done.  And so it was.

Do you sell yourself short in prayer?  Asking for what little YOU THINK YOU DESERVE?  Think BIG and change your prayers.  Ask God for blessing so that you may bless others.  God always answers big prayers when he knows you will bless others with the blessings he gives you.  Pray BIG and ask God how you can be of service.

Daily Guidance
1.  Where in your life can God bless you? Can bless others more when he does? Ask God in prayer to grant your desires and open your heart to others.

2.  Keep a log of your dreams.  The Bible has many references of God touching his flock through dreams.  Your dreams may be the key to your future.

3.  Think Big.  Don't just ask God for a small piece of the pie, ask him for the whole pie! When you begin to think BIG, you pray BIG.  God wants us to come with him with all our intentions.  Speak from your heart and it will be granted and have faith it will be done.

​Monday's Blessing
Matthew 21:22

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Do you sell yourself short when it comes to prayer?  Matthew states that all we ask in prayer shall be granted to us, but you must have faith for it will manifest.  I can't tell you how many people I come upon that use conservative prayer.  Conservative prayers are those types of prayers that seek what little God has to offer.  You know, asking for those little items in life that "won't be too much of a burden."   Actually, God wants us to ask for exactly what we want.  He expects us to come to the table with all our wants and needs.  Don't be shy! It is our spiritual duty to ask for what makes us happy so that we can bless others with our riches. 

Recently a sick friend informed me that he was going to ask God to make his symptoms bearable so that he will be fit to return to work. 

"Make symptoms bearable?" I asked.  "Why not ask him to heal you?"

"Oh, well, he must have given this to me for a reason.  I just want to be able to make it through the day," he said.

"God didn't rain down sickness on you, Friend," I said.  "The Bible says that you can pray for any NEED and it will be granted if you believe.  Ask for small things, and small things will be granted.  Ask for BIG things and BIG things will be granted.  It's up to you."

Why do we often pray for small things thinking we shouldn't bother God?  The Bible clearly states if we open our mouth just a tad, God will fill it just a tad.  But if we open our mouths wide, then God will fill our mouths wide.  There is great note given to this in the Bible.  One day, Jesus was walking through Jericho with several disciples.  He saw  two blind men in the street.  The beggars began to cry out to him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Many were upset that they would bother the Lord on such a trival matter, and told them to be quiet.  After all, they were blind, what could God do?  Yet, Jesus said, "Bring them to me."

At that point the Lord asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”   It wasn't that he had no idea what they wanted.  He simply asked to see how much faith they had in him.

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”  They could have said, "Lord, please let us get through our days."  But they didn't.  They thought BIG and asked BIG.  Most of all, they believed it would be done.  And so it was.

Do you sell yourself short in prayer?  Asking for what little YOU THINK YOU DESERVE?  Think BIG and change your prayers.  Ask God for blessing so that you may bless others.  God always answers big prayers when he knows you will bless others with the blessings he gives you.  Pray BIG and ask God how you can be of service.

Daily Guidance

1.  Where in your life can God bless you? Can bless others more when he does? Ask God in prayer to grant your desires and open your heart to others.

2.  Keep a log of your dreams.  The Bible has many references of God touching his flock through dreams.  Your dreams may be the key to your future.

3.  Think Big.  Don't just ask God for a small piece of the pie, ask him for the whole pie! When you begin to think BIG, you pray BIG.  God wants us to come with him with all our intentions.  Speak from your heart and it will be granted and have faith it will be done.

Monday's Blessing
2 Corinthians 5:20

"So, we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us.  We as Christ's personal representatives beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor now offered you, and be reconciled to God."

Are you're prayers out of habit?  Some archaic method taught to you at a very young age that has not grown in spirit for a number of years?  

Prayer is our direct line with God, but sometimes it grows static, unrecognizable due to our inability to pray correctly.  Sometimes out of a heart that has been tarnished, we have no recollection of how or what we are asking for, let alone our needs aligned with God's needs.  

We are creatures of habit who are slow to change.  It's just something we are not accustomed to.  For change brings worry and frustration.  

Yet, learning how to pray prayers God can answer is very important.  I spent many years telling the Lord what I needed Him to do for me, but finally I learned to also pray, "God what can I do for You today?" After all we are Christ's ambassadors, His partner in helping people and bringing them to know Him.  

From now on I'd like you to add each day to your prayers, "What can I do for you, God?" Then, just as important, go through your day looking for signs and opportunities to do what you believe Jesus would do if He were still on earth in bodily form.  He lives in you now if you are a Christian, and you are His ambassador.  You need to make sure you represent him well.

Are you praying for someone right now that needs God's blessing?  How stagnant is that prayer?  Are you praying, "God, please look down and help this loved one.  I don't know what to do any longer."  Let's try doing something different.  Try, "God, please look down with favor on ______.  Show me how I can help him."  God WILL use you as an ambassador to help this person.  And, yes, even if you're sick and tired and have rung your hands on the situation.  That's because God NEVER gives up, and neither should you.

I have become aware that I often ask God to do things for me when He wants me to do those things for myself.  He doesn't expect me to do anything without His help, bu neither will He do everything for me while I sit idly by.  

God wants us to be open to being involved.  He wants us to use our resources to help people, and if what he we have isn't enough to meet their needs, then we can encourage others to get involved so that together we can do what needs to be done.

Pray prayers God can answer.  



This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "be an ambassador."

Pray:

Help me to realize that you can't do everything for me.
Teach me to pray about what you need me to do. 
Remind me that there is more to life than indifference. 

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always

Monday's Blessing
Nehemiah 4:4

"And Nehemiah prayed, Hear, O our God, for we are despised.  Turn their taunts upon their own heads, and give them for a prey in a land of their captivity."

"Let go and let be."

Easier said than done.  We are so quick to take matters into our own hands then wonder why things aren't going our way.  In fact, I believe it is really difficult for each of us to let go.  After all, God did bless us with a strong sense of conviction that sometimes runs a muck.  I think we just really can't figure out when to use our God-given sense and when to just let go and let God.  

That's because we are always quick to rectify a situation when things go wrong.  We are intuitive by nature and therefore, think outside the box.  But sometimes, those daily situations get a bit out of control.  That's when the answer doesn't come easy and you are pulling at strings to make something work.  That's when you SHOULD know it's out of your hands.

In Nehemiah 4:4 we find three words that are vitally important to remember when we are trying to stand through a storm: "And Nehemiah prayed." He didn't begin to retaliate upon on the attacks that came against him.  He was laughed at, angered upon, raged provoked, judged, and criticized.  They shouted his goal was impossible! So Nehemiah prayed........

"Hear, O our God," he said, "for we are despised.  Turn their taunts upon their own heads, and give them for a prey in a land of their captivity." Notice that he didn't take up arms and go after those fools.  He asked God to deal with them.  His attitude was, "I'm doing Your will!  You told me to build this wall and I am busy doing as you stated.  You will have to take care of my enemies!"

What would happen if you prayed every single time you felt afraid or intimated with no recourse? What if you prayed every time you were offended, or every time someone hurt your feelings?  What if you prayed immediately every time some kind of judgement or criticism came against you? Would your life be different? Would you be able to withstand those storms better? Of course you would!

Many times God gives us a plan.  We begin doing it, but enemies rise up against us and when we turn to fight, we turn away from God.  Suddenly our enemy has our utmost attention.  We spend our time fighting him instead of praying and asking God to intervene.  

Nehemiah knew better than to let his enemies command his focus.  He was aware of them, but he kept his eyes on God and the job God called him to do.  And he simply prayed and asked God to deal with those who were attacking him.  
This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "Let go and let God."

Pray:

Help me to realize that fighting back is not the answer.
Teach me to pray for your intervention when my enemies offend me. 
Remind me to let things go and keep on the task at hand. 

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always

​Monday's Blessing
Matthew 26:8

"And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste?"

Reading crucial Christian texts inspire poverty and living amongst pestilence. After all, all of our great saints have removed all worldly possessions and lived among some of the most incomprehensible places on earth.  Places that we wouldn't even dream of taking a step in let alone working with those most unfortunate.  

This ideology follows us.  After all, to be a good follower and practice the faith we must learn to be tolerable, roll up our sleeves, and infiltrate such opportunities.  Knowing our great forefathers followed such direction initiates such thoughts in our own current situations.  Sometimes, those thoughts are so deeply ingrained that we feel guilty for some of life's guilty pleasures.  

These teachings come from the Bible which encourages prudence.  God wants us to be good managers of our resources and not be wasteful.  But, there are times God has a tendency to get extravagant with those he loves.  He wants us to bask in what he gives us because he loves us.  

Instead when we are blessed proficiently we get stingy and cheap. We think, "Oh, look isn't this wonderful?! But, I don't really need that; I can do without it."

I think when these opportunities are laid at our feet, we deprive ourselves sometimes thinking we are not worth the indulgence. We don't want to waste anything for ourselves - after all, someone may need it - a child, husband, or other family member.  In trying NOT to WASTE anything we miss out on God's special blessing for ourselves.  Then we whine, "My life is so full - I have no time for me! I am so busy doing for everyone else!"

Take another look at today's verse.  It is a time right before Christ's suffering.  He went to Simon's house, where a woman named Mary came up to him and poured expensive perfume on his head as he was relaxing at a table.  He must have just finished a wonderful meal from his friends.  When the disciples saw what she did that became angered and exclaimed, "For what purpose is all this WASTE?!" They went on to state, "This perfume could have been sold and money given to the pour."

Oh how we miss messages.  Jesus spoke often of the poor.  He encouraged all to remember to help those in need.  He NEVER stated that we must deprive ourselves of any indulgences in the meantime.

He quickly turned and told them not to bother the woman, because she had done a wonderful thing for him.  He added that such a thing helped him prepare for the days ahead.  (Matthew 26:6-12) This love she showed him helped give him strength for the upcoming persecution, trail, suffering, crucifixion, and death.  

Jesus was stating at this point and time in his life, the extravagance was worth it.  

Don't live a reckless, wasteful life, but do remember at times you are work a little extravagance.  

This Week's Meditation:

My happiness and function with God are one.

Pray:

God gives me happiness.
​During these times I must accept graciously.   
My happiness and function are one with God.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.

Monday's Blessing
Proverbs 3:6

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  

Sometimes life is like a vast, unpredictable river.  It flows serenely for a bit, and then becomes turbulent from an unforeseen factor.  We cruise this river of life unexpectedly, trying to evade its driving current if we feel it will place stress at any  moment on our lives.  At this point, we grab those oars, trying to steer our boats from unsuspecting shores afraid to step foot on these new prospects.  The fear of the unknown or something that doesn't fit neatly into our daily routines, keeps us floating on a river that might be turbulent, but at least familiar.

But I say to you, grab up those oars, place them in your boat, and lie back.  Let the river of life take you on its path with your faith strong.  Because by no hour do we control the river or its destiny.  God is the only one who is capable of that. If we try to paddle swiftly in front of the current preventing being ensued, we topple.  If we try to avoid the current we sink.  Lie back and let God.  God is with us at each hour and already has a plan in place.

The scripture verse says, "Acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  We have no control over our destinies, your past experiences can prove that.  Life can be going at such a comfortable pace, then all of a sudden, catastrophe can strike.  There is no rhyme or reason when such situations occur.  You can be at the peak of your game one day and lose it all the next. During these times, place your faith in God and allow him to steer your ship.  Realize there is a better plan ahead, and that will unfold

Daily Guidance

1.  When life gets tough, copy the Serenity Prayer.  Keep it with you always and refer to it when those feelings of control root their ugly head.

2.  Don't be afraid to ask family or loved ones for help.  Often, our pride gets in our way.  Realize you are not the first to experience this.

3.  Take comfort in your Bible.  Read it often for guidance, especially during these times.

4.  Seek counseling for issues you are unable to abate yourself.  The American Counseling Association offers FAQ.

5.  Grab a buddy and meet several times a week.  Just telling someone can help you reason better.