Matthew 6:27-29 (New Living Translation) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Ecclesiastes 11:10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy.
But HOW, really, can we DO that? I think that above all else, we have to ask God to help us. We are just mere mortals, struggling along in our sinful flesh (thanks Adam and Eve for ruining it for everyone), trying to do the best we can. Most of the good we do in life can only be done with GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT living in us.
• ASK God to help, however many times a day it takes.
• Listen to praise and worship music.
• Read/memorize Scriptures on worry.
• Pray, committing all of your worries to God.
• Write down your worries. (I think this is especially important for people who have difficulty sleeping at night. Clear your mind BEFORE you try to go to sleep.) I am a “list” person, but even if you aren’t, you would likely be helped to SEE the things down on paper that are bothering you.
• Discuss your worries with your spouse or a friend. We are not called to go through life alone. Just make sure your friend is one who understands life from a biblical perspective.
• Remind yourself that God is in control. Knowing that our loving, gracious Father controls all things will help you rest and bring peace to your heart.
• If there is something reasonable you can do to fix a problem, do it. If you’re worrying about getting your house cleaned for your Mom’s visit, get up and clean something.
• Develop an attitude of praise. It's almost impossible for praise and worry to happen simultaneously
Medical research has proven that worry can be physically harmful. It can affect our nervous systems and make us less resistant to disease. Experts have stated that excessive worry can shorten the human life. It is ironic that we worry about our lives, but in doing so, we actually can shorten them.
The only way to stop worry dead in its tracks is to attack it with Scripture.
John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
I would encourage YOU to look through your own Bible or do your own internet search on worry and see what God has to say to YOU. Jesus talked about worry several different times in the Sermon on the Mount, so really, I think He means it.
God told me once, “Worry is from the devil.” I honestly didn’t realize that. I thought it was just “part of life” and that everyone did it. I have since discovered, with His Divine Intervention, that it IS possible to live a life free from the everyday worries over things that really can’t be controlled anyway.
So lay it all at His feet. He’s MORE than able to handle it.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment