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Week 5 Tuesday
Scripture Verses
- Matthew 6:25–34
- Psalm 46:1–11
Questions to Consider
- Why do we worry?
- What are you worried about?
- How do you overcome worry?
- How does Jesus help you overcome worry?
Plan of Action
- Get to work. When you are busy working towards a solution, it is difficult to find time to worry.
- Journal! This is a great way to collect your thoughts and think through a situation. Sometimes our worry is caused by not adequately assessing a situation.
- Tell God about your worry. Give it to someone who can actually do something about it.
Reflection
Worry does not accomplish anything good. It is not going to help your situation. It is not going to change anything. Jesus himself says:
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:27 (ESV)
If you are able to accomplish anything through worry, it will not be good. You have heard the saying: “You are going to worry yourself sick.” Worry indeed makes makes you sick. Worry robs you of being healthy, happy, and productive. This is a Biblical principle:
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)
Worry is the opposite of trusting God. Worry stems from doubt. It starts when we are unsure of God’s providence and plan.
We worry about:
- Things we can’t control
- Things we can control
- Things of the past
- Things of the future
- Things known
- Things unknown
There is no end to the things we needlessly worry about. We waste a lot of time and energy worrying about these things. Imagine if the time and energy we spent on worry was applied in a positive way. Many of the things we worry about never actually happen. Worry paralyzes our effectives. It pulls us away from God’s path.
The next time you find yourself worrying here are a few ideas:
- Consider the worst-case scenario. If you actually considered what the worst-case scenario might be, you may realize it is not all that bad.
- Do the work. Do something positive. When you are working towards a solution you have less time to worry. It is when you are not working towards a solution when worry enters the picture. Just tell worry you don’t have time.
- Rebuke it. Tell your worry it has no place in your life. Tell your worry that you are a child of God and because of that you have no need for it.
- Talk to God about it. The situation and circumstances swirl in our mind all day long. But sometimes you get to the end of the day and you realize we never said anything to God about it.
- Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) When Jesus talks about worry, this is how he tells you to respond. The idea here is to keep seeking. Don’t give up. If you are constantly striving for God’s will our life and work you cannot go wrong. That is not to say it will be easy, but you will be blessed.
I could not have read this at a better time than this day…thank you!
Excellent! I know I pray about critical situations but still doubt and in the end the Lord comes through. Yesterday
was one of them. How much time I wasted in worrying. I am enjoying your series.
I’m sitting here in Slidell, Louisiana looking out of my kitchen window at the rising Pearl River flood waters in my backyard. I am worrying! And then I read this wonderful message. Wow, thank you, God
I am dealing with cancer issues with my grandma and I am having to make life-altering decisions on her behalf. I am worrying myself sick. Thank you for your wise and comforting words.
Great message! Worry robs me of so much! I thought I’d mention in the video it seems like he’s yelling…very well could be my computer but thought it was worth mentioning.