Sunday, September 1, 2013


Turn Your Worries Over to God
“I’m not going to worry unless the animals start lining up two by two for the next space shuttle!”  Barbara Johnson, Splash of Joy in the Cesspools of Life
I like Barbara Johnson’s attitude.  Why worry?  It doesn’t do a person any good.  But I can find the littlest things to worry about.  Everything from kids, family, job, home, life…you name it and I probably have worried about it at some point. And I always play the ‘What if’ game:
What if I lose my job?
What if I don’t have enough money to live on when I retire?
What if my car breaks down? 

Geez, why do we worry about things that haven’t even happened yet?  Have we ever been able to worry our problems away?  No!  Worrying obsessively can interfere with our productiveness and our ability to accomplish our goals in life.  By worrying all the time, we become a broken record, a Chicken Little, or a dog chasing its own tail.  It accomplishes nothing!  
I don’t mean that worrying is all bad. Sometimes worrying can be constructive because it prompts us to get things done, such as taking care of situations that need our attention.  But we can’t let our anxiety get out of control to the point that we spend the majority of our time worrying.   According to FamilyDoctor.org there is a “mind/body connection” where your body responds to what you are thinking.  Poor emotional health can lead to a weaken immune system, headaches, weight gain or loss, insomnia, chest pains, to name a few. 
Reasons not to worry
Worrying is bad for your health. 
You most likely can’t fix the situation by worrying about it.      
Worrying about tomorrow interferes with today.
Worrying shows a lack in faith. 
What to do instead of worrying
You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t put your eggs in one basket.”  Well this is the one time you should put all your eggs in one basket, and give the basket to God.  Then let God do his job!  Yes, I promise you, it does work.  By turning your obsessive worrying over to God, it gives you a sense of peace, a relief, and a reassurance that He will be in control. Don’t depend solely on yourself to make it through troubled times. 
The next time you find yourself worrying; try clearing your mind by following these steps: 
  • Relax and take a few deep, slow breaths;
  • Read the scripture below and reflect on what the words are saying;
  • Turn your worries over to God and ask Him to lead you in the right direction.  
Matthew 6:25-34
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin….  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?  So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ …  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself… 
Lord,
Teach me to lean on Your Word for understanding,
And replace my worries with Your Love and Peace.
I know you will not give me more than I can handle,
So lead me through the challenges I face today.   Amen
 
 
 
 

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