I Worry!
Who does not? We all worry and the closer it is to home, the more we worry. Worrying however is not God’s design for us, it is not a characteristic of the people who belong to God’s Kingdom says Jesus in Matt 6:25-34 (When We Worry). Recently an amazing woman shared with me her three biblical handles that help her with worry. It so resonated with my heart that I have decided to share her handles here today.
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Lift it Up
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)
The scripture is clear, when anxious… Pray. And when we pray, we transfer it from our domain, to God’s domain and authority. It falls under His supreme power as Creator of all things, Ruler over everything, the One who holds it all together, since before time. He is the First and the Last. We sometimes forget WHO it is that we submit our prayers to.
Turn Every Worry into a Prayer
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Tear it Down
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
We need to capture the thought. “Is it obedient to Christ?” that is the question we should ask about our thought. Anything that is not, has set itself up against the knowledge of God. Knowledge of God is revealed to us in scripture and we need to compare our thoughts to the truth of scripture. Very often we know the scripture, but are not putting it into practice in our lives. Often what we worry about is a series of thoughts that operate like a runaway freight train in our minds. As the thought train runs through our mind, it causes us to disbelieve God. We need to tear it down, so that the thought comes in alignment with scripture. We make our thoughts obey God and His guidance for life.
Choose a Different Thought.
Now before you say to me you can’t, let me just emphasise the word Choose. Our anxious thoughts can actually oppose God and His Word. Our choices are the one thing we can control, and in obedience we can choose to change the way we think. Choosing not to change our thoughts, is also a choice. Becoming aware of our thoughts and how they impact our life and actions, is an important personal growth milestone. Choose to change your thoughts so that they are obedient to Christ.
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Move from Worry
Move from worry to being concerned, but not anxious. What is the difference? Concern leads to action, anxiety leads to paralysis.
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” (1 Peter 1:13 NLT)
Our minds are to be prepared for action, not paralysis. The NIV version says be “sober-minded” and the Message says “get your head in the game.” Now, bear in mind that Peter was talking to people who were facing death, people who would have to rely on the grace of God to move through the circumstances they were facing. They would need His guidance and His strength. In our lives, it is HIS grace, His guidance and His strength that empowers us to take action.
When we see a problem, we should become concerned, not anxious. Our concern will make us “sober-minded” and “self-controlled” and then we ask God for His wisdom, while still remaining faithful to what God has called us to do as His children. Then, from the leading that the Holy Spirit gives us, we will find the action we need to take. From God’s leading we will therefore rule over the situation.
Ever been so anxious that it removes the reality of the Kingdom of God from your life. We live with Jesus as our King, supreme and all sufficient. We need to ask ourselves: Is He the King of my heart?
We need to become more sober minded as to what is offered to us, as solutions in the world. The ways of the world are not the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our King should be the one shaping our lives, not the world.
“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (Col 3:1-2 Message)
Lord Jesus, be Lord and King of my life. Help me Jesus, to fall more and more in love with You. And as my mind and gaze is filled with You, I will grow in the revelation of Your love for me. Darkness and fear will have no hold on me, my thoughts will be focussed on You. And even if I stumble and fall, or make a mistake, I will hear your voice of love encouraging me not to lose heart, guiding me to the path I should take, so that I may experience your grace and stand stronger in faith. I confess that I am not a person that worries, but I take captive my thoughts and make them obedient to my King, relying on Him to guide me on the path of victory.
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