Dear Friends,
That W word... it gets us and is something we all struggle with... we worry about our kids, our health, our work, our life, our friends, our co-workers...
Worry is one of Satan’s greatest tools to keep us from living a life of joy and peace through Christ Jesus. We can get so caught up in worrying about tomorrow and all the what-ifs that we fail to see how God is working in our lives and leading us. God commands us to not worry and to trust in Him.
Todays devo is a reminder of what to do when worry comes knocking at our door...
we go first to God's word since it is our absolute truth:
B.I.B.L.E.: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth....There is a lot of great scripture on worry...
Here are a few of my favorite reminders of what to do when worry comes along....
Take a moment to pray before reading these Bible verse and ask God to help you overcome worry!
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
John 14:27 NIV
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Colossians 3:15 NIV
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Matthew 6:34 NIV
"34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 12:25 NIV
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Psalm 55:22 NIV
22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 23:4 NIV
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,Or "the valley of the shadow of death"I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.Or "will direct your paths"
Romans 8:31 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Luke 1:37 NIV
37 For no word from God will ever fail."
Luke 12:25 NIV
25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your lifeOr "single cubit to your height"?
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
7 "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT, second edition).
It takes more than willpower to stop worrying. You already know that, because you’ve already tried it. You’ve thought, “I shouldn’t worry about this,” and yet you just keep on worrying about it.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:32, “People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things” (MSG).
LOVE THIS!!!!! READ SLOWLY:
If you don’t have a relationship with God, you have every reason to worry. You’ve got to get to know God! As a believer, you have a heavenly Father who has promised to take care of you. You are God’s child, and children get special privileges. When you worry, God says, “You’re my child. Why are you acting like an orphan?”
YUP... WHY ARE WE ACTING LIKE ORPHANS WHEN WE HAVE OUR THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN US AND WE HAVE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES!! WOW!!
Matthew 6:31-33 says, “Don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing …. Your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to” (TLB). Any time you take God out of the center of your life and put anything else there — no matter how good it is — you’re going to worry.
The Bible says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NCV). If you’re worrying about tomorrow, you can’t enjoy today. You miss today’s blessings. It’s OK to plan for tomorrow, but you have to live for today. Also, when you’re always worried about tomorrow, the future gets overwhelming. But God will give you the grace and strength you need when you get there. Right now, you only need enough power for today.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT, second edition). How do you do that? One way is to memorize God’s promises in the Bible. They’re like an insurance policy for believers. When you know something’s covered, you don’t worry about it anymore. Another way is to pray. If you prayed as much as you worried, you’d have a lot less to worry about.
Pray this prayer today: “Dear Father, I admit that I often forget that you are with me. I often forget what you’re like. Would you please forgive me for that? I need to get to know you better. I need to get to know your Word and your promises better. Help me to put you first in every area of my life. Help me to live one day at a time. Help me to not worry about tomorrow but instead focus on what you’re doing in my life right now. I want to trust in your promise to take care of every one of my needs — financial, relational, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional. Help me to trust you more and worry less. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
IN REGARDS TO OUR CHILDREN:
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS: Our child (or a child you care about) is on a personal journey of faith. One filled with unexpected challenges and blessings. Don’t worry along the way; instead pray. Take heart. In the midst of our worries and concerns, we can rest assured God is at work.
Dear Lord, I commit this day to you... we commit our children(grown, young, grandchildren) in my life to You. Help me not to worry about them, but pray in faith, believing You are at work. I will not be anxious today. I will be patient, waiting on Your answers for their lives. Thank You for working on my behalf. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
now can I have an AMEN!!!!