Worry - Day 1

Posted on Oct 12, 2015 Topic : Weekly Devotionals

Many struggles in your life can become emotional strongholds, holding you hostage and keeping you from wholeheartedly serving and trusting God and experiencing the abundant life He has promised.

One of the most subtle and damaging strongholds is worry. Momentary worry isn’t the same as the stronghold of worry. When worry is a stronghold, it’s become a way of life, an orientation.

People who are prone to worry have an unlimited supply of things to worry about. Finances, health, and body image. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And don’t even think about watching the evening news, or you’ll have a new list of things to worry about each day.

People cope with worry in various ways. Some people distract themselves by drinking excessively, shopping impulsively, or browsing the Internet incessantly. But none of these remedies do any long-term good because our troubled thoughts quickly return.

Jesus addressed worry head-on. He said not to do it.

In Matthew 6, He said three times, “Do not worry” (verses 25,31,34). The Greek word translated “worry” comes from a root meaning “strangle” or “choke.” That’s what worry does—it chokes you and prevents you from functioning to the fullest. It leaves you frustrated when you ought to be free.

Friend, worry is one of the most blatant sins because it reveals doubt in God’s power and goodness. Some people don’t identify their worry as sin. They say they’re just concerned about something. However, legitimate concern is different from worry. When you’re legitimately concerned about a matter, you’re in control. When you worry, the matter controls you. Worry becomes interest paid on trouble before it’s due. In reality, roughly 80 percent of the things people worry about never even happen.

Jesus said that because you are His disciple, you can and should stop worrying.

Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:25-26).

When we worry, we have forgotten who our Father is. The Lord, who clothes and feeds the birds of the air, surely values us more than birds. He is our Creator and our caring Father. Also, when we worry, we focus on the wrong things. We worry about what we’re going to eat and wear when we should focus on the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Remember His promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you. This is your first antidote to worry.