Worry takes the joy out of life. It steals our focus and robs us of our faith. It can keep us awake at night and unhappy during the day. It doesn’t matter what we call it: concern, anxiety, or churn, it’s all the same.
Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down…” When we are worried, we are weighed down. It can affect our outlook on life. Just one concern spinning out of control can make it feel like everything is too much.
Knowing the damage it does, Jesus told us not to worry and Phil 4:6 (AMPC) says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything…” There is nothing that warrants your worry! It only ever makes things worse. So how do we get fret out of our lives?
1. CALL IT OUT
The Bible tells us to cast all of our cares upon Him but half the time, we don’t even recognise that we are worried. One way we can tell that we are worried is when we become stressed and bothered. You might get easily agitated or feel like life is too much.
Sometimes we misinterpret inner churn. We think that we are under pressure or too busy but often it is anxiety that makes us feel overwhelmed not our schedule. Stop and ask yourself if you are feeling weighed down. Ask the Lord to reveal any anxiety.
2. GET TO THE ROOT
The second problem is that when we do realise that we are anxious we often deal with it the wrong way. What do I mean? A while back, I realised that I was worried about a particular speaking engagement.
It was buzzing about in the back of my mind and every time I thought about it, I felt bothered. But I didn’t know why I was concerned. Although it was an important conference, I was not worried that it would all go horribly wrong. So I asked the Lord, “If all is well, then why am I feeling like this?”
God took me straight to the real issue. I was worried that I would let God down. I was concerned that it would be good but not great. That I would not be anointed enough. Once I understood why I was worried, I went to God and gave it all to Him. I poured out my heart and dumped my worry.
3. PUT IT DOWN
We pour out our hearts by telling God exactly what is bothering us. The only way to really give God your worries it to articulate in prayer exactly what is bothering you and then one by one, hand over every angst, every concern, every worry to Him. He can handle your life way better than you.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC) says, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” After I laid it all down, I left my secret place feeling refreshed and excited.
Why don’t you end 2019 and start 2020 with a detox for your soul? If you have done it before, do it again! If you haven’t, then get 30 Day Detox for your Soul and use it to help you de-stress and detox your life.
Thank you. Just what I needed to hear, although friends had prayed this morning with me about worry; it becomes a habit unfortunately