Winning Over Worry

Here's a few thoughts I didn't get to share yesterday.  They are miscellaneous bits of information – which all can be summarized by David's statement in  Psalm 37:8   …    Do not fret--it only causes harm.

   

In the New Testament one Greek word translated as "worry" is merimnao, which means "to be anxious, to be distracted" or "to have a divided mind" (merizo, "to divide"—nous, "the mind").

—To worry is to divide your mind between that which is useful and worthwhile and that which is damaging and destructive.

—To worry is to block the flow of creative energy in your life.

               

The concept of worrying is conveyed throughout Scripture by numerous words and phrases.

•             —to be fretful

•             —to be anxious

•             —to be concerned

•             —to be weighed with cares

•             —to be heavy-hearted

•             —to be without peace

•             —to be distracted

•             —to be troubled

•             —to be distressed

•             —to be despairing

Disbelief

Worry reveals that you really don't believe God when He says He will provide all that you need.

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Worry reveals that you are taking on personal responsibility and concern for that which God has already promised to provide.

Worry shifts the focus of attention from the all sufficient power of Christ to your human insufficiency and insecurity. Ultimately, worry can undermine your Christian witness by presenting God as impotent and unworthy of praise.

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

 What Is the Focus of Worry?

A specific characteristic of worry is a negative focus on the future. If you are a worrier, you are spending time speculating on what may or may not happen and then fearing the worst.

Destructive Worry	Constructive Concern
• paralyzes	• motivates
• decreases creativity	• increases creativity
• prevents initiative	• promotes initiative
• results in anxious fretting	• results in calm focusing
• attempts to control the future	• attempts to improve the future
• fears the worst	• hopes for the best
• appears negative to others	• appears positive to others
• distracts the mind from what is important	• directs the mind to what is important

What you worry about is not nearly as important as why you worry. You may know and love God, but when you trust in anything other than God's promises and provision for your life, then worry will turn your heart away from the Lord and turn your trust into distrust.

May the trials of our lives continue to cause our minds to run – to run to Jesus, rather than run from Him.

    Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28