Overcoming Worries

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Luke 12:22-31

What’s worrying you today?

We read in the Bible, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

What is worrying you today?

• Is it your financial situation?
• Your academic achievement or performance in school?
• Your health or the health of your children?
• An uncertain future?

As for me, for a long time I was very worried about others’ views and what they thought of me…

Now I have another question for you: what would your life look like if you didn’t worry about anything? I’m not talking about being reckless, immature, or passive, but rather living a life in which you totally let go of what you can’t control. 

As Jesus says so well in His Word, “…“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. […] And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? […] But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”” (see Luke 12:22-31)

While difficulties are often exterior, worries attack us on the inside. And if you’re like me, you tend to believe what your thoughts are telling you…! We take worries for what they’re not—instinct, intuition—when in fact, they’re only distortions of reality.

I ask God, day by day, to free me from all worry. I need Him for this. And here’s what I choose to do:

• I do what’s possible for me to do: I turn to Him and do what I can concerning my situation.
• Then, I release the impossible into His hands: what I cannot do, humanly speaking.

My prayer for you today is that you may be able to do your part (what’s possible) and let God do His (the impossible)…!

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Romans 8:28

Lay it ALL down!

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

Do you sometimes get overwhelmed with certain things and then think that these difficulties aren’t within the scope of God’s responsibility? As if He has specific areas of expertise, outside of which He can or will do nothing?

For example, do you perhaps think…

• Ok, God can do anything, but why would He be concerned about my car’s broken engine?
• Why would I ask Him to intervene about the problems with my co-workers?
• Nothing I’m currently experiencing is important to Him…

Imagine now that you live in a huge house that needs repairs. However, as you’re taking inventory with the repair person, you withhold certain rooms from him. The renovation wouldn’t be complete…because even the smallest rooms matter!

Remember that if you give your problems to God, “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (see the Bible, Romans 8:28)

Isaac Newton said, “As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things.” I can only encourage you to lay down everything at the feet of your God, who cares for your life even down to the smallest detail.

I invite you to pray with me if you’d like…“Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You can do everything and that nothing is impossible for You! I also acknowledge that You know everything better than I do…Even if I don’t always understand what You’re doing or allowing, I choose to trust You. Again today, I place my hand in Yours because I want to walk with You. Help me to accept what I can’t change and release everything to You. My expectation and hope are in You. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, amen!”

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 4:16

God reveals Himself in YOUR need…

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

What do you need?

Just as we recognize the faithfulness of a friend when we are in need, God often reveals Himself in our need, whatever it may be. He is a faithful, tender-hearted friend!

Here’s how God says He provides for your needs: completely, according to His own riches, and in glory by Christ Jesus.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Not one of your needs is unknown to God. If I again asked you the question, “what do you need?,” would your answer be different this time? Would you write out a longer list, taking into account not only your emotional requests perhaps, but your spiritual and physical needs as well?

As you now mentally compose this list, here’s what I’d like you to keep in mind…

• God sees you, He knows you, and He loves you through every circumstance.
• God supplies all your need according to His very riches.
• God provides in a way that glorifies His Son through who you are.
• God provided everything by Jesus Christ.

I invite you to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need! (see Hebrews 4:16) And to make your needs and requests known to God…even now!

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7

Is thankfulness a remedy for worry?

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

The first step to ridding yourself of a mentality of lack is thanking God for everything you are and what you already have.

Would you like to take a moment to do so right now?

Did you know that you can release your worries simply by being grateful to God?

Thanking Him for who you are and what you have is just the first step, but it’s also the biggest because once your worries disappear, your faith takes over! And God is pleased with an expectant, hopeful heart!

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (see 1 Peter 5:7)

It’s God’s promise, one of His natural laws: if you make your needs and requests known to Him, you will receive His help and His grace.

Don’t worry any longer…instead, start to praise and thank God!

I invite you to do just that with me right now…“Lord, thank You for Your powerful Word that’s full of wisdom. I see that thankfulness is a key You’ve given me to be released from worry and walk in complete peace in You. I want to thank You for everything I am and everything I have. Thank You for knowing what I’m going through, everything I’m facing, and for guiding me day after day with goodness, faithfulness, and patience. I bless Your name, Lord. Amen!” 

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Ephesians 2:14, John 14:27

Where does peace come from?

Here’s what Jocelyne wrote to me in an answer to one of the emails of A Miracle Every Day. “I was in the middle of a storm and was completely panicked about family problems. I prayed to God and clung to Him with all my might but just couldn’t find peace. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. Then, one morning, reading ‘A Miracle Every Day,’ the message penetrated my heart: I was not alone. God saw me. He knew everything that was happening to me; He was there. I understood that I had to lean on Him, let Him act, and place my burden at His feet. And then, the peace that I knew before came rushing back to me all at once. It just clicked, and I knew that everything was going to work out.”

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

Up to this point, what has your worry, your anxiety, produced? What have its results been, in addition to stealing your peace?

• Has worry taken your trust, building walls between you and your loved ones?
• Has it influenced your decisions, to the point of putting you into a situation you regret?
• Has it had an impact on your health?
• Has it ever yielded any positive results?

I have good news for you: God is your peace! (see Ephesians 2:14)

Peace isn’t just something God gives…He IS peace. He IS the God of peace. Jesus told us, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Today, believe and hold on to it: God’s peace comes from the God of peace. He Himself is the Prince of Peace. 

Like Jocelyne, receive His peace today!

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Psalms 115:3, Ephesians 3:20

Are your thoughts limited?

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

• Your limits aren’t God’s limits…
• Your thoughts aren’t His thoughts…
• Your fears aren’t His fears…

Humanly speaking, there may be reasons to worry, but divinely speaking, there aren’t any! Why?

David tells us, “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” (Psalm 115:3)

Isn’t that marvelous? We know that our Father is, to the very core of Him, just, good, and loving, and that He wants to see us grow in Him. He makes all things work together for our good.

And what He desires, He does.

Our intelligence, our own understanding—everything concerning us—is limited. But with God, nothing is!

Think about this: an intelligent person knows just how little he/she knows but that God knows everything.

I’d like to encourage you with this Bible verse: the Lord “…is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”(Ephesians 3:20)

Yes, He can do infinitely more than all that we ask or imagine…! Today, don’t worry about any limitation…God surpasses them all!

Thanks for existing!

Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 4:23

What if you thought like Jesus thinks?

The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

Today, we’re concluding our series on overcoming worry. Now that worry has lost its power, it’s so important to guard your heart.

The Bible instructs us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)

The way you live, the very course of your life, flows from your heart. If you’re worried, you’ll live in insecurity, always uncertain about tomorrow. But if your heart trusts in God, that will manifest in every sphere of your life!

So, how do you guard your heart from worry? By keeping your thoughts fixed on Jesus Christ.

The more you practice this healthy habit of thinking about and walking with God…

• Through reading His Word daily,
• Prayer,
• Worship,
• Fellowship…

…the less you’ll practice other habits that are harmful to your soul. And more, you’ll grow in the knowledge of the One who saved you and learn to see the world more through His eyes!

Jesus is your model. Have you seen Him worry?

Remember this: thinking is what makes man great…but thinking like Jesus Christ is what makes the spirit great.

And helps us to be anxious for nothing! 🙂