You could quite easily say I am a worrier. I am always ten steps ahead of what ever is going on in my life, trying to figure it out. Planning and plotting. I have this need to know how things are going to turn out. Sound familiar?
This need is an addiction. An addiction to worrying. To over thinking. Over analyzing.
The worst part? It means I am not trusting God fully.
God provided for the Israelites every single day on their way to the promised land. Each day they were only provided enough for that very day. He provided their basic need for sustenance. If they took more than needed, it rotted.
How much of our life and time are we allowing to rot because we spend it worrying?
Too much.
For many of us, it becomes an excuse to behave in ways that don’t glorify God. “Oh, I’m just a worrier.” We can pass off owning our behavior with that simple statement. Or so we think.
But that’s not what God instructs for our lives.
Jesus commanded us not to fear more times than he commanded anything else in the bible.
But how do we stop it?
Practice.
It takes practice to stop those racing thoughts. I’ve been doing a lot of practicing with our Haiti trip quickly approaching. I know God has it in His hands. He’s already in it. And I have to stop my mind from racing off with crazy thoughts.
When the devil whispers in your ear, “Worry about this!” You can boldly reply with, “NO, I can’t afford to worry!”
Get a few friends to hold you accountable. When you start obsessing and worrying, allow them to gently prod you back into right thinking.
Speak scriptures out loud over your life. Over and over and over again.
Speak truths out loud. “God is in control. I do not need to worry.”
Focus on today only. Worrying about the future does no good. When has it ever changed anything for you? As my mama always says, “Don’t borrow trouble.”
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
How can we help each other to stop worrying? Has worrying become an addiction in your life? What suggestions do you have to stop it? Share in the comments.
Blessings,
Photo Credit: luigi diamanti at Freedigitalphotos.net
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im going to give it a try-thanks
i know it’s not easy but I do believe God will deal with it! 🙂
Ouch, Lord! That was a painful “pruning.” I have got a lot of these dead branches just hanging on, sapping the strength from the healthy branches. (John 15:1-4…. Every branch Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit…. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” Thanks Mel. It’s been a real “worrying” month for me. 🙁 “Speak Lord, I am listening.”
Oh Heidi, boy do I understand!! Hugs! Praying we can both learn to handle our worry appropriately!
Mel, I agree with Heidi. The last couple of months has been very hard. I am trying everything I can to stop the worrying. Life is to short to be worrying about what you don’t even know what’s happening.