Today I share with you my brothers a prayer session on the topic of worrying and how we can reduce or even eliminate it with God's Word and by living a Christ like life.

 

1) What is it to worry? 

 

"thinking about problems or fears - to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen"

(Encyclopaedia Britannica)

 

We worry because we have fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of upsetting others. Fear of getting hurt. Fear of a past trauma happening again.  Fear of the unknown and what we can't control. Fear of what tomorrow may bring...

 

When I was a 10 year old boy my teacher set me aside and told me I'm a worrier.  I was always saying sorry and stressing about my marks and deadlines. 

 

He said that in life 9 out of 10 things we worry about aren't worth worrying about.  40 years later I can confirm he was right.

 

2) What does God's word say about worrying?

 

Brothers you know God's word and are more educated on His Scripture than I am.  Humbly I share the versus that speak to me:

 

Joshua 1:9 NLT

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”   

 

Matthew 6:25‭-‬26‭, ‬28‭-‬34 NLT

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

 

Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NLT 

"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."

 

Prayer point 2 - what parts lept out to you from these verses? Let us now meditate and pray on God's holy words.

 

3) Not worrying is an active process.

 

To me what lept out from the verses I read is that you have some work to do to not worry. It is simple and very doable but it is not a lazy exercise.  It is an active process. 

 

God's word tells me that that I need not worry for anything if I do the following 3 things:

 

A) Be strong and courageous. Be a warrior of God. It takes courage to let go of our fears and hand them over to God. By letting go you glorify God by declaring that He has you covered and you trust Him.

 

B) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else. But how? As Paul said to the followers in Philippi, by praying about everything!  By meditating on the word as Ps Mark taught us at our last Connect. Go deeper not wider.

 

Joshua 1:8 NLT

"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

 

C) Live righteously. To me this means to live a Jesus led life. To always think and ask yourself - what would Jesus do in this situation?

 

The answer was provided so clearly and simply by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chs 5–7). 

 

As you know in this Sermon Jesus touches every aspect and challenge of our lives. From anger, adultery, revenge, loving your enemies, keeping your word, giving and how to pray.  The Sermon sets out all we need to know about how to live righteously.

 

It's the blueprint for our lives.  

 

Then we will experience God's peace.

 

Prayer point 3 - Brothers let's reflect on what active steps we will take this week to not worry.  How will we impart this to our family and those around me?

 

Testimonial and Closing

 

For me I used to worry so much about everything. Since I committed my life to God I have felt a peace like no other I've felt  before. I still worry sometimes but now I have the antidote.

 

Meditating and reflecting on His word quickly takes it away.  Greenhouse has been amazing as has been our Connect group and also now joining our mens daily prayer sessions. It's been a very joyful process and while it's early days, I'm excited by what's to come. 

 

A week ago when Ronnie led our prayer morning, towards the end he mentioned worry and the book he was given at Kings Park called  "How not to worry". He said Gods timing is perfect. 

 

How right he is as Ronnie's timing was perfect. God desired it as He knew that soon I would be talking to you about worry.

 

God is truly all knowing and an ever loving God.