Worry - Don't Do It
Be Strong, Be Well — Saturday, June 20
If you tend to feed on worry, you have plenty of fodder to keep you busy these days. With the virus, protests, riots, destruction, political bickering, and racial unrest, we are being fed a steady diet of things that can tempt us to worry.
Fear, worry and anxiety can be detrimental to our spiritual health if we allow it. This is why Satan uses these tactics to try to keep us from enjoying the life God wants for us. The devil wants us to be miserable and doubtful. When we are overwhelmed by the cares of the world, we can’t focus on the peace God provides for those who want it.
So here’s a plan. Resist consuming too much TV news. Limit the time spent reading the paper, searching the internet on current events, or endlessly trolling Facebook. Instead, turn to God’s word and spend time meditating on the message of our watchful Creator.
“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19).
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
The choices we make, and the amount of time we spend on those choices, will make all the difference, in our stressing out and worrying or having a calm and peaceful heart. —Chris