What are you worried about?
List your worries on paper...
Now, sit back, close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that you have no worries...everything is calm, peaceful, serene...
Look back at your list and think about what it would take to get you there -- to that place of serenity, peacefulness, calm...
What about the worries you can actually do something about? What steps could you begin taking right now to change some things that need to be changed?...some wrongs you could make right...some rifts you could mend...some bitterness you could let go of...
What about the things you can do nothing about? Imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen concerning these worries... Now, imagine nothing bad happening... What if you spend way too much time worrying and nothing bad ever happens? If something bad does come about, you will deal with it in that moment...until then, why worry?
The first step in dealing with worry is daily surrender to the lordship of Jesus in your life. When you live a surrendered life, he will be there with you through even the most difficult situations. He will never leave you alone. After taking the first, most important step, don't allow yourself to give in to a habit of worry, a lifestyle of worry...
I love the passage in Matthew 6, verses 25 through 34. Jesus had just talked about how we should view and deal with money when he begins to bring clarity concerning worry. Read through those verses as you sit and think about the part worry plays in your life, and as you read, allow God's peace to warm your heart and soul... Resolve to daily lay down your worries and live in the peace of a surrendered life...
c2009 Lorenda Houston
