Don't be cautious of letting go of worry, be scared to hold on to it

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. ~Psalm 37:8 (NIV) 

Worry and anger are destined for combustion.  Have you ever noticed how easily you are angered when you are worried about something?  We are so proficient at worrying that we don’t even realize we are doing it.  Then when we snap back at a comment someone makes or when we flip out on the driver who just cut us off, we wonder why we acted that way.  Anger can make our mouth work faster than our mind and especially if our mind is distracted with a bunch of worrying.  This deadly combination causes us to say and do things we regret later.  Worry is like piling up wood and anger becomes the fuel.  When someone comes along and says or does something we don’t like it strikes a match and kaboom, there goes our mouth!  God confirms this in James 3:6 stating “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (NIV) I’m sure we can all relate to this verse.  But are our outbursts and lack of self-discipline becoming less or more often in our daily walk? That’s something to consider.   We have to learn to squash anxieties at the initial thought.  It’s fear that causes us to worry and God says we are not to fear.  That means when the thought pops in your head that you don’t know what you are going to do about a particular situation, you immediately respond by casting the thought down and reminding yourself that the Lord has promised to guide you by His Holy Spirit.  You don’t have to worry about what to do or what is going to happen tomorrow because our eternal Lord has seen our tomorrows and is already preparing to make them great.  Even if we take a sidestep, He promises to turn it for our good!

What sets your tongue on fire?  Next time you blow up, think about what you have been thinking about.  There’s a good chance you have been worrying about something.  God wants us to make it a habit to come to Him at the very onset of a concern before it becomes a worry.  He wants our life course to be one of rest not one of stress.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV) We shouldn't be cautious to let go of our worries; we should be scared of holding on to them.  They rob us of rest because they steal our peace.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you…” (NIV) That is His legacy.  Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace, and we are supposed to be conforming to His image.  When people encounter you is their first impression that you are full of peace?  If not, it’s time to find out why.  Upon examination you will discover your thought life has stolen your peace.  Make it a plan to take every concern to the Lord and leave it there, trusting in His perfect provision and in His perfect timing.  Walk away from your time with the Lord at peace or spend some more time with Him until you can.   He wants us to exchange our worries for His rest. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

What concern has turned into a full-blown worry for you?

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