In my P31 devotion today, I talked about finding God’s peace in the midst of our worries. I love that verse in Matthew 11:28 where Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” The word weary is so close to the word worry. And if I’m honest with myself, worry makes me weary! It weighs me down and wears me out – mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
So what should we do with our worries? Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary from all our worries and burdens so He can give our minds a place to rest.
God showed me a tangible way to take my worries to Jesus through a conversation with my son. One morning I was getting ready when Andrew came to me and announced that he didn’t want to have ANY anxious thoughts that day – he didn’t want to worry about me being home when he got off the school bus, or about his teacher liking his science project, or about whether his dad would get in a car accident.
That morning as I listened, I sensed the enemy was using worry as a weapon to still, kill and destroy my child’s joy, hope and peace. Although I couldn’t take my child out of the battle, I could equip him for it! I wanted to give him the confidence he needed to fight courageously so I assured him that worry is kinda normal. I reasoned that it must be a normal part of life since God tells us not to so many times in the Bible.
But God also tells us what to do when we do worry. I shared 2 Corinthians 10:5 where Paul tells us to demolish all arguments and any pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, by taking every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Now I just needed to take that concept and put it in terms he could understand.
“Andrew, when you have a thought that makes you feel anxious, catch it like it’s a baseball.” I then cupped my hand like I was holding a ball and told him to look at it and ask, “Is this something Jesus would say to me?” If the answer is “no” – then throw that thought back into the outfield! Then we talked through some of his thoughts and fears:
Worry says: “Your mom isn’t going to be here when you get home.”
I asked him, “Would Jesus say that? Andrew replied, “No.”
Then it’s outta here!
Worry says: “Your teacher isn’t going to like your science project!”
Would Jesus say that? Again, “No.”
Get rid of that one, too.
When we finished talking through each worry, I shared Philippians 4:6-9 and we prayed – telling God Andrews concerns, asking Him to replace his worries with promises, and thanking God for what He’s done in the past and would do that day. After the Amen, Andrew looked at me, smiled so big and said, “Thanks Mom!” as though all his worries were gone.
God’s word really works. God knew we’d have lots of reasons for worry but he also knew that worry would be Satan’s weapon to distract and destroy the peace and joy that is rightly ours as children of God! Worry can ruin our day and our life, can’t it? That’s why Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled but to come to Him. He wants to replace our worries with His words. He says He’ll give our minds a place to rest and promises to keep us in perfect peace when our mind is steadfast (fixed in a direction, firmly established) on His truth because we trust in Him and not our troubles.
So, what thoughts are flying at you today? If you were to catch ’em and listen to what they’re saying – would they match what Jesus says? I would love to know what kinds of worries you’re dealing with so we can pray for each other. Mine are mostly about my kids and doing something hard that God’s called me to do. I’m learning that it’s not just about throwing our thoughts out, it’s about replacing our worries with God’s words. I”ll be back tomorrow to share more on that.
This week’s theme on worry is great timing since I’m giving away a copy of my friend Micca’s new book, “An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Greater than all My Fears“. For a chance to win, leave a comment under today’s post and for extra chance leave one on any of this week’s posts. Yesterday, I wrote about releasing my grip and not getting worried when God changes my plans. Tomorrow I’ll talk about using God’s Word as our weapon to demolish arguments and worries that set themselves up against the truth about Him! See you then.
PS. Be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you win.
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
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Dear Renee
Your devotion today lifted me, when I read the part about your son and his worries, and what you told him to do with them, I stopped and did the sure thing with mine, lately I have been so worried about some things in my life, it seem like I was all along, and I know that Jesus loves us, and that all things is popose in Christ Jesus who sterengthen me.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you, I hope that you can read my spelling.
God Bless you
yvonne
Thank you. My heart has been full of worry lately. I am struggling with the fact that my 16 y/o daughter wants to go live with her father 200 miles away.
I am praying for guidance. There are so many factors involved. I know I can’t make this decision by myself.
Prayers are very much appreciated.
God Bless,
Mickey
WOW I am always amazed how God works,thank you for your honesty and obedience to Gods word. I need to be reminded with versus that equip me to go battle against satan’s lies.
My anxiety and worry has made me so weary that it has nearly destroyed my marriage, thankfully a week ago, my husband and I had an intervention and through counseling, much prayer and getting in the Word I know that the God we serve will equip me and my husband with tools to overcome this challenge.
Thank you for the blessings of your message.
Jessica
[email protected]
A calming message for a weary heart.
Thanks Renee,
Love,
Joy
This is the first time I am reading your blog, and to be frank, I believe that god made me read this one, as I was making worry my top priority from few weeks now. I was pleading him to help me out..n I believe he did. Praise God..
God bless you!
Jini.
Thank you so much for your article on Peace-full = Worry less. I sooo needed to read this tonight. My husband has been hospitalized with a nervous breakdown for 2 weeks and I am so filled with worry right now. I had heard Mary Beth Whalen speak a couple of weekends ago in Garner, NC and I had emailed Proverbs 31 asking for prayer. Thanks to everyone for the prayers. My faith has kept me going! I have looked forward every night to opening the email you send with a wonderful message. God bless all of you. Thanks so much.
Sharon
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Worry is my beest friend! 🙂 I have decided to commit to memory Phil 4: 4-7 so that my best friend is replaced with the Truth!
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Renee:
I have a troubled heart tonight. Had one all day, and here’s the mystery of it all…
I can’t quite place my finger on the reason. It’s like a cloud; one that I will address when the kids get to bed. I am in need of some peace for my journey tonight.
Great posts this week.
peace~elaine
Renee, this comes at a great time not just for me but for the world. We are all worried about what is going to happen to the economy and to our jobs tomorrow, when we should put our trust and hope in God that things will work out in his time and in his way. I am so thankful that you wrote this today and allowing me to realize that I do need to put trust in God.
Ashley
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i’d love to receive this book!!!
Thanks Renee for your thoughts on this topic. I am usually a worrier and it can be hard to change! I will instead focus on God’s faithfulness this week.
Just yesterday, my 12 year old son was struggling with worry related to his bleeding disorder. I love the baseball analogy. This is definitely something I will use with him.
Thank you, for sharing your heart.
Blessings,
Cazandra
http://oozingeveryday.blogspot.com
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Renee,
Thank you for your devotion…it’s amazing because right before I read your blog I was telling my boyfriend how I’m struggling with controlling my mind and how it gets out of control and causes me to worry. I need to capture each thought and reflect on if it is the enemy trying to destroy or if it is God building me up. This is going to take time and I will have to retrain my mind.
Thank you again!
Breana
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I needed to hear this story today! I’ve missed seeing all of your great stories and encouraging words on your blog lately – I guess I got spoiled with the D6 month of daily posts! Thanks for sharing your ways of handing worry- I hope I am successful at learning this lesson soon.
Amy
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Renee
Thanks for the devotion and I loved the stoy about your son. I am a worrier and unfortunately have passed this along to my nine year old. That’s a great way to help her deal with her worries.
Peacefull-
Melissa
Renee,
When I have things worrying me it seems every devotional I read and every Bible verse is directed to and for me. Your devotional was right on the mark. Thank you so much for allowing God to use you and your talents in this way.
Kathy
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Dear Renee,
Thank you for this passage about worry. I have been struggling with panic attacks for almost 2 years now and I am constantly looking to God’s Word for help. Your devotion today will be a tool for me to use in this battle. Thank you so much for that.
Love in Christ,
Tara
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Renee! Phil. 4:6-7 should be the TEXT OF THE YEAR! 🙂 I have family that suffer from Anxiety disorder. This verse is the biblical version of the advise I heard on John Tesh’s show years ago when he said that Anxiety and Thankfulness CANNOT ABIDE IN THE MIND AT THE SAME TIME, physiologically! Isn’t that COOL? So when we run into people suffering from severe anxiety and depression, we can say, “Thankfulness CURES anxiety!” Amazing that its right there in our bibles and we (I) have to hear about it scientifically before I GET IT!
Two months ago I lost my cell phone and computer hard drive within 2 weeks of eachother. OUCH. I was in a panic. Had I backed up ANYTHING on my computer. Hardly. Some pictures I’m very thankful to have right now but I lost EVERYTHING else. A pastor who runs the local laptop repair shop met me in a parking lot after he had repaired my computer (not recovered my data). Through tears, I watched him give me my computer back FREE OF CHARGE and say, “Kayla, I tell my congregation, ‘When in a fix, Phillipians 4:6′”. And he quoted the verse. What a gift. God has blessed us 10 times over since then and I am still amazed by him every day. Keep spreading this message. Phil 4:6 and Peace. Thanks so much,
Kayla
88.1 KTFY
Twin Falls, ID
Your devotion today really spoke to my heart. I have a son that just turned 18. Being a single mom, the weight is really heavy sometimes in trying to do the right thing for him. It is so hard not to worry when he is out at night (what is he doing, what choices are being made by him and his friends, etc). I have learned that I have to give him to God along with these worries or I would go crazy – but sometimes it is so hard to let go.
God is working on my fears and worries in so many ways lately – working on my total surrender. I fail so often in doing that. Your devotion and blog are just one of the tools God is using in my life, right now, today! Thank you!