A Year of No Worry!

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:34

Some things need to be stopped cold turkey style. There are some things in life that can't be managed or reduced or medicated away. The only answer is to quit immediately.

That's the case with worry. Worry is predicting tomorrow based on possibilities. It's the absence of faith, because it bases outcomes on what a person can know or imagine instead of what is real. Worry makes me into God instead of believing in God's plan.

God's prescription for worry is to STOP immediately!!! Do not do it! He doesn't say we won't be tempted to worry, but tells us when we are tempted to not DO worry. That means quitting cold turkey. Throw away the package, flush it, run from it. Stop it!!! Every time we start to get concerned about tomorrow reroute your mind to what you are doing today.

Mature people realize that worry is a time waster. Worry actually takes energy away from what we can get done today...which then CREATES the worry even more. Instead, put our energy into what needs done today! If we invested an hour into our marriage/family today we wouldn't have to worry about losing them tomorrow. If we worked to put a little money aside today we would be fine with having something in the years ahead. And if we invest a little effort in our relationship with God today, we will lean into Him better for the future that is unpredictable.

Jesus also gives us some help with how to reroute our worry. He tells us to look at how the rest of creation operates. When we see seasons continue faithfully, and animals getting their needs met, and realize how we have been cared for all thru our lives, then we can have a little faith in God to do the same for us in the future too.

Make a commitment today---every time you feel like worrying you will reflect on your blessings and invest in today. Instead of wasting energy on worry, use it for results. What would a year of no worry look like? Let's find out in 2013!!!!