Lord, I know you didn’t create me to worry. But some days are harder than others.
Are you a worrier? How to smash the idol of worry!
Much to my surprise, I had developed a supreme devotion to worry about life. That’s how idolatry is defined, anyone or anything that absorbs my attention or aspirations. Worry absorbed all my attention. Attempting my own fixes to my problems had become my aspirations.
Anxious and worry derive from a word meaning, “to strangle.” How had I come so far to allow worry to strangle my peace with God?
The Bible tells me in Matthew 6:33 NLT, “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give me everything I need.” Yet, I could not shake this worry. I worried about everything.
The worry created such anxiety my sleeping patterns were like roller coaster rides. And, during the day, I was tempted to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. But that would do more harm than good. My energy level had dropped below zero. So, I was frozen within my own worry.
Are you caught up in worry cycles absorbing all your attention?
One day, I couldn’t take it any longer. I rolled all worry over to the Lord. Just like that! I asked Him to take it. And, He did! Just like that. He took it. He will take care of my life-circumstances and troubles, if I would just trust Him. Jesus would take care of people who wronged others—it isn’t my place.
God didn’t create us to worry! My steps to smashing the idol of worship:
1) When I realized worry has gripped my life, I acknowledged it.
2) Repent means change your thinking. When I find myself in a worry cycle, I confess worry as sin and ask my Father to help me turn from it.
3) I roll my burdens over on Him, asking Jesus to take my worries, and to help me turn from it. Put the worry in your basket and send it down the river.
4) Renewing my mind by thinking with new thought patterns helps change me. For instance, I reframe my negative words about a worrisome thought with a positive way of thinking about it. “My Father planned abundant living for my body, not a sick body. And, I am leaning into You, Father for peace and salvation for my whole person: body, soul, and spirit.”
5) This is not a positive thinking lesson. Pay attention to negative thoughts to change to godly, healthy thought patterns. Reframing my thoughts takes time. Renewing my mind takes 7-28 days and is a Biblical way to rid your mind of negative and unhealthy patterns.
6) Learn to sit in silence, 5 to 7 minutes per day, and just think. Look and think. Doctor Caroline Leif says this is like house cleaning. Thinking like this clears brain clutter.
7) Belly breathing exercises release healthy endorphins into your system to help you relax and rest, while restoring joy and peace.
8) Life is brand new when Christ displaces worry with His peace!
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG)
He created me to worship Him—not to worry. God will take care of the finances in this economy—He is my provider. God created me to worship Him—not to worry. He would take care of my children, in-laws, siblings, and grandchildren—He created me to worship Him, not to worry. My life changed.
Righteousness became my way of living. Joy entered my heart. Peace ruled my mind. I lived. I smashed the idol (god) of worry, preparing me for celebration.
A Prayer to Smash the Idol of Worry
Dear Lord,
I know you didn’t create my to worry. Yet, somehow it has become an idol in my life. I am coming to you acknowledging that worry has taken over, but that it stops today. I repent to you, which means I will work on changing my way of thinking. Help me renew my mind and replace the worries in my head with Your truth. Amen!
How do you smash your idol of worry? Let us know below!
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