July 1, 2010

A Worry List

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READ: Matthew 6:25-34

Do not worry about tomorrow. —Matthew 6:34

I was worrying about a few things as I sat in my car under a shade tree at lunchtime. Then a robin, with a fat worm dangling from its mouth, landed near my door and looked up at me. The robin was a vivid reminder to me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-26, “Do not worry about your life . . . . Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Years ago, in an article in the Denver Seminary magazine Focal Point, Paul Borden gave some helpful suggestions for worriers:

Start a worry list. Write down what you’re worried about. The bills. Your job. Your children or grandchildren. Your health. The future.

Turn your worry list into a prayer list. Ask the Lord to work in those situations you’re concerned about. Pray specifically for your needs and depend on Him.

Turn your prayer list into an action list. If you have any insight that there’s something you can do about your cares, do it. As we turn our worries into prayer and action, Borden says, “Paralyzing anxiety can be replaced by concern for the responsibilities of life.”

Why not start your list right now? —Anne Cetas

Don’t fret about the future
Or be consumed by cares;
Instead take all your worries
And turn them into prayers. —Sper

What you have made a matter of prayer should cease to be a matter of care.

From Gail:

It is important to understand the difference between worry and concern.  Concern is good.  It shows you are taking responsibility for your sitituation, whatever it may be.   Concern propels you into action.  Worry, on the other hand, paralizes you.  Sometimes you may have grounds to worry, but most of the time we worry about things that may or may not happen.  There is a quote that goes something like this:  “Worry really works!  Nothing I ever worried about came to pass.”

Worry involves misplaced faith.  We are putting our faith in ourselves and circumstances instead of God.  Faith involves trusting God for the future whether good things come to pass or bad, knowing that He already knows the future.

In sum, remember this quote:  I will be handling on your problems today.  I don’t require your help.  God