Worry Is a Three Letter Word

 

 

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Luke 12:25 (NIV)

 

You know the feeling . . . it starts small . . . like a tiny voice somewhere in the far corners of your brain. You try to ignore it, but it demands to be heard and, like a child crying for food, it grows and grows until you can no longer deny that it is there.

 

Worry. That’s its name. Worry. It creeps up on you, one seemingly insignificant nudging at a time, until it spreads into an enormous stranglehold that threatens to leave you gasping for air.

 

Why is it that, as Christians, we allow worry a sip of our coffee, a chapter in our book, a place of honor at our dinner table? We hold it up like a three dimensional drawing and stare at it from every angle. And we do everything possible to justify why we have the right to worry.

 

“You don’t know what I have going on in my life!” we exclaim. “I have a prodigal child and the election is coming and our world is turned upside down and . . . and . . . and . . .” I understand – I truly do! We all have burdens and you might be surprised to see how many are similar more than different. But the question that we must all answer is this: will worry solve any of those burdens and help us to find peace?

 

Max Lucado wrote a devotion on worry. In it, he states that worry is both “irrelevant and irreverent.” I can’t get that statement out of my mind. When I worry, it does absolutely nothing to direct a problem in my life to its conclusion any more than throwing a pebble in a roaring river will change the course of the water.

 

What it DOES do is to affect my outlook, my health and my heart because worry causes me to focus on the problem and not on Jesus. It separates me from the peace that can only be found in Him because – hear me, please – worry is a sin. How can that be?

 

First, worry is irrelevant. All the worrying that I entertain in my mind and heart will never ever EVER make a situation better or solve a problem or bring me peace of mind. Not one time have I told a friend “I have really been worrying about that problem.” and had them respond “Oh, thank you! I feel so much better now. I know that everything will work out because you have been worrying!”

 

Second, worry is irreverent. Worry is admitting that I do not believe the Lord is able to do what He says He can- and will – do in my life. Worry is a complete lack of trust in a Father who is the Creator of all things and the Beginning and End of everything.

 

 Again and again in Scripture, we are told not to worry. Colossians 4:2 (NIV) says “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Never are we told to “Devote yourselves to worrying . . .”

 

Today I intend to kick that three letter word – worry – out of my heart and mind and to replace it with Truth that can only be found in Jesus. Care to join me?

 

Father, I confess that I have kept the sin of worry in my heart. I do not want to give it a place of honor any longer in my life. So I give my worries over to you this very minute. Please replace them with your peace. I trust you to take care of me in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• What is your very first response when a problem occurs in your life? Worry or peace?

 

• Why do you believe you respond in that way?

 

Apply

• Keep a journal of problems or situations that have occurred in your life and how you initially responded.

 

• Write a promise from Scripture beside each problem or situation that will help you replace worry and panic with trust and peace.

 

Power

• Luke 12:25 (NIV) “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

 

• Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?”

 

• Matthew 6:34 (NIV) “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

 

 

 

When Storms Hit

 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

             Strong storms packed with wind and rain seem to be the normal in Missouri. I remember one particular downpour during the first quarter of our local football game on a cool Friday evening.  Fortunately I had with me an umbrella big enough to protect nearly a third of the stadium. I needed one that coordinated with my brown jacket and found one with “gold” stamped on the package and then realized after I opened it at home that it actually said “golf.”  Oh well.

 

But as I sat at the game, I thought back to my first storm without the protection of my husband. He had passed away about three months before the big winds and rain hit. The electricity in my home had gone out and I had lit candles everywhere but they did nothing to calm my fears as shingle after shingle flew off the roof and thudded like wounded birds on the lawn.

 

I remember wondering “Will it always be like this? Will I always huddle on the sofa and feel so frightened of every storm that comes my way?” I knew that if he had been there, my husband would have grinned and winked and said “It’s a big one, isn’t it Nance.” and I would have been reassured instantly. But he wasn’t there nor would he be coming back so I pulled my sweater tighter around me, prayed silently, and waited for the storm to pass.

 

That was several years ago but the “storms” have continued to hit with a vicious force. One “storm” was an empty propane tank on the coldest night of the year. Another was a truck that flatly refused to ever run again after I stopped at a red light. Still another was a major financial issue that needed to be addressed immediately. And the latest storm? A virus indiscriminately trying to sink its teeth into every person it comes in contact with. Storm after storm after storm.

 

Of course we have those times of fresh air, sunshine, a view that is breathtaking and more money in the bank than bills on the kitchen counter and our hearts are at peace. But we cannot deny the inevitability in John 16:33 that just the opposite will eventually happen: unforeseen storms will blindside us and bills will pile up with an empty bank account; a health diagnosis will be cancer; a best friend will pass away.

 

And what is the answer? We don’t have the power to decide exactly when to schedule a storm. And honestly, is there ever a good time to pencil in a broken arm on our calendars? Not at all. But the one constant that I have learned through life is this: God will never leave us in our storms. He stays right beside us, encouraging us and giving us strength to continue on as the winds rage around us. He comforts us as He reminds that all storms are temporary. They will blow over. We will experience relief. Even when I don’t understand the “why” in the storm. Even when my heart is broken to the point that I don’t think it can be repaired. Even then.

 

May I suggest something for you to consider the next time a storm hits your life? Stand in the middle of your living room, turn your face to the Lord and praise Him. WHAT you say? Praise?? Yes. Praise Him for never leaving you. Praise Him for being in control of all things – including storms. Praise Him for having a purpose in every storm – even when you can’t see it. That is not saying you are happy and content with every storm you experience; it is saying that you will trust the One who sees what you do not.

 

We are going to be drenched again and again as storms blow into our lives but rest assured that they will also blow out of our lives as well. And the Creator of the Universe will never ever EVER leave us. I pray you feel His presence and His peace today and every day.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever believed that the storm you experienced would last forever and the Lord would not be with you?
• Did you call on the Lord to get you through or get angry that it was happening to you?

 

Apply

• When a storm hits in your life, stop, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord to make His presence known in your life.
• Memorize the 23^rd Psalm and praise the Lord in the middle of the storm. Ask prayer warriors to be praying over you.

 

Power

• John 16:33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comport me.”
• Exodus 33:14 (NIV) “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 

 

When the Missile Hits the Mark

 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is

the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 17:1 (NIV)

 

For two weeks the Lord had been preparing me for the missile attack. At first, during my prayer time, the Scriptures that leaped out at me were, I thought, intended for other people. My Bible fell open to Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I thought of a friend who was going through a struggle with a loss and sent the Scripture with a note of encouragement.

 On another day I read “Psalm 17:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” and emailed it to a teacher who was battling a group of students who had no desire to learn but every desire to bully. A few days later, my devotion was from 2 Chronicles 20:15 “. . . This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” 

It occurred to me that my Father was preparing ME for something in which I was going to have to totally and completely rely on Him and trust Him to handle. I was right.  The day after  my devotion reminding me that the battle ahead was not mine, but God’s, the missile of slander came out of nowhere and, with deadly precision, hit its mark in the middle of the intended target: me.

     The comments made were designed to hurt and to cast doubt as to my character but were made anonymously which eliminated any way of correcting what was said or confronting the offender.

.I knelt beside my bed, wounded and bewildered at the obvious intent to cast doubt on my witness. “Why, Lord?” I cried. “I’ve tried all these years to do what You would have me do. Why is this happening?” In the quietness of the morning, the Lord spoke clearly to my heart: “When did I ever tell you that it would be easy . . . following me? Remember what I told you? Your strength is in Me. Do not be afraid. I will do battle for you, just as I have . . . all these years.”

 Have you been attacked today? Perhaps the comments of someone you do not know have reached your ears. Or maybe you have felt the sting from a dear friend who spoke your name in an unkind way. Whatever it may be, rest assured that we have a Father who understands and who encourages us to hold on to Him as He does battle in our place.

 Father, thank you. For being strong for us when we are weak and for holding on to us when we have no strength on our own. For preparing us for what is to come and for allowing us to watch as you battle in our place. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• What is your immediate reaction when someone says something completely false about you?

 

• Do you mentally make a “get even” list and store it for future reference?

 

 

Apply

• Memorize one of the Power Verses below and repeat it back to yourself when you have been shot at and/or hit with a missile.

 

• Share what has happened with a trusted prayer warrior and ask for wise counsel and prayer to determine if any steps need to be taken.

 

 

Power

 

• Psalm 17:1 (NIV) “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

 

•  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

• 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV) “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”  

Play it By Ear

 

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”

Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)

 

When I was 8 years old, I took piano lessons. My instructor was a patient, kind master of music and she worked with me week after week as I learned where middle C was and how to gracefully play the scale with all my fingers instead of just one thumping on each piano key.

 At first I practiced faithfully and was eager to learn each new piece of music she would give me. But after a while, I found it more fun to “do my own thing” when it came to playing. I still practiced but I was more determined to play each song MY way instead of how it was written and how she had taught me. Week after week I would see her out of the corner of my eye, shaking her head “no” and, with a loud sigh, say “No, no dear one. Please play it again as I taught you.”

 One afternoon as I gathered my piano music, I overheard the music teacher telling my mother that, after several months of practice, I had the ability to hear a song only once or twice and then to play it on the piano – in other words, I played by ear. However there was a problem with that, she continued. She then explained that during my music lessons, I felt compelled to play each piece as I thought it should be played and not as it was written. She explained to my mother that it was part blessing and part curse to be born with that ability but that she would try to train me anyway.

 Bless her heart, she was a wonderful teacher and she DID try, lesson after lesson, but I stubbornly fought her note by note by note. Eventually she threw her hands in the air and said “I think it would be best for you to stop piano lessons.  It is just not working for you.” (which was a nice way of saying “You won’t listen to me and you won’t do as I ask, so I’m giving up on you!”)

 As I reflect on how determined I was to NOT obey and how she finally, in frustration, gave up on me, I think of the Scripture from Psalms 32:8-9. God reminds us in those two verses that He is more than willing to guide us through life and He also instructs us to “not be like the horse or the mule” by refusing to listen to the Master’s voice.

 The difference between my music teacher and the Lord is that, even when we deliberately ignore His direction for our lives, He doesn’t throw His hands up and say “I’m done! That’s it!” but rather continues encouraging us to come to Him again and again.  He never stops pursuing us with an endless love - even if we run the other way and seek our own will.

 My encouragement is this: toss that “I know how to play the piano” attitude and listen to the One Who can teach you how it truly should be done. But please know that, no matter how hard you try to stubbornly play each note your way, there is nothing you can do that will cause your Father to throw His hands up and say “You won’t listen to me and you won’t do as I ask, so I’m giving up on you!”

Instead, He will lovingly respond “No, no dear one. Please play it again as I taught you.” Trust Him and do not try to play it by ear.

 

 

Father, I truly do not understand your amazing patience and love for me, your child, that you never give up on me but continually call my name to seek your face. Right now I simply thank you for that love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever turned your back on God’s plan for you and followed a path away from Him?

 

• Did you feel that He might give up on you because of what you had done?

 

Apply

• Share your plans for your future with your accountability prayer partner.

 

• Ask her to pray daily that you would listen to the Lord and seek His face as you make each decision along the way.

 

Power

• Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV) “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”

 

• Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

 

• Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 

 

 

The Mask

 

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when

I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”

Psalm 139:1-2 (NIV)

         As the beauty of fall begins, I’ve noticed more and more pumpkins resting and relaxing on doorsteps and in yard decorations. Some are huge and perfectly shaped while others appear to have serious growth issues and are relegated to a wicker basket in large numbers in the hope that being bunched together will make them appear as important as their bigger pals.

 

I remember the days when my children would go with their dad to the pumpkin patch to pick out just the right pumpkin to carve. They would bring it home in the back seat of the car on blankets as if it were royalty from a distant land. Then they would carefully lift the pumpkin from its throne to place it on an old wooden table in the back yard where the carving ceremony would take place.

 

First their dad would cut the top off the pumpkin, stem intact, so that each child could reach in and touch the “guts” of the pumpkin, as they called it. After the inner contents were cleaned out, everyone got a chance to help carve a huge smile with uneven square teeth and triangle-shaped eyes.

 

Then a chariot (aka old red wagon) was pulled up so the pumpkin could be escorted to the front porch. Once deposited there, a lit candle was placed on the inside so that anyone driving by could see the reflection of the carefully carved mouth and eyes.

 

I have noticed a change in that custom the past few years. More and more, the tradition of carving eyes and snaggletooth smiles has been replaced with permanent ink drawings. The pumpkins all seem to be wearing masks!

 

Now don’t get me wrong. . .they look very professional and from a distance appear to be the real thing. . .but a closer look reveals smooth, shiny perfectly straight lines and colored-in smiles that could only be accomplished with a black ink marker and a steady hand.

 

Confession time: I often wear a mask with perfect lines and a colored-in smile.  I’ve tied on a mask as I walk into church after fighting the whole drive with 3 kids and a husband. “Yes, yes, we are always a happy perfect family” my mask dishonestly declares. I have also slipped on a mask when a friend asked me how I was doing. “Great, just great!” my mask lied to cover up a heart grieving over a loss.

 

            I try that same tactic with my Heavenly Father but, as David says in today’s Scripture, God sees the real me, the one behind the mask. Nothing is hidden from Him nor should it be.

 

Allow your friends to come along side you as you approach God in honesty with anything and everything that is on your heart. And throw away the mask.

 

Father, I come to you today with no mask and my heart open to your Word and your leading. Help me to be honest with my friends so we can encourage each other as we lift concerns to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever put on a mask for friends or family or for God?

 

• Why did you feel that you needed to put on that mask?

 

Apply

• Make a list of two or three prayer warrior friends that you feel you can talk to without wearing a mask.

 

• Ask them to hold you accountable when they approach you and ask how you are doing, so that you will be totally honest with them and with God.

 

Power

• Psalm 139:1-2 (NIV) “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”

 

• Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”

 

• I Samuel 16:7 (NIV) “. . . Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”