Avoid the Strangle Hold
DAILY REMINDER #6 - "I don't have to worry about ANYTHING!"
Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God."
Worry...why do we do it? Especially as Christians...we talk of faith and believing in a God that can calm any storm, part any waters and make the impossible possible. We tell other people that in their situation, God has a plan and a purpose, we will give them scripture and verse, pray for them and build them up. But, when it comes to our own lives, it seems easier to worry than to apply those same scriptures and faith.
We get the word worry from the Old English word wyrgan, which literally means “to strangle.” When we worry, we strangle the Word of God, hope, faith, peace and joy from our lives...the very things we need to survive! When someone is being strangled, it is only a matter of time that all oxygen is cut off from them, and they die. Spiritually, it can take a lot longer, but we will eventually die a spiritual death because all of our hope is completely gone.
Paul reminds us to be anxious, or to worry, about NOTHING! He isn't saying that you shouldn't have hard days or even challenging circumstances. He is also not recommending that we cast off responsibility for our situation. What he is saying is that, instead of responding with worry, be prayerful about it. Begin with thanksgiving in your heart. Maybe you are feeling worry come on because your tuition is due and you don't have all of the money. Try being thankful that, up to this point, God has provided enough money, and He will do it again. Maybe you feel worry coming on because of a health issue. Try being thankful for all of the other areas of your body that are functioning properly. If we pray and petition God with our requests with a heart of gratitude, He is faithful to hear us.
Let's decide to put aside all anxiety and worry today. See if we can avoid the "strangle hold" of the enemy, and spend that energy in reminding ourselves of just how faithful our God is!
Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God."
Worry...why do we do it? Especially as Christians...we talk of faith and believing in a God that can calm any storm, part any waters and make the impossible possible. We tell other people that in their situation, God has a plan and a purpose, we will give them scripture and verse, pray for them and build them up. But, when it comes to our own lives, it seems easier to worry than to apply those same scriptures and faith.
We get the word worry from the Old English word wyrgan, which literally means “to strangle.” When we worry, we strangle the Word of God, hope, faith, peace and joy from our lives...the very things we need to survive! When someone is being strangled, it is only a matter of time that all oxygen is cut off from them, and they die. Spiritually, it can take a lot longer, but we will eventually die a spiritual death because all of our hope is completely gone.
Paul reminds us to be anxious, or to worry, about NOTHING! He isn't saying that you shouldn't have hard days or even challenging circumstances. He is also not recommending that we cast off responsibility for our situation. What he is saying is that, instead of responding with worry, be prayerful about it. Begin with thanksgiving in your heart. Maybe you are feeling worry come on because your tuition is due and you don't have all of the money. Try being thankful that, up to this point, God has provided enough money, and He will do it again. Maybe you feel worry coming on because of a health issue. Try being thankful for all of the other areas of your body that are functioning properly. If we pray and petition God with our requests with a heart of gratitude, He is faithful to hear us.
Let's decide to put aside all anxiety and worry today. See if we can avoid the "strangle hold" of the enemy, and spend that energy in reminding ourselves of just how faithful our God is!
I love it Jerret... how encouraging! Thanks.
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