Skip to main content

"Try these eight powerful worry-stoppers."

A thought by Max Lucado from his book. Trade Your Cares for Calm (p. 32). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

We have so many problems in enjoying our daily life because of worry.  Wouldn’t you like to stop?  Max gives here eight worry stoppers.  Let’s go through them.

He says, “1. Pray first. Don’t pace up and down the floors of the waiting room; pray for a successful surgery. Don’t bemoan the collapse of an investment; ask God to help you. ‘Let him have all your worries and cares’ (1 Peter 5:7 TLB).

2. Easy, now. Slow down. ‘Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him’ (Psalm 37:7 NASB).

3. Act on it. Become a worry-slapper. Treat frets like mosquitoes. Give them the slap they deserve. Be equally decisive with anxiety. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it rather than dwell on it.

4. Compile a worry list. Over a period of days, record your anxious thoughts. Then review them later. How many of them turned into a reality? Likely few, if any.

5. Evaluate your worry categories. Your list will highlight themes of worry. Detect recurring areas of preoccupation that may become obsessions—and pray specifically about them.

6. Focus on today. God meets needs daily. Not weekly or annually. He will give you what you need when you need it. ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:16 NLT).

7. Unleash a worry army. Share your feelings with a few loved ones. Ask them to pray with and for you. They’re more willing to help than you might imagine. Less worry on your part means more happiness on theirs.

8. Let God be enough. Jesus concludes his call to calmness with this challenge: ‘Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:32–33 NLT).”

He finishes this by saying, “Eight steps. Pray first. Easy, now. Act on it. Compile a worry list. Evaluate your worry categories. Focus on today. Unleash a worry army. Let God be enough. Put them together and you get P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L.

So, wouldn’t you like to have a P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L day?


Yes, yes!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

  A thought by Max Lucado from his book,  You Are Never Alone  (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind