Skip to main content

“Give your concerns to God—then don’t take them back.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 118). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

What do you do with your concerns?  What do you do with your worries?

Craig says, “If anyone had reason to worry, it was the apostle Paul. Yet from a Roman prison, awaiting his possible execution, he penned these words: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6–7).”

Craig then says, “In other words, Pray about everything. Worry about nothing. Whatever’s on your mind is also on God’s heart. Take it to Him. Then leave it with Him. He cares. He’s your Father—a Father like no other on earth.”

He continues, “Pray about your upcoming test. Pray for your presentation at work. Pray about what to say on your first date. Pray about your granddaughter’s sick hamster. Or pray about finding your lost keys. (I pray that at least twice a week.) Pray about everything and worry about nothing.

“Are you living with worry? Does it dominate your life? Consume your waking hours? Steal your sleep? I’ve lived most of my life like that—but God is setting me free.”

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Craig goes on, “One day I went to the gym with my workout partner, John. We were doing chest exercises. On our final rounds, we did a burnout session. That’s when you completely exhaust the muscles by doing as many repetitions as humanly possible. John was spotting me on the bench press as I dropped a rather lightweight on and off my chest. For a minute or so the weight seemed … well, weightless. Then my oxygen-deprived muscles started to labor, and the weight felt heavier and heavier.

“John urged me on. ‘IT’S ALL YOU! IT’S ALL YOU!’ He started supporting the weight for me.

“‘IT’S ALL YOU! IT’S ALL YOU!’ he shouted, taking more of the weight as I weakened.

“Finally, I gave up completely and let go of the bar, but John didn’t notice. He kept lifting the weight off my chest and lowering it again, shouting the whole time, ‘IT’S ALL YOU! IT’S ALL YOU!’

“Then he realized what he was doing. We both cracked up laughing. John was carrying the whole burden of the bar and weight, but only after I let go. What weight in your life feels like it’s ‘all you’? Take a break. You can rest once you realize that it’s all God.”

Earlier he said, “If you can do something about your worries, by all means, do, and do it in God’s wisdom and power… However, if your worry is completely out of your control … Stop playing the what-if game. Learn and think about God’s promises. Give your concerns to God—then don’t take them back.”

So, would you give him that worry that you feel is all on you?  And would you not take it back?

Yes, yes! 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives.”

A thought by Jon Tyson from his book, The Burden Is Light: Liberating Your Life from the Tyranny of Performance and Success (p. 118). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But is that all that is important? Jon says, “We want to realize an immediate return from whatever we invest in. I am prone to this way of thinking in so many areas of my life. ‘I paid a lot for that meal, yet the portions were not that big.’ ‘I invested two hours in that movie, and it was just okay.’   ‘I went to church, but the sermon wasn’t that profound.’ We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives. But beauty doesn’t fit within that framework. When Mary anointed Jesus with oil, there was an immediate outcry against her extravagant generosity. ‘It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ (Mark 14:5) One gospel depicts the disciples crying, ‘Why this waste?...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: '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 than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more