WORRY = FEAR

Worry seems to be the topic these days. My last two devotionals from two different sources have centered on "worrying." Hmmmmmm.......

Today's devotional for this date is one that I have shared with many people in the past. Even using it as one of my early-on devotions at my last job. Very simple and plain. Not too deep. But, makes its point.

Though worrying may be a normal part of your life, it does not have to be. God does not want you to worry. Worry is Fear! Hard as it may be, we need to make the conscience effort to cast our cares onto the Lord. He will not do it for us. Most often than not, this process will take some time. Maybe a life time.

Growing up in a worry sick environment for so many years, I have my work cut out for me. I have been known to analyze the possible worst scenario to what I perceive as a "threatening" (whether emotional or physical) situation. One that would require "my little girl" to have to face and come to grips with. Shaking in her little shoes all the way out of fear. In the past I would derive a way, if I could, to avoid any such pain. Have a game plan. Run away as best I could from the fear worry would produce. In the end, there would always be something else to worry about on top of the other worry I was trying to avoid.

Or I would rehash over and over days upon days upon months even, a troublesome situation. Literally frying parts of my brain by using the same memory over again in one spot. A known fact that the brain has powerful hormones that are sent out. Intended only for short-term worries and emergency situations. Over a period of time with constant worry, many brain cells will be killed off.

Like with any 'bad' habit, it will take time to restructure and rewire my thinking. Regain some healthy brain cells. Putting my full dependance on God.

God is willing to work with us. If we let Him.

"Therefore do not worry and be anxious."
(Matthew 6:31)

God is vehemently against worry. Jesus preached against it. Paul preached against it. The whole Bible preaches against worry because it was designed by Satan to produce stress, strain, and death.

Yet many of us still act as if it's an option, as if we're free to worry if we want to. But we're not! Worrying is a sin. It's one of those things the Word of God directly commands us not to do.

What are you supposed to do then with all the concerns you have about your problems? In 1 Peter 5:7, God says you should "cast them all upon Him." All. Not 75 percent of them. Not all of them but the ones about your kids. All of them!

Your confession every morning should be, "I do not have a care in this world because I've cast every one of them onto my Lord."

Let me illustrate how that works. Let's say you were standing about 20 feet away from me and I tossed my car keys to you. If someone else were to come to me and say, "Brother Copeland, I need the keys to your car. I need to use it." I would say, "I can't help you. I cast my keys over on him. I don't have them anymore."

That's what you need to do with your worries. You need to cast them over on the Lord and not take them back. If Satan brings a worried thought to your mind, saying, "What if this terrible thing happens?" then you can tell him to talk to God about it. It's in His hands, not yours!

Once you do that, changes will start to take place in your life. Problems you've been fretting about for years will start being solved. You'll no longer be tying God's hands with your worrying. His power can begin to operate because you've acted in faith and cast your cares on Him!

Remember, though, God will not take your cares away from you. You have to give them to Him. Then you have to replace those worries with the Word. You are the one who has to keep your thoughts under control. But you can do it. The Greater One dwells within you. He is able to put you over. Commit to it. You'll never have to worry again.

(Kenneth Copeland)