Sunday, September 15, 2013

Choked by Life's Worries

With a husband who has been in bed sick for 7 days now, I've fallen behind in my blogging. Let's just say that despite my rules for only positive thinking, states of worry have been setting into our house! Timing couldn't be more perfect for me to read a chapter on "worry" from the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World~Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver.  This blog is largely based on the concepts she addresses about the worthlessness of worry. She offers up many bible scriptures which not only suggest, but command us not to worry!
"An anxious heart weighs a man down" ~Proverbs 12:25
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?' ~Matthew 6:27
Some interesting statistics report that there is nothing we can do about 70 percent of our worries. These are the things we worry about:
40% are things that will never happen.
30% are about the past--which can't be changed.
12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue.
10% are about health, which gets worse with stress.
8% are about real problems that can be solved.
(Source: Bible Study Foundation: www.bible.org) 
In the parable of the sower, Jesus tells us:
"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures" ~Luke 8:14
This verse suggests that there are those that are Christian and surviving, but are not truly thriving. According to Weaver, she suggests that the bible is adamant about avoiding worry and fear because it short-circuits our relationship with God.  If fixes our eye on our situation rather than on our faith. 

"Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life." ~Matthew 6:25
Weaver also points out how worry can become a habit, a way of life.  Have you ever had a thought about worry that leads to another worry that leads to another? It becomes a domino effect and your mind starts to conjure up all sorts of unfortunate unlikely scenarios. This type of worry becomes toxic and can actually prevent us from leading the full lives God intends us to live.



So if you identify with any of this, like I did when I read it, What do you do? Weaver suggests we follow the recommendation found in Phillippians 4:6-7

1. Be anxious about nothing.
2. Be prayerful about everything.
3. Be thankful for all things.

Bottomline...stop mentally obsessing about your problems. Consciously turn those worries into prayer. And then count your blessings!

Love and Prayers,
Sondra

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