Worry – Part 1

Hang on, ladies!  This is a painful one – but necessary.  It’s going to step on all our toes.  But we have to deal with some unpleasant and critical issues to get to the intimacy we long for with Christ and our husbands!  Please approach this post with a prayerful attitude of yieldedness and openness to God’s voice – asking God to expose any ungodly attitudes in our souls and uprooting them – making room for His Spirit to have full reign in our hearts!

WORRY IS DESTRUCTIVE TO ME

MANY of us are consumed by worry on a daily basis – maybe even every waking moment.  I used to be.  I would just bounce from one issue to another – worrying all the time.  It was AWFUL.  I hated it.  But I didn’t know how to stop.  It’s pretty awesome to be able to say that is how I WAS.  I praise God for changing me!  I sure couldn’t change myself.  Worry is a temptation at times for me now, but I don’t live with that worry channel on in my brain all the time anymore.  I know how to quickly flip the channel.  I didn’t realize  before how much choice I had about worrying and what message my worry sends to my husband and to God.  It actually is possible by the power of God’s Spirit for us to live without worry!!  What incredibly GOOD NEWS!

WORRY IS DESTRUCTIVE TO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND MY HUSBAND

The bottom line is – when I worry, I am telling my husband and God that I don’t trust either of them and I need to take over myself.  I am living as if I think they are incompetent, irresponsible, weak, impotent, incapable and unable to handle things without my help.

The problem is –  a lot of things I would worry about were things that were actually out of my control.  Trying to control the uncontrollable is EXHAUSTING and extremely stressful!  I was overwhelmed and overburdened.  That made me irritable and grumpy on top of being worried.

A GENTLE, PEACEFUL SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT GIVE WAY TO HYSTERICAL FEAR

Now, God has developed in me a spirit of godly femininity that communicates to my husband and to God the messages:

  • I trust you
  • I have faith in you
  • I am confident in you.
  • I am not worried.
  • I am at peace because I know you have things under control.
  • I feel safe with you.
  • I know you have wisdom that I don’t understand and that’s ok.
  • I don’t have all the answers.
  • I’m going to lean on your wisdom and not depend on my feelings.
  • I’m going to run to the shelter of your protection and wait patiently to see what you decide to do.
  • I am willing to cooperate with your leadership.
  • I respect your decisions.
  • I will confidently tell you my feelings and desires and I trust you to make the best decision for me and our family based on your understanding of my needs, wants and what is best for all of us in the longrun.

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT WORRY?

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  … O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?”  or “What shall we wear?”  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:25-34
According to your faith will it be done to you.  Matthew 9:29
And (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.  Matthew 13:58
So worry is completely useless as far as doing anything positive or beneficial.  And it is destructive to our health and our relationship with God.
What Jesus wants us to do instead of worry?  SEEK HIM FIRST!!!!  That is where our effort, time, energy, strength, thoughts, words, minds and hearts need to be all the time!  He PROMISES to take care of the rest of our needs when we keep Him first in our hearts and minds.
PEACE
When we truly repent of all of our sins, even the ones we think are “small” like worry, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, pride, gossip, divisions, etc… then we open up the channel for the Spirit of God to fill us and His supernatural love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control begin to flood our lives on a daily basis.
Once you taste His Spirit – you know nothing else can satisfy! 🙂