How To Stop The Worry Cycle

Read The Daily:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  – Philippians 4:6-7

We talked about worry this week, so, now that we know, what do we do? We have to recognize when we’re worrying and replace those uninvited thoughts with ones that not only bring a good return but help us live in peace.

Pray Instead
In Philippians 4:6-7, we’re told not to be anxious or worried but to pray instead. Easier said than done, isn’t it? Author Max Lucado said, “No one can pray and worry at the same time.” We typically choose worry instead of prayer. It’s more natural for us. Let’s change that and make praying our go to instead of letting worry overwhelm us. The more we pray, the less we’ll worry.

Entertain Healthy Thoughts
Worry often causes us to think about what-if scenarios that may never happen. When we do this, we must arrest our thoughts and stop them in their tracks. Imagine yourself literally grabbing that worrisome thought from out of thin air. Instead of going back to that thought, use God’s Word to supply you with truth because it’s our source of hope.

Live Grateful
Most people who live in gratitude are typically joyful. And you know what else? They don’t usually spend their time worrying. So, look for ways to be grateful. Maybe it’s a daily journal where you write down a few things each day. And every day we can thank God for His creation, for it reminds us of just how awesome He is.

Finding freedom from worry takes time. We’ve created the habit of worry, so let’s un-create it by employing these ideas. Even though this takes time, it doesn’t mean you won’t find success. When you stop worry in its tracks and pray instead, that’s success! If you fail on the next thought and worry instead, show yourself some grace. Simply start over.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: Mark 6:30-44 & 1 Corinthians 12:21-31

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.  Mark 6:30-44

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all..  1 Corinthians 12:21-31

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: Mark, 1 Corinthians