Archive for the ‘Worry-Free Wednesdays’ Category

Worry Free Wednesdays – The Worry Cure – Part IV

by Kim Avery

Life is hard, yet still God says there is no need for worry.  Is that even possible? Can we really live anxiety-free when the bills are late, the children rebel, and our job is at risk?

This month we have been studying how to truly live a life that is worry-free.  What could be better than that?

Four Essential Steps to a Worry-Free Life:

Recognize

Respond

Release

Replace

Up to this point, (click here) we have discussed the first three steps to a worry-free life. It begins simply, by just recognizing that there is a better way.  We then follow that acknowledgment with prayer, asking God what He would have us do. Then, every time that worry reappears we choose to praise God instead, increasing our faith in Him.

Replace

Finally, we are at Step Four, Replace.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2, NIV

God’s Promises

Now it’s time to replace Satan’s lie with the real truth.  By using your Bible’s concordance or a Bible Promise Book, find one of God’s many promises that apply to your specific situation.  For example,

  • Children – Acts 2:39; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 17:6
  • Help in Troubles – Psalm 37:39; Psalm 42:11; Psalm 73:26
  • Loneliness – John 14:18; Isaiah 58:9; II Corinthians 6:18
  • Poverty – Psalm 72:12,13; Psalm 102:17; Psalm 68:10
  • Money – Psalm 37:16; Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 9:18
  • Worry – Matthew 6:34; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 34:19

Write this promise out on a 3×5 card and carry it with you throughout the day. Read it often. The truth will set you free.

Live Worry Free

Anxiety is insidious, paralyzing, and overwhelming.  God’s promises are specific, empowering, and life-giving.  His storehouse of resources is vast and offers reassurance for every need.  Each time a fear arises, practice replacing it with one of God’s truths.  There are plenty to go around.

The very first command to fear not is found in the book of Genesis, and God continues reassuring us until He states His final fear not in Revelation.  From beginning to end, He has us covered. Wow! God knows that life is hard, yet exhorts us to trust Him.  Remember who your God is, cling to Him, and sail through the storms of life.


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Worry Free Wednesdays – The Worry Cure – Part III

Have you ever noticed that it’s easier to make a change by adding a new activity rather than subtracting an old one?  For example, if I want to slim down it’s easier for me to get up and take a walk than to decide to eat less and just stare at an empty plate. Budgeting is hard not because I have to become a savvy shopper but due to all the times I can’t shop at all.

Giving up habits, even negative ones, is hard.  Leaving worry behind is also difficult to do, but God has a way.

Four Essential Steps to a Worry-Free Life.

Recognize

Respond

Release

Replace

Up to this point, (click here) we have discussed the first two steps to a worry-free life. It begins simply, by just recognizing that there is a better way.  We then follow that acknowledgment with prayer, asking God what He would have us do.

Unfortunately, you and I have probably done that a million times and gone right back to worrying as soon as the prayer was done. We are trying to subtract out habitual worry but we are adding nothing in its place. Nature abhors a vacuum.

This brings us to the third step of God’s worry cure as it is found in Philippians 4:6-7. Can you find it?

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.

Step Three – Release

God has graciously given us something to add in place of our worry.  We are to thank Him for all He has done.

Just imagine the benefits.

As we begin to recall what He has done in the past, the many times that He has provided divine rescue, all the blessings that fill our daily lives, before we know it our hearts will begin to swell with thanksgiving and faith.

He is faithful.

He has never let us down.

He will always provide.

He loves us and never leaves us alone.

In fact, He has done so much for us that no matter how big your worry, the list of specific provisions will outlast it every time.

It’s not enough to look worry in the eye and just say ‘no.’ Instead, beat worry away by praising your All-Generous God. That is a cure that is sure to work.

Be worry free today:

Search your heart and identify each specific need.

Write that need (with as little or much detail as you would like) in the comment box below.

Pray (proseuche) thanking God that He is able to provide all you need. Ask (supplication/deemis) specifically for what you need and for the request in the comment box right above yours.

(Optional) You may also include the Scripture promise that God has laid on your heart to encourage you in this situation.

Click the submit button knowing that your worry has been entrusted to the Lord and He will respond to it in the wisest, most loving way possible.

Walk away and leave that worry behind for the entire day. God’s got you covered.

Why  don’t you also eave a small list of things you are thankful for today in the comment box below. It will encourage all of our hearts.


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Worry Free Wednesdays – The Worry Cure – Part II

by Kim Avery

Worry – it’s pointless, and it’s pervasive. While we all know that endlessly mulling, worrying, and churning things over again and again in our minds doesn’t solve a thing, we all do it.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was dressed like one of these.
Matthew 6:27-29

Step One – Recognize

Last Wednesday we discovered that the first step in God’s Worry Cure is ‘Recognize.’ God’s solution for our chronic worry all begins with recognition. Recognizing through prayer that God is bigger than any problem we will ever have and recognizing and naming our specific need as we give that worry over to God.

But there may still be more to do. Life often brings with it very real trials and problems and many times God not only tells us to bring our concerns to Him but also to obey and respond as He requires.

Step Two – Respond

“According to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with realistically acknowledging and trying to deal with the identifiable problems of life. To ignore danger is foolish and wrong. But it is also wrong, as well as unhealthy, to be immobilized by excessive worry. Such worry must be committed to prayer to God, who can release us from paralyzing fear or anxiety, and free us to deal realistically with the needs and welfare both of ourselves and others.” (Dr. Gary Collins, Christian Counseling)

Thus, after recognizing our need, we are to ask God what He would have us do.  He will tell you.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:5-8

At times, God may assure you that the situation is fully in His hands, and you are just to wait in faith on Him. At other times, God may call you and equip you to respond as He requires.

Either way, the results up to Him.

You can choose to take this Wednesday and enjoy it entirely worry free. Through prayer, recognize your need and then respond as God directs.

Join us in this process by following the steps below.

Search your heart and identify each specific need.

Write that need in the comment box below (with as little or much detail as you would like.)

Pray thanking God that He is able to provide all you need. Also take a minute to pray for the request entered right above yours.

Ask God what, if anything, He wants you to do today about this situation? Follow through in obedience knowing the results are up to Him.

Click the submit button knowing that your worry has been entrusted to the Lord, and He will respond to it in the wisest, most loving way.

Walk away and enjoy a worry free day.  God’s got you covered.


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Worry Free Wednesdays – The Worry Cure – Part I

By Kim Avery

I’ve spent a lot of time in my life worrying. I’ve worried about tests, exams, and losing my high school locker combination.  I’ve fretted over my choice of colleges, churches, and friends. I’ve been anxious about my appearance, performance, and people dropping by when the house wasn’t clean.

I’ve conjured up images of poverty, cancer, and global warming and allowed them to play havoc with my life. I can even worry about how much I worry. Yup, if it’s out there, like a dog with a bone, I’m sure I’ve worried it to death.

For many, worry can easily become a habit, a way of life. This month we will look at The Worry Cure and how it can literally change your life. It is found in Philippians 4:6-7.

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

From this one passage we will explore the Four Essential Steps to a Worry-Free Life.

Recognize

Respond

Release

Replace

Recognize

This week we will look at the first step in The Worry Cure which is to recognize 2 different things: 1) what you are worried about, and 2) who your God is.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

In this phrase, ‘”by prayer and supplication…,” God’s Worry Cure gives us two key words that show us where to begin to live an anxiety free life.

1.  Prayer – this word in the Greek, proseuche, means to call on a deity.  In other words, recognize that you have a God, a divine God. He is much bigger than your problem and much bigger than you. You are not in this alone. Call out to Him.

Our default thinking in troublesome situations usually sounds like this, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth.  As you obey God’s command to pray, your soul will quickly be reminded that in reality you have a very HUGE God and to Him the biggest human problems are very small.

2.  Supplication – This Greek word, deesis, means to make specific requests. Worries that are undefined can linger over you like a black cloud. Clear requests left at the throne of God will quickly remove the vague anxiety that haunts your heart.

Instead of just saying I’m worried about money, dig deep enough to see that it’s the bill from the hospital that has you concerned. Perhaps it’s not really the global economy that keeps you up at night but the knowledge that your husband receives his work review on Tuesday.  That pit in your stomach could be a signal of stress as you wonder when you will ever find time to help your son with his math before the big test later this week.

As you bring each specific need to your all-powerful God, you will begin to see clear answers and provision for each request.

Be worry free today:

Search your heart and identify each specific need.

Write that need (with as little or much detail as you would like) in the comment box below

Pray (proseuche) thanking God that He is able to provide all you need. Ask (supplication/deemis) specifically for what you need and for the request in the comment box right above yours.

(Optional) You may also include the Scripture promise that God has laid on your heart to encourage you in this situation.

Click the submit button knowing that your worry has been entrusted to the Lord and He will respond to it in the wisest, most loving way possible.

Walk away and leave that worry behind for the entire day. God’s got you covered.


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Worry-Free Wednesdays

Join Us this July for Worry-Free Wednesdays

by Kim Avery

I worry. You worry. We all worry and for good reason. Life is not what it could be. Whether it’s your health failing, kids rebelling, finances sinking, relationships aching or a myriad of other things, life gives us much to worry about.

To make it worse, worry never exists in isolation but comes with a host of other ills giving us more and more to worry about.

It can all begin so innocently perhaps by overhearing a casual remark reminding you about… (you fill in the blank with your biggest worry here ). Your mind goes into overdrive.  You immediately unleash a mental parade of all the things that could possibly go wrong.  Soon these images are supplemented by every instance you have ever heard of how this horrible thing has happened to someone else. Now add in the latest scare statistics from the nightly news and the internet and within seconds of overhearing this remark your body goes into full blown crisis mode.

Your palms start to sweat, and your stomach begins to hurt. As your worry grows so do the stress related symptoms, anything from headaches to high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, obesity and more.

In fact, 75-90% of all visits to the doctor are for these same stress-related conditions (Cleveland Clinic Foundation). Worry is a voracious beast that will never rest until it devours you from the inside out.

But it doesn’t have to, so that’s why we will be studying The Worry Cure every Wednesday in the month of July.

It’s effective, it’s fun, and it can change your life. Here’s how it will work:

  • Read the Living in Love with Jesus Worry-Free blog post every Wednesday in July.
  • In the comment section, list your worry (you can be as vague or specific as you like) and take a minute to pray for it AND for the request right above yours.
  • (Optional) You may also want to include the Scripture promise that God has laid on your heart to encourage you in this situation.
  • Click the submit button knowing that your worry has been entrusted to the Lord and He will respond to it in the wisest, most loving way possible.
  • Walk away and leave that worry behind for the entire day. God’s got you covered.

Are you in? Simply let us know by leaving a comment in the box below and begin to dream of what you will do with a completely worry free day.

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