Allowing Christ to Displace Worry

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (7) Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Observation:

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.

Because of the ill effects of worry, the Word tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may (1) damage your health, (2) disrupt your productivity, (3) negatively affect the way you treat others, and (4) reduce your ability to trust in God. How many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern-worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.

Application:

"Don't fret or worry"-an admonition that touches the quick of every person. Anxiety, in the popular use of the term, is our most common problem. Worry, confusion of mind, pressures of daily life, uncertainty about the future-if we began to catalog specific aspects within these general categories, we would soon run out of space. Depression is the most common emotional problem in America today, and one of the most difficult with which to deal. Often the severity of depression requires hospitalization, but those who are hospitalized, even those who are under the care of a doctor for this malady, represent only a small portion of our population who are functioning far below the level of effectiveness as persons, who are weighed down so oppressively by anxiety that they cannot even dream of not having to bear such a burden.

When researchers at King's College in London did a long-term study of 57 breast cancer victims who'd undergone mastectomies, they found that 7 out of 10 women "with a strong faith" were alive 10 years later, while 4 out of 5 "who felt hopeless" at the diagnosis had died.

David writes, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22). Those who live worry-free are those who keep casting their burdens upon the Lord until the enemy decides there's no point giving them that burden anymore.

Trust is an attitude. Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought. And habits can be acquired. According to author Bob Gass, if you want to change your attitude from worry to trust, do these six things:

(1) Pray often and daily
(2) Hang out with the right people (not negative, but positive)
(3) Read the right books.
(4) Speak the right words.
(5) Listen to the right messages.
(6) Do the right things.

I agree wholeheartedly. When we allow Christ to displace worry in our lives, before we know it, God's peace will begin to flood our hearts.

The opposite of anxiety is peace. Not numbness nor unconcern, not the absence of inner and outward struggle, but God's peace, the peace that is from Him, giving us hope and confidence, strengthening us to carry on with joy when the burdens are heavy and the pathway rough. This has little to do with outward circumstances, which is why Paul said (KJV) the peace of God would guard our hearts and mind. The word in Greek (phroureo) for "guard" or "keep" was employed when speaking of a company of soldiers keeping watch over a city-a good metaphor. God's peace is an inward soldier protecting us, keeping watch that we be not invaded by all the alien forces that would disrupt and ravage our minds and hearts, making us impotent by crushing us with anxiety. Let Paul witness to the guarding power of this peace within his own life.

No wonder we do not lose heart! Though our outward humanity is in decay, yet day by day we are inwardly renewed. Our troubles are slight and short-lived; and their outcome an eternal glory which outweighs them far. Meanwhile our eyes are fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen: for what is seen passes away; what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NEB)

Prayer:

"Lord, I ask you to forgive me for the times I have allowed WORRY to displace YOU at the center of my life. Our text says it is wonderful when we allow CHRIST to displace WORRY in my life. That is what I want to happen. I want to pray instead of worrying. I choose to hang out more with positive people, read books that you lead me to, be careful what I say, listen to the right messages, and do the right things. Then, Your peace will guard my heart and mind. I love you Lord, and realize that THIS DAY you will provide everything that I need. So why worry? In Jesus name, amen!"