Worry Doesn’t Help, So Why Waste Your Time?
By Rick Warren
“Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).
Worry will kill your joy and cause you stress. We tend to expect the worst in life. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, they affect 18.1 percent of the U.S. population.
But worry isn’t just a mental issue. It’s a spiritual one. It’s assuming a responsibility that God never intended for us to have. It’s playing God and trying to control the uncontrollable.
There was once a scientific study on worry that discovered:
- 40% of our worries never happen
- 30% of our worries concern the past
- 12% of our worries are needless worries about our health
- 10% of our worries are insignificant or petty concerns
- 8% of our worries are really legitimate concerns
Worry is worthless. It can’t change the past or control the future. It only messes you up right now. It’s an incredible waste of energy. It’s stewing without doing. When we worry about things, they get bigger and bigger.
The Bible says, “Do not worry about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NCV). It’s one of the hardest commands to obey. It’s even more countercultural when you consider where Paul was when he wrote it. He was sitting in a prison waiting for the emperor to execute him.
Worry is something we learn to do. You must practice worry to get good at it. If it is learned, it can also be unlearned.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (NIV).
Jesus gives us the ultimate antidote to worry.
Live one day at a time. God will take care of tomorrow.
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Preparing Your Heart for Christmas Calendar and Booklet
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The weeks leading up to Christmas are so full of excitement and preparation that December can be kind of a blur. Before you know it, you’ve missed the true meaning of Christmas.
That’s why Pastor Rick created the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional.
This two-part resource includes a calendar with a special door for every day of December that opens to reveal an inspirational word and Bible verse. Use it with the companion daily devotional guide to help you and your family draw closer to Jesus and prepare your heart for the real celebration.
This brand-new resource is our gift to thank you for your donation to share the hope of Jesus for THIS WEEK ONLY. So act now to be sure to get yours by December 1!
Preparing Your Heart for Christmas can help you spend the holidays . . .
• Worshipping instead of worrying
• Slowing down and reconnecting with God
• Expressing gratitude for the true meaning of the season
Don’t wait! Give a gift by November 12 and request your copy of the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional for yourself or as a special gift for someone you love.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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