War on Worry (Anxiety-Free Monday, Week #9)

Soooo… What are YOU worried about?

Seriously. What was your first thought? Finances? Family? Job? Relationships? Or *perhaps* you were one of the few folks who’s first thought was “Nothing.” (If that is you, congrats. Feel free to skip today’s post. Just kidding. You are already here. Might as well read on right?)

But if you are like the rest of us in the world, you had some initial heart-thudding answer to the “worry” question. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a worrier. However… God has called us to fight it.

We are at war… At war with worry.

If you have been around 7 Days Time for a while, you remember that for lent this year, God actually called me to give up worrying. (Check out the full post “Removal of the Worrywart” here.) At the time I thought it was a little bizarre (and not to mention extremely challenging!) but it was cool to see how God worked through that when all was said and done. (See “Joy in the Mourning” lent conclusion post here.)

See, God had me act tangibly on my worries… Each time one sprung up in my heart, I would write it down and put it in a bowl at the foot of a small cross in my living room. Then I would write a “Faith Statement” to counteract that worry. When lent concluded, I took the bowl of worries and set them on fire. (Oh, burn baby BURN!!)

Over the last several months, God has continued to do work in this area in my life– especially through our online bible study “Calm My Anxious Heart” by Linda Dillow. This week’s chapter was one of my favs: “Worry is like a rocking chair.”

Perhaps you have heard the quote: “Worry is like a rocking chair– it gives us something to do but gets us nowhere.”

Story. Of. My. Life. BOOM.

Worry is the opposite of faith. It’s true. And so many times we try to disguise “worry” as “being prepared.” Whenever my husband asks me (lovingly) but bluntly, “Wife, what are you worried about?!?” my answer usually sounds like this…

“Uh… Nothing, sweetheart… I’m just… thinking.”

Ha. What a load of bologna! When we worry, we are saying “God can’t.” We all know that God CAN do anything, so obviously worry isn’t a legit step in our walk with Christ. Plus, most of our “worries” deal with things we have NO control over.

Source: Len Matthews via Flickr

God is calling us to wage war on worry. One of the exercises in this chapter was to determine What we are worried about, create an Action statement and then Relinquish it to God. (Get it? W-A-R?)

So… Let’s revisit our question. What are you worried about? What action can you take against it? How can you relinquish it God?

This week, let’s take the challenge to do something tangible to banish worries in our life… Perhaps it is writing them down and laying them at the cross. Or burning them. Or wearing a piece of jewelry that reminds you GOD CAN. Or praying about it in a new fresh way. Anything Gods as long as we are going after Jesus!

Feel free to share your thoughts, comments and any prayer requests below in the comment section.

Pray on it. Bring it to God and remember that worry is the opposite of Faith. We are going to war… So who’s side are you on?

Worries Be Gone,
SGK

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” ~Matthew 6:27

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If you are “officially” participating in our Bible study, here is this week’s homework. (Note: We are doing TWO chapters this week, chapters 9 AND 10.) Happy transforming!

Chapter 9:
Day 1- Study Guide: Question 1, memorize and meditate on Hebrews 11:1., Questions 2, 3.

Day 2- Study Guide: Questions 4,a. b., Question 5

Day 3- Study Guide: Questions 6, 7

Day 4- Study Guide: Questions 8, 9

Day 5- Study Guide: Questions 10, 11

***Extra***

Word Study: Hebrews 11: 1
Faith; Substance or sure of what; Hope; Evidence or certain of what; Seen

Chapter 10:
Day 1~Study Guide: Question 1, memorize and meditate on Jeremiah 17: 7 – 8. Don’t miss this one! Question 2

Day 2~Study Guide:Questions 3, 4

Day 3~Study Guide: Questions 5, 6

Day 4~Study Guide: Questions 7. a, b., Question 8

Day 5~Study Guide: Questions 9, 10