God is Not Worried
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Welcome to those of you who read my Proverbs 31 devotion God is Not Worried. {Click here to read it if you haven’t yet}
As promised in the devotion, here are five ways to turn your greatest worries into your deepest prayers:
~ Make a list. Grab two pieces of notebook paper and on one make a list of the things about which you are most worried. Is it money? A loved one? The future? Your health? Number them one by one. Then, make a second list on the other sheet of paper with corresponding numbers. For each number, write out a one or two sentence prayer about the corresponding worry from list number one. Then, take a bright red pen and make a big X through the first list. Write across the top “I’ve got it covered. Love, God”. Post the list on your bathroom mirror. Tuck the other one in your Bible so you can pull it out each day to pray through the list.
~ Question yourself. Ask yourself this, “If my greatest fear came actually did come true, would God still be enough?” The answer ALWAYS is yes! For encouragement, ponder this quote by one of my favorite authors:
“Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering…. The love of God did not protect His own Son…. He will not necessarily protect us – not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot
~ Set an alarm. Utilize your phone’s alarm, or a kitchen timer or regular alarm clock, to remind you a few times a day to pause and pray about the issue you are most concerned about. Stop and whisper a sincere prayer. Then, go back about your day knowing you have left the issue in God’s hands.
~ Lend a helping hand. Sometimes we are able to get our eyes off of our own worries by helping out someone in need. Can you sign up to visit shut ins or those in the hospital from your church? Does a local battered women’s shelter need help serving a meal or sorting free clothes for the residents? Does an elderly person in your neighborhood need help around the house or transportation the the doctor’s or grocery store? Helping someone in need can refocus our nervous energy as we spend time with others who need assistance.
~Memorize. Recite. Believe. Repeat. Chose one of the verses below to commit to memory. Have a friend or family member be your accountability partner. Practice reciting the verse to them once a week or so until you can do it by heart. Then, believe what the verse says!!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Do not fret – it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37:8)
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:25-26)
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Proverbs 12:25)
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (Psalm 94:19)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. (Luke 12:22-23)
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 6:28-29)
So do not worry, saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or ‘What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31-32)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
Leave us a comment telling us your greatest worry right now so we can pray for you over the weekend.
Two people who comment will be chosen to receive a copy of our new Proverbs 31 Devotional: Encouragement for Today. It will help you turn your worries into prayers.
Winners announce Monday. Have a worry-free weekend!
Thank you Karen for this devotional!!! My biggest fear is not finding a job and being able to provide for my kids. I have been out of work since last December due to a car accident. I have been job hunting for the last 3 months since my recovery and it is really hard. My marriage has been suffering for the past few years. We didn’t even celebrate our 21st anniversary last week. It is getting harder to remain focused on God, when my life seems to be crumbling around me. God, I need you NOW!!!!!
This devotion spoke to me. I have a brother that is homeless. Alcohol dependency/mental illness has crippled him. I used to pray for intervention but now pray that God will keep him safe. I have to give this fear to God. It’s far to big a burden for anyone to carry.
Thank you for this post – I am just a worrier by nature and am constantly seeking God’s deliverance from this character trait. I think it is from childhood. I carry a lot of fear and anxiety. When I put things in perspective and count my blessings, I feel like I should not have these fears…yet they exist. Lately I have felt overwhelmed by work and managing my home life – being a good wife and mom. The pointers are very helpful and I look forward to incorporating them into my daily life. I will also pray for the other people who have posted their concerns.
I desperately needed to hear this message! (And your posting on Proverbs 31) I have been unable to sleep the past several nights due to overwhelming fear and worry regarding failures in a current project. I have felt trapped by my worry, unable to get out of it, but I’m setting my alarm clock for prayer throughout the day and printing these scriptures out and posting them near me. Thank you!
I always worry about my family whenever I am not with them. Sometimes the worrying is almost debilitating. I suppose the worry comes from losing my dad at an early age.
Pray for my son Joshua.
Thank-you for the devotion and your blog post this morning. I found both to be great reminders of the truths in God’s word. As a looked over the verses…God’s word is filled with promises for us. I have a lot of areas in my life I allow fear to be a part of at times. Mainly, I would have to say would be my children and the choices they make. I need to leave them in the hands of the LORD. I put them there, then I end up taking the fear back.
I fret over money a lot. We are a one income family by choice, so I can be home to care for our kids and homeschool them. My hubby gets paid every two weeks and there are times when we are just getting by or when things are so tight we are putting gas on a credit card. I see God helping us at times. DJ gig here and there opens up for my husband to earn some extra cash or l helped in our chuch’s nursery during a wedding that brought us a little money. This is something I need to give to Him each day and pray for wisdom to know how best to help my husband provide.
Since my boyfriend proposed, i have been worried that what if he doesnot marry me. His business is doing really bad and we have three months to the wedding and he has shifted all the focus to very different things. My prayer is that the wedding goes as planned and we start a life together.
Since my husband died a year ago I am afraid that something will happen to my daughter. Losing my family and being alone in the world is my greatest fear and half of it came true. I try not to see God as punishing me for something but it creeps up on me.
Thank you for these encouraging words and fear fighting tactics. I really needed to read this today. I know that my God loves and will provide for me. The fear comes from knowing that I have made some unwise choices that have put me in the financial state that I am in.I keep asking myself how can I get out of it? I know that God will help me.
My husband and I are newly appointed missionaries to West Africa. We have never been to Africa and the fear of the unknown has been very overwhelming lately. I know I need to be trusting God with my fears…our safety, kids education, not having good healthcare if the kids get sick…and even critters lol, but I’ve recently had this fear that I can’t seem to shake.
Dear Christi White, i know the fear you have. Staying in a place you have no idea about.
Myself, i am a Ugandan, East Africa and i work with a missionary organisation. We have over twenty families who are missionaries here. Most of them have been here for over twenty years and everytime they come home, they always yearn to come back. There are international schools, hospitals and many more good stuff here. I see these families here very happy and their children too. There is nothing to worry about. The will of God will take us where the Grace of God will protect us. I assure you, there is nothing to worry about. But still, i am praying for you.
I feel like God is ready to use me in my calling to write and speak. Self-doubt and fear of failure paralyze me at times. My passion is parenting, and encouraging parents in their journey with humor and relatability (is that a real word?); recently 2 of my children are really struggling. I fear I’ll not be who they need me to be. My children are so very precious to me and it aches to see them hurt and not know how to fix it. In my head I know He’s got it covered. In my heart I sometimes doubt and fear.
I seem to have many fears…they seem insignificant in comparison to others BIG ones. I ask for prayerful support as my husband & I look a retirement future that is uncertain at best. In all things God is good…God is Good!
I want to thank everyone at Proverbs 31 for being my support this past 6 months. I am so afraid of the future. I had everything I could imagine I wanted. I believed I was doing it all right. Then my past caught up with me in the worse way. I have a disorder caused by 16 years of abuse as a child. For no apparent reason I became that child again and wasn’t able to function. My job was gone, then my car was gone, then my home. Now I am living with my son and daughter in law. I am looking at this as God’s way of showing me how to get it right. I can not spend the rest of my life in fear and God is the only one who can take this from me. I spend many hours reading the Bible and getting direction from your ministry. God has truly Blessed me, he sent me your way. Thank You.
I’m so glad I read this blog this morning. I’m
Really worried about my marriage. I’m an emotional
Time bomb and my husband never knows
What he is coming home too so now he just
Doesn’t come home anymore… We have 3 young
Children and our oldest has autism… I don’t
Want a divorce but I know I have to make some
Changes. Please pray for my marriage because
I don’t know what I would do without him.
Jen- I will be praying for you and you r marriage.
I worry over my son. I lift him up to God everyday. I lift up the fear I have over his life choices. I lift up the, at times, the overwhelming fear that I have when it is concerning him.
I’m praying for marriage restoration. My divorce was final just this past May. I don’t know how I make it through each day except by the grace of God. I am worrying a lot, and I know it’s a sin. I’m facing foreclosure. Received a notice 2 weeks ago that my house will be up for auction on 11/21. I don’t know where to go. I can’t afford very much at all. I feel so alone at times. It’s been a very difficult year. Please remember me in your prayers. Thank you!
Thank you for this. I submit my fears to God at bedtime in an effort to free my mind for sleep but sometimes (oftentimes) it just ends up as a worry session. Thanks for your suggestions. We have an all powerful, omniscient God for which I’m thankful!
I have many fears. Some days I wake up and have to deal with them over and over. Fear caused me to sink pretty deep in January. I Do NOT want to go back to that way. Some of my biggest fears are the health of my family and losing a child. But I know that He is faithful and He loves me. I also know He loves my children so much more than I do and has a great plan for them.
My greatest concern is not being quiet enough to hear God when He speaks. I know He has a plan for my life and I do not want to screw it up by being to anxious and loud to hear Him when He speaks. My mind is always on the run racing from one prayer to another and really not getting me anywhere. I so desire to learn how to be still and know my God, to learn how to really trust Him for all my needs and concerns. I am on a thirty day fast and prayer and truly want to come through it with a better understanding of who I am in Christ and where I should be and what I should be doing with no more anxieties.
I thank you and bless you for the wonderful things you and the rest of the women from Proverbs 31 are doing each day. God’s blessings on each one of you and thank you for your prayers.
I have a son who I am estranged from because of his life choices. He has turned completely away from God and lives a lifestyle that is keeping him chained in darkness. I have been praying for him for years and cannot break through to him. Oftentimes, he will not even answer my calls. I know that The Lord has this all covered, but there are days when I physically ache for him. He is my baby and I love him so. Because I love him-I have learned to let him go, but some days are harder than others. He will be turning 25 in December. I firmly believe in the power of prayer, yet I still have to do some stern talking to myself on this matter. I appreciate any prayers that you can send. His name is Collin and he is my “sweet pea”.
Cindi- I will gladly pray for him and you.
God bless you and thank you for this blog. My biggest fear and worry is my son. He is an alcoholic. I pray everyday to God he will help my son. I am so afraid of what will happen to him. His wife has divorced because of his abusive behaviors when he is drinking. He has two beautiful children, and I worry about what their lives will be without their father in it. Please pray for my son. Thank you and God bless you.
I will pray for him. What is his name?
Good morning and thanks to God for my reading your blog this morning through the Girlfriends in God link at the Bible Gateway. My greatest fear is whether or not my marriage will succeed. I have returned to our home after having left an abusive relationship for the 3rd time. My husband verbally and emotionally abused me and my children; however I see a change in him now. I am trusting God for His faithfulness. I know that He has a plan for us, but the fear of failure creeps in.
My biggest fear is the fact of my weight. I have been overweight for almost 18 years and I’m tired of it. It seems to take over my every thought. This weekend I’m going to turn my worry into prayer and action. And I know if other people are praying for me and with me something is bound to change in my life. Thanks and God bless you!!!!