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)

P31devobook_1024x1024Leave 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!

115 Comments

  1. My fear is my daughter choosing the wrong partner in life because of a break up with a christian boy. A young man that we thought would always be a part of our lifes, we love him as our own child. She is angry at God for taking him away, and now is settling for someone else because she does not want to be alone. I have literally been thinking of running away lately. It has been overwhelming seeing my daughter hurting, and her rejection of the Lord. When she once loved Him. Prayers would be much appreciated. I am trying to remember God is in control. I needed this devotion this morning. Thank you

  2. I have Many worries & they can change daily. When one gets better, another one pops up. Right now though my dad is my biggest worry cause he is probably dyeing & checking himself out of hospital cause he wants to be at home & dye.

  3. I find worry crowding in when I still have another week to go until payday and no money for gas in the tank. And my husband went from getting paid once a month to every two weeks and our bills aren’t set up that way, so now I don’t know how we are going to pay for things. And because they are changing this, he will essentially miss a paycheck that we desperatly need. He tells me it will be all right and it always has been, but it’s hard. This blog post and Proverbs 31 email today were God’s way of telling me to stop worrying. I should have known he would step in and remind me not to worry so much. I will be praying and it will be nice to know that others are praying for me too. Thank you!

  4. My greatest worry, although I have given it to God, is that my two sons have become atheists. Please pray that The Lord will open their hearts and minds to the truth and bring them to repentance. Thank you so much.

  5. God’s timing is always perfect. I just wrote in my prayer journal this morning ” Lord, teach me how to trust you and not worry”. And then the Lord provides me with your devotion and post. My biggest worry right now is money and trying to make sure that everything is paid. God has it all in control, I just have to trust him which is SO hard.

  6. I was in an abusive marriage that ended terribly. There’s been alot of backlash and my children caught in the middle. My ex has now involved woman #3, who has 3 kids (by the way, we have 3 kids around the same age as her children ). He is forcing her on the kids and they already feel replaced. He doesn’t use good judgment and moves quickly. It’s been almost 2 yrs since the divorce, yet our children are still healing. Please pray for their protection and complete healing that they be made whole. Please pray that I keep serving God and allow full healing to take place in me. My desire is to be healthy and whole so that I can be a blessing to others and enrich the kingsom of God. My kids and I deserve only God’s best and I claim it in Jesus’ mighty name!

  7. Thanks I need this today. I have too many worries to list, but I know God is here for me. Have been looking for a good devotional and would really love to win this!

  8. My greatest fear is my health-Been ill for the past 6 years. Plus my sister has brain cancer-actually in remission, but the tumor can grow back at any time. My sister lost her left arm(no movement) during brain surgery in Mayo plus other many other complications from treatment. HEALTH fears and fear of lossing my sister. THANKS SO MUCH FOR PRAYING!!!!!

  9. My biggest worry is financial. I’m a single mother and have a 18 year old daughter. I’ve been on my own for the last 16 years and it’s been a long, hard struggle. My daughter just got a part time job to help out but I’ve had so many financial setbacks I feel I will never get caught up with paying all my debts and bills.

  10. My greatest worry right now is for daughters ages 4 and 6 as they begin to be exposed to many influences beyond my control: at school, activities, with friends, etc. Having been able to control those influences almost completely up until now, it is hard to let them out of my sight not knowing what they will encounter. It keeps me on my knees!

    1. Be encouraged and continue to pray. My husband and I have chosen to homeschool our little ones. We are blessed by this opportunity God has opened. One mom at our church has made it her mission to gather with other moms once a week for about an hour to pray for all our children, whether it be for children in the public, private or homeschool educational setting. There’s power in prayer! Don’t ever stop praying for your precious ones.

  11. I reallyl needed this devotional today. I am dealing wth alot of anxiety over changes at work going on. I am constantly worried about my relationships at work and no one liking me and maybe losing my job. I worry about my children that aren’t talking to each other and getting along and going into the holidays with that. I feel sometimes like I am smothering with the worry. I will take these bible verses and pray them daily. I have read them and know them but in the midst of worry and fear I tend to forget. I just need to turn to the one that controls everything and knows everything. Put all my trust in Him. Glory to God.

  12. Thank you for this awesome reminder. The last two years have been very difficult. A child in an auto accident; thinking we were going to lose our unborn granddaughter due to the accident; a child’s drug addiction; harsh reality financially of helping our children; our youngest adoptive daughter’s biological family causing turmoil and betrayal by those I thought were trusted friends. Psalm 56 became my go to for help. When I would be overwhelmed and attacked. Fear would crowd in. Doubts in my mind. Fear of failure and not being enough to handle the load. Fear of not being able to get rid of the anger and be able to forgive those who had no remorse. I’m still very, very much a work in progress. I still let fear in. But I am stronger. My husband and I have both grown spiritually through this trial by fire. Vs 4 “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” These many trials may help make up who I am…but I can always look up and remember Whose I am. I am so thankful.

    1. Dear Lord thank you for Jo and her willing spirit. Thank you for sustaining her through the trials of the past two years and for giving her your word. Bless her today Lord and help her to continue to grow in you.

      In Jesus Name
      Amen

  13. My daughter was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. I am praying that the current treatment works. I know that The Lord is using this to build something within her that He will use for His glory.

  14. Thank you so much for this devotional! It really touched my heart as I have been battling worry all week. I have a 15 year old daughter that really needs pray. She is struggling with low self-esteem and fear. I have been trying to encourage her, but have been overcome with fear myself. I concerned for her future and only want the best for her. On top of worrying about her, I’m worried about finances and supporting my family. I feel like I’m running a rat race and getting no where, which leaves me filled with anxiety. I will take your advice and turn this over to God. Through Him, all things are possible. Thank you so much for the encouragement this morning. God bless you!

  15. I had a long list of fears with money, the future, and death of loved ones being at the top. I have let it get to the point of nagging my husband about finding a more secure job with benefits and snapping at my kids everytime they ask for something. I want to be a better mom and wife that learns to control my worries, fears and anxiety. My list has been made and hung on my mirror,my prayers have been written and placed in my bible, and I plan to pray little prayers everyday until I defeat this. Thanks for the awesome proverbs 31 devotional and for this wonderful blog!!

  16. God sends His word right in the midst of circumstances to remind, reduce & restore. My husband is not working right now and we have three small children and it’s TIGHT. I looked at our bank account this morning and took a sigh then I went to Crosswalk and read Karen’s post for the day for Proverbs 31, I was laughing and crying at the same time because then I went to the blog and after that read another devotional from someone else and their verse of choice Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry, you know the rest… God reminded me He sees me, He used his word to reduce my anxiety and restore my Faith in His ability to provide…sigh sigh it’s hard but better to know I’m in the hands of a loving and caring Father then to think I’m in this alone,

  17. My fear is the overwhelming sense of worry I have lately over everything. There are situations in my family the plague my relationship with them and my husband. I am always on guard…waiting for the other shoe to drop. My head knows to put my trust in Jesus and let it go, but my human heart sometimes holds me back. I am so grateful to have read your blog post at Proverbs 31…I am putting your God is Not Worried method into place. Thank you for your words in Him.

  18. My greatest fear and worry at this time is for my children. My 20 year old daughter has moved out of our house after we had an argument and now will not contact me. She has a phone but will not give anyone in our family her number. I want her to be independent but I hate not talking to her.
    My 15 year old son has experimented with marijuana and has been grounded but I don’t trust him now and he is angry that I don’t trust him. I have allowed him some freedom recently but I am afraid that he will do it again.
    My greatest fear is that my children will follow a path that will impact their lives in such a negative way that they will never get back to Christ and faith.

  19. I’m very concerned for a good friend who’s 5 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that is causing so many painful and debilitating symptoms. My prayer is that she does not push The Lord away or become bitter and that this situation grows her faith while she experiences our Fathers peace and strength.

  20. I have a very difficult elderly parent — not living with me, but who I deal with every day. I also have a teenager and husband at home. Our finances aren’t what they used to be, our marriage isn’t what it should be. College is looming. I have several health problems. So does my husband. Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed. I know God is in control, yet the “living out” that knowledge is hard!

  21. Fear of the unknown as custody battle in divorce proceeds. Fear for the impact of divorce on my children. Fear of not finding a new church community.

  22. For manifestation of my healing, and for my friend who also needs God’s healing. Though the enemy comes on strong some days…I hear God saying: BE BOLD AND BE STRONG, BANISH FEAR AND DOUBT FOR THE PROMISE OF YOUR GOD IS TO BLESS YOUR COMING IN AND TO BLESS YOUR GOING OUT. (remembering that children’s song…based on Scripture) Thank you for your prayers…God bless us, every one!

  23. My fears keep me from enjoying God’s many blessings in my life. Please pray for me and I will be sure to lift all of you up in prayer as well. Many of my fears include my college-aged son, Josh, as he begins his life as an adult. I pray he will include God in his decsions and that God will bring him an amazing girl to share his life.

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