Worry: the peace robber!

The Old English root from which we get our word "worry" means "to strangle." If you have ever really worried, you know how it does strangle a person! In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains. Worry affects our thinking, digestion, and even our coordination.

The antidote to worry is the secure mind: "The peace of God . . . will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). When you have the secure mind, the peace of God guards you and the God of peace guides you!

Talking to God about everything that concerns us and Him is the first step toward victory over worry. The result is that the "peace of God" guards the heart and the mind. "The peace of God" stands guard over the two areas that create worry—the heart (wrong feeling) and the mind (wrong thinking).

The prescription for receiving God's peace:

The direction is twofold: don't worry about anything; and pray about everything in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude. The result will be 'the peace of God.' This is the peace with which God fills the believer as he or she stands firmly in their position in Christ. It is to be distinguished from the peace with God which is the result of justification (Romans 5:1), and the portion of every believer. This deeper peace of walking with God is said to be incomprehensible to the merely natural mind. It surpasses anything the unspiritual mind can grasp; it 'keeps on guarding, protecting the mental, emotional, and spiritual life from enemy intrusion of that which would spoil God's peace.

The prescription for maintaining God's peace:

(1) To guard our mental life (what we allow ourselves to think upon or think about). 

(2) We are to meditate continually on the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, acceptable, and praiseworthy.

(3) To practice the things which we are taught. The result will mean not only possessing the peace of God, but the God of peace Himself.

Seven Reasons Not to Worry (Matthew Chapter 6)

1) The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

2) Worrying about the future hinders your efforts for today.

3) Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

4) God does not ignore those who depend on Him.

5) Worrying shows a lack of faith in God, and a lack of understanding God.

6) Worrying keeps us from the real challenges God wants us to pursue.

7) Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.