Releasing Worry to God
Forgiving those who’ve committed wrongs against you doesn’t necessarily guarantee and easier life. You may still have to deal with a difficult boss, wife, in-laws, or kids. You still have to deal with the every day stresses of life. There are pressures beyond your control that will wear you down if you aren’t careful to release them to God. So what can you do?
Our brother in Christ, the apostle Paul, gave us a strategy to help us deal with the troubles of daily life. He wrote: ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7).
This verse gives you the image of a guard patrolling your heart and mind. When the guard of prayer is in place it will keep out the pressing anxieties of life. If this guard isn’t in place, pain and worry will result.
What pressures are weighing on you? Are you talking to God about them or are you numbing yourself through things like video games, porn, alcohol, overeating, or overspending? Just as you must continually forgive, you also have to continually release your worries and specific needs to God. He will, in turn, protect you and give you the peace that passes all understanding.
Steve Arterburn
go to god!!!! reading this entry brought me back to church a few sundays ago. the pastor was talking about all the distructive things people go to when they are stressed, beaten down, alone. He said plainly "go to God". "you have tried everything else, when not him" . thank you steve for reminding me to stay focused in my relationship with God.
1.) To the list of activities that men use to numb themselves I would add the overindulgence of sports, gambling, adultery in all of its forms, and "workaholics". (All seem to be issues men engage in to avoid daily stresses.)
2.) Many use the excuse that they have done their part by turning it over to God, in prayer. In fact we may be engaging in activies that preclude God from hearing our prayer. (Prov. 28:9; James 4:3, 1 Peter 3:7 and more)
Turning concerns over to God are futile if not matched with the desire to do His will. God's will may require action and sacrifice and we must be ready to obey.