Five Minute Friday - Worry!

Today's fast Friday challenge word is worry:  Go! 

Do you ever worry?  Or have you worried about worrying?  

I have...then I stopped at this verse.....

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “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.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!  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 12:22-26

Frankly, worrying makes you weary.  Worry speaks of fear, of mistrust, and unbelief.  When you're hit square between the brows with life's swirling circumstances and you've done all you know to do, worrying is futile.    


Worry confuses.  Surrender to God reassures.

Worry destroys.  Faith builds trust.

Worry separates.  Prayer tethers us to His strength.

Worry breeds doubt.  Trust births dependence on Him.

Nothing about your life has caught God by surprise. He knew a long time ago you would be in the middle of whatever it is your facing today. He sees all the details...the good, the bad, the ugly....your dark thoughts. He's not weary about how it's going to work out.....So why worry?

2012 In One Word

Many days I arrive home from work in the dark.  As I slog my feet along the path it speaks of the tired state that I feel trapped in.  In the silence, I look up at the dark and see sky- scattered stars. 

God…have I honored You today with my best?  I am overwhelmed.  With one month down on this year, and things seem the same….what is next?  What do you have for me? 

To be honest, I tend to make a long list of things that need change in my life.  I like to make lists.  It’s the way I process.  I write my dreams, my goals, my want-to’s, my to-do’s, and my thoughts.  And most times….especially with my tired body screaming sleep…. I feel exhausted before I even begin.  Usually always to the point of shutting down mentally.

When I feel tired like this, I don’t feel creative.  
When I don’t create it makes me more tired.

I will be the first one to tell you that I need more sleep.   In my pursuit to be all that God wants me to be, I have forgotten how to take care of myself.  I take care of others so well….so I think…but I never put myself on a to-do-so list.  And this is why I am so emotionally drained.   


………I’m really not asking for your advice here…...I know…...you are thinking ….I’m over committed.  Perhaps….but I am dedicated to a cause.   When people tell me to say “no” it wears me out.   But… not being able to say ‘No’ also wears me out.


What I really think is changing in me is what I have been asking God for.  My one goal for 2012 is “rest”.  As I pray to find rest in God, I am constantly barraged with opportunities to exhibit the ability to do just that.  Circumstances and situations have been served my direction that challenge my reliance on His rest, to test my ability to run to Rest and to increasingly bring my awareness for my deep need to His rest. 

The truth is apparent in my trust. 

Our souls get weary from battle on the front lines, on the back row, in our middle-of-the-road journeys that we are placed in.  If you are honest with yourself you too would admit that you need rest.  God created us with this deep need to rest in Him, and Him only.  In needing rest, we have to admit that we can’t.  We can’t fight these life battles on our own.   God didn’t program us or wire us to be able to. 

We are created in His image; therefore we need Him to exist.  So if we do this life experience on our own, we will fail every time.  In our failures to exist without Him, we are reminded of our shortfalls.  When we aren’t aware of His presence and we try to do things in our own strength. 

For “the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. God will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

I sometimes fight dependence on God like a 14-month-old baby boy.....


To be continued….tomorrow ...the rest....