Study 8: Do not Worry

Proverbs 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future (the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it)! 

Problems caused by worry

Nausea
Muscular Tension
Trembling
Difficulty in breathing
Feelings of dread and threat
Panic
Inability to relax
Depression
Suicidal thoughts
Increased use of alcohol and drugs

Worry is meditating on the fears we have picked up from the enemy.

Fear always starts as a seed in our mind, either we can uproot it with the Word or we can meditate on it, hold onto it, act on it, and then be open to the next worry, which just makes the previous one stronger (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). We build up a mountain of fear one thought at a time until we have a very real phobia. It will eat away at us unless we decide that we are going to put a stop to it, and fight with all the weapons God has given us to win the victory.

Any fear that stops us from trusting the One Person – Jesus – who wants nothing but good for us (1 John 3:1) is a bondage and needs to be broken in our lives.

Act Now!

Jesus has overcome every problem, so we do not have to worry, but just look at the situation through God’s eyes. We need to undo the learned patterns from our early lives, even if we are such worriers that we would even worry if we didn’t have anything to worry about!!

However it is still possible to obey the command of Jesus, ‘Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ John 14:27

Some keys to rooting out worry once and for all

1. Take hold of the “worried thought” the moment it enters our head and do not allow anytime to think it over and over so that it takes root, Matthew 6:31.

2. We can decide what our thoughts will be, (“as a man thinks, so is he” Proverbs 23:7) and we can change them in a split second by just speaking out the Word until the faith from that Word rises up in our heart and we are no longer moulded to the image of this world. We really can think differently, Romans 12:2.

3. Bring the worry out into the open as this often removes the power in it, 1 John l:5,7. Share with someone who will give you Godly advice and ask them to pray you through to victory.

4. Worries are rooted in lies so when they are hidden they are more able to bind the worrier. What a friend we have in Jesus, we can share everything with Him, John 15:15.

5. Look for ways to face up to the worry and deal with it. “For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7.

6. Always think on things that are pure, lovely and true, Philippians 4:8. If this does not come easily have positive things to thank God for, written down and easily accessible.

We have to stand up and say, “I am going to get my thinking cleared up. I am going to get my mind sorted. I am going to believe in everything my Father says about me, and I am going to think about myself that way. No one is going to control me, and make me feel badly. I am totally responsible and accountable to God for all my thoughts, so no one is going to put me down, and no one is going to stop me from receiving God’s best.”

When you make that kind of decision, with that fighting attitude, you are well on the way to overcoming all the plans of the enemy, and Satan will have to flee, James 4:7.

As we come to understand more and more, the incredible and unconditional love that our God has for us, we can begin to realise that, “Perfect love turns fear out of doors, and expels every trace of terror!” 1 John 4:18 AMP. So you see, it’s that unconditional, perfect love, that ‘agape’ love of God that casts out fear.
We can’t have that type of love without God’s help. In fact it’s impossible! As we seek the Lord, and expect Him to show us His loving ways, we begin to understand that we can trust Him with everything. Sometimes it takes a surrendering to God and a letting go of things. That may sound difficult, but, “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8) and in that ‘letting go’ is a wonderful freedom and peace. Focus on His amazing love seen in the Cross. We need God’s kind of love as a vital necessity. As we seek the Lord, He does hear us, and as Psalm 34:4 says, “He delivers me from all my fears.”

 

Home Challenges for Joyful Woman 08

1. Read the notes about ‘worry’. Do you have any physical symptoms, of any variety, that you may have from a ‘worried thought’?

 

2. What does God want you to do now to stop worrying?

 

3. Write out one verse that speaks to you about God’s Love.

 

Proverbs 31:17. ‘She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task’.

4. Do you enjoy work? Which jobs do you enjoy most?

 

5. Could you do any of your jobs better? If so, how?

 

6. Do you find it easier to let other people do the jobs that need doing, or do you have to do every job yourself in case each is not done properly?

 

7. Do you know what God wants you to do?

 

List your jobs in order of priority. Are there any things that you are doing that are extra, on top of what God wants?

 

What do you think He wants you to do about any extra things?

 8. Read Proverbs 12:4,9,11,14,24,27; Encourage yourself with the promises available to those who work hard, write out those you find helpful.

 

9. Read Proverbs 10:4,5; 19:15; 24:30-34; Consider your lifestyle and see if there are any areas in which you tend to laziness, what does the Bible say is the result of laziness.

 

10. Do you have a difficult job situation now that you have a problem being diligent about, have you lost your enthusiasm? Stop and pray.

 

11. “… her arms are strong for the task”? Do you have something you want to do to make yourself physically strong? Will you do it?

 

 12. Read 1 Peter 4:11b NIV According to this verse whose power do you need in order to work hard?

 

13. Do you have something you want to do to make your mind stronger, so that it will be thinking on holy things? (e.g. meditation; memory verses) We need to exercise our minds as well as our bodies.

 

Do you have a thought that used to trouble you that you now have victory over?

 

If you still have a problem in the area, choose a verse to counter attack, eg: Philippians 4:8

  

14. Do you have something you want to do to make yourself spiritually stronger?

Do you find it easy to hear the Holy Spirit?

Give one example each of when you found it easy, and one when you found it difficult to hear God.

    15.  Sum up in one short sentence what you have learnt in this study.

 

Memory Verse – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2.

    16.  Answer True or False to the following questions. If you can give verses from the Bible to back up your answer that will help you.