For the last six weeks, or so, my Women's Connections group has been reading Fearless by Max Lucado (think we like us a little Max?). This book is just down right incredible. This weeks chapter was "Woe, Be Gone: The Fear of Running Out".
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough. (Matt. 6:25 NLT)
Max writes, "Whether you have enough. Shortfalls and depletions inhabit our trails. Not enough time, luck, credit, wisdom, intelligence. We are running out of everything, it seems, and so we worry. But worry doesn't work." When we become afraid, we become angry. Is fear not the opposite of faith? Max says in this chapter that when we fear what lies ahead we are removing God from our future. The same God that has blessed and provided and given us our daily bread. The Lord provides for today. He does not provide for us everything we need on an annual basis and hope we make it. Nope, He provides just what we need right when we need it because He already knows!
When the disciples worried that they did not have enough bread and fish to feed the masses, the counted five loaves of bread and two fish. They got to seven. They forgot to count to eight, Jesus Christ. We do the same. Max provides us with a list of eight worry stoppers.
1. Pray, first.
2. Easy, now. Slow down. Assess the problem. Take it to Jesus and state it clearly. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" - Psalm 37:7
3. Act on it. Become a worry slapper. Be a doer, not a stewer.
4. Compile a worry list. Yes, you heard him right. Compile your list of worries. Pray specifically. See how many of them turn in to reality.
5. Evaluate your worry categories.
6. Focus on today.
7. Unleash a worry army. "Share your feelings with a few loves ones. Ask them to pray with and for you. They're more willing to help than you might imagine. Less worry on your part means more happiness on theirs.
8. Let God be enough.
"Seek first the kingdom of wealth, and you'll worry over every dollar. Seek first the kingdom of health, and you'll sweat every blemish and bump. Seek first the kingdom of popularity, and you'll relive every conflict. Seek first the kingdom of safety, and you'll jump at every crack of the twig. But seek first his kingdom, and you will find it. On that, we can depend and never worry."
Eight steps. P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L.
