Worry. . . what good is it? I think we can all agree that it is a waste of time and energy. And what about its negative side affects? Worry causes extreme distress to all parts of our bodies, as well as light-headedness, elevated blood pressure and stomach upset. It prevents us from sleeping, and it impacts our relationships. Pure and simple it’s a destructive emotion. One definition of worry is to torment oneself with cares and anxieties. No wonder it’s so destructive! Plus, we know worry won’t prevent things from happening. And have you noticed that the majority of the time, the things we worry about never happen?So why is worry our go-to response? One reason is because we have established this bad habit in the face of adversity. In the midst of the unknown, the uncontrollable, we choose to worry. And ultimately, we are unwilling to trust God. The worry then negates our faith. It erodes our ability to put our trust in our heavenly Father. If we are honest, we admit that we just don’t know if God will do what we want Him to do. We may not be in control of what happens, but we can control the choices we make. And choosing to trust God is a much better, healthier, soul-satisfying place to be. Isaiah 40:28-31 says that God gives power to the weak and renews our strength. So even though we feel weakened from worrying, God promises that if we trust Him, we will find new strength to free ourselves from the destructive worry pattern. So confess it out loud! “Because I trust You, Lord, I am strong in the face of adversity, and I will not worry!”At this point in time, we may have legitimate concerns about circumstances in our lives, financial concerns due to lack of employment, health concerns, or relationship difficulties. But Philippians 4:19 says that God will provide all of our needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus. And Romans 8:28 is a promise from the Lord that He will bring good out of every situation in our lives. So confess it out loud! Speak out His promises instead of your worries! It’s time to flip the switch! It’s time to replace worry with trust. Why not stand in God’s Word instead of our worry? Isaiah 26:3 promises that God will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our mind fixed on Him. In I Peter 5:7 God calls us to cast our worries and cares on Him because He cares for us. Keep in mind that if you’ve cast your care on Him, then you don’t have it. If you still have it, then God doesn’t. You both can’t have it. Plus, we were never meant to carry the weight of our circumstances. Matthew 11:28-30 is a plea from Jesus himself to give Him our burdens. Again, we were never meant to carry them. That’s His job! So make the choice to trust Him instead of worry. It’s a daily, sometimes moment by moment decision. Decide to make trusting Him a habit. Change the dialogue in your head, heart, and mouth to thankfulness, praise, and confessions of trust. Stand firm in His Word, in His promises. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 10:23 says that He who has promised is faithful. And Lamentations 3:22-23 says that because of God’s great love we are NOT consumed, His compassions NEVER fail, they are new EVERY morning, and great is His faithfulness! So put your weary heart and soul at rest. Trust Him, believe His promises, then rest and receive what is yours as His child.

We all know that fear is a gut-wrenching, energy-zapping, strength-sapping emotion.  It preys on your emotions and your physical well-being, gnawing away at your peace.  But did you also know that it is an actual spirit?  2 Timothy 1:7 says God did not give us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of a calm, well-balanced mind.   “So how do I get rid of this sense of fear that grips me on a daily basis?”, you might ask. Keep in mind that God’s Word is powerful. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “God’s Word is alive and active and all powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword.” But it must be wielded in order to have effect. The power of scripture comes from speaking it out loud with faith and conviction. Luke 9:1 says that “Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them all power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal diseases.” That power has been passed onto us as his followers today. The spirit of fear is a demonic spirit that we have been given the power to cast out. So what are you waiting for? Do it! Cast it out! Personalize that scripture and use it! Say, “God, you did not give me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. In the name of Jesus I take authority over the spirit of fear right now and cast it out, kick it to the curb, and send it to the pit!” Now doesn’t that feel better than, “Dear Jesus, please save me! I’m afraid!” Wield His Word! Otherwise it’s like going into battle and leaving your sword at home in the closet. God’s Word is your weapon against what is happening right now. Sharpen it by diving into His Word. Find scriptures, then use them. Put them in your mouth and speak them into existence. Take time to memorize them, get them into your spirit and watch God work! Psalm 103:20 says that “Angels hearken to the voice of His Word.” His Word is scripture. So put it to work. Do it now! Proclaim His Word over your life, your family, your finances, your health, your situation and EXPECT that what you pray for will come to pass! Here are a few scriptures about fear to get you started:Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my Light and my Salvation — whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and the Stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? Isaiah 41:10 - I fear not (there is nothing to fear), for God is with me. I do not look around in terror nor am I dismayed, for He is my God. He will strengthen and harden me to difficulties, yes, God will help me; yes, He will hold me up and retain me with His (victorious) right hand of rightness and justice. Psalm 91: 4-5 (GNT) - God will cover me with His wings; I will be safe in His care; His faithfulness will protect and defend me. I need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day. Psalm 23:4 - Yes, though I walk through the (deep, sunless) valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod (to protect) and Your staff (to guide), they comfort me. Psalm 112: 7-8 (GNT) - I am not afraid of receiving bad news; my faith is strong, and I trust in the Lord. I am not worried or afraid.