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Engage exists to provide perspective on culture through the eyes of a Biblical worldview, showing how that worldview intersects with culture and engages it.

We are a team of 20-somethings brought together by a common faith in Jesus Christ and employment in our parent organization American Family Association.

Don't Pray and Worry

08/22/2015
Cortney Sargent
Radio host for Urban Family Communication

Matthew 6:25 says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…”

If there is a situation in life that has caused you to worry, please turn over your worry to Jesus and receive peace. I encourage you to pray about what ails you instead of worrying because you cannot do both; you have to pick one. If you pray, then do not worry.

Worry is like a zero in multiplication. In math when you multiply something by zero, you end up with zero. No matter what number it is, no matter how large it is, the product will equal zero. When you continue worrying about something, even after you have handed it over to God, you will end up with worry. If you are worried about something, then pray about it, then worry again you must again take that worry to Christ. Continual worry is a sign you are still holding on to the problem, still trying to solve it on your own instead of trusting God to bring glory to Himself in it.

There is a subtle but real difference between worry and concern. It is okay to be concerned about something. In fact, showing concern shows care and even love for something or someone. You can pray about something and still be concerned about it. Your concern is actually what the Holy Spirit uses to prompt you to prayer. Being concerned is a state of being in which you want the best outcome for a situation. However, when you worry, you feel responsible for the situation and its outcome. You believe that it should be you who should fix it. In reality, if you could fix all of your problems, then you would not need God. The reality is that you need God in every aspect of your life. The very presence of your worry indicates that you need a source that is greater than you.

When you worry, your mind is dwelling on difficulty or troubles; it is a constant state of anxiety. The Bible tells us to think on Him, not the things we worry about.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

I don’t know if you have ever had an anxiety attack, but I have and it is not fun at all. The Bible tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do about certain situations. All you can do is pray about it and cast your cares to the Father (1 Peter 5:7). And in so doing, you are placing your troubles on the strongest, most faithful shoulders the world has ever known. Casting your cares on the Father should not be seen as a last act of desperation but the faithful act of an obedient child of God. Find hope in knowing that God will take care of your needs, your problems, and will bring glory to His name.

 

 

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