Breaking the Worry Habit
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Send to friendA.J. Cronin has written that our worries fall into these categories:
- Things that never happen – 40%
- Things in the past that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world – 30%
- Petty, miscellaneous worries – 19%
- Health-related worries – 12%
- Real, legitimate worries – 8%
Think of what you worried about this week. What category did that worry fall into? What was accomplished by your worrying?
Jesus said “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt. 6:27)
Worry can be described as “interest paid in advance on a debt you may never owe.”
“Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but won’t get you anywhere.”
Scriptural teaching about worry:
Matt. 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matt. 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Phil. 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
A Plan to Break the Worry Habit
- Make a list of all the things that worry you. Write them down. Pray about them everyday.
- Replace wrong thoughts with right ones.
- Increase your sense of humor and laugh more.
- Stay positive. Talk to yourself with slogans that help you remember. Such as:
- "Just let it go. It’s not the end of the world."
- "I don’t have to like everyone; just love them."
- "What difference will this make in 24 hours?"
- "I don’t have to win, just finish the race."
- Enjoy the little things in life.
- Focus on the needs of others; get out of yourself.
- Pursue your passion. Find out what “good works” God put you here to do, and go for it. (Ephesians 2:10)
