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Let there be Peace – Peace For Your Worries

Have you ever wondered how much time you spend worrying? The results of a survey reveal that the average person spends about two hours a day worrying. That comes out to around 730 hours of worry each year. In a 70 year life span that equals over 2,100 days of doing nothing but worrying. No wonder we have trouble sleeping at night. No wonder we feel under so much pressure during the day. For most people, it’s not just one thing but many things wrapped together. It’s your work, your money, your health, your spouse, your kids, your in-laws and on and on it goes. Someone has said, “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get anywhere.” Fortunately, there is hope for us because Jesus wants to give us His peace in exchange for our worries.

Scriptures
1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 37:5, 55:22; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 28:20; John 14:27

Verse
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Thought
Worry happens when you are so concerned about the problems of life that you can’t think of anything else. It’s an all-consuming feeling grounded in uncertainty and fear. Did you know that it could be considered a sin for two reasons? First, it displaces God in your life. When you worry, you’re living as though God didn’t exist. You’re living as though you alone can solve your problems. Second, worry could be considered a sin because it distracts you from the things that really matter in life. What could you have done with those 14 hours of worry this past week that would have advanced God’s kingdom on this earth? As long as you are worrying, you are limiting your ability to do anything else that would promote the cause of Christ in our homes, schools, businesses, communities and the world.

Questions
Do you have a “big” worry in your life that seems overwhelming to you? How hard is it for you to give your worries and cares to God? How can you tell when the legitimate concerns of your life become worries? Do you believe that worry should be considered a sin? Do you ever feel that you are at least doing something about your problems when you worry about them? Do you believe that some people neglect to give God their worries and cares because they secretly fear He can’t be trusted with those things?

Response
Set aside 10 minutes alone with a pen and piece of paper to write down the things in your life that are causing you to worry. Write them down whether you consider them large or small worries. At the bottom of the page, write down 1 Peter 5:7 to remind you that you don’t have to solve your worries on your own.

Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, I’m so thankful that I don’t have to try to carry all my burdens and cares and worries alone. You are there for me and invite me to give all these things to you to “lighten” my load. Help me I pray to accept your offer and cast my worries on you starting this very moment. In your name I pray. Amen.

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