From Worry to Worship: A 5-Day Devotional by Lekeisha MaldonIhe Atụ

Day 1: Let's Talk About Worry "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to their life?" Matthew 6:27 It was a typical afternoon driving home on my way from work when I heard the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, "from worry to worship." More than the title of this devotional, it was God calling me to shift my focus. Worship Him instead of worrying about my problems. Hi there, my name is Keisha, and I'm a recovering "worry-aholic." I can't pinpoint when it started but worry consumed me for way too long. ●Did I make the right decision? ●What will the doctor's report reveal? ●What if I lose my job and don't have enough savings to cover my bills? ●Did my comment hurt their feelings? There were many nights when I often lost much-needed sleep because of the countless thoughts racing through my mind. Unfortunately, many of the choices in my life were based on a sense of worry instead of the voice of God. Perhaps you've been there. Perhaps you are there. If so, you are not alone, and God desires to comfort you in this season. Since I often used this word to describe how I was feeling, I decided to delve deeper into its definition. The Greek word used in scripture for worry is merimnaō . In the biblical context, it literally means to be drawn in opposite directions, divided into parts (figuratively), to go to pieces, pulled apart (in different directions)—a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Does any of this sound familiar? I know it did for me. I might have been physically present in one place, but my mind was preoccupied with the concerns that were troubling me. Friend, worry pulls us apart. And more than apart, it pulls us away from the peace that Jesus provides. So what can we do? While the process of overcoming worry isn't an easy task, the Apostle Paul's words in his letter to the Philippians give us an excellent place to start: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6- 7). What a word of encouragement we find here. Though awaiting trial with the uncertainty of death looming before him is certainly a cause for worry, Paul prescribes a proper perspective: that we can entrust all our difficulties to our Heavenly Father. Pause. Pray. Reflect. Take some time to write out a prayer to God about the things that have been worrying you. Reread Philippians 4:6-7 and invite the peace of Jesus into your heart.