It’s Monday morning. I wake long before 5 o’clock. My stomach is churning and I worry about the three months ahead. I have so many irons in the fire. I’m afraid that things won’t work out as we had planned. I’m worried that the finances aren’t going to work out. I’m afraid of failing.

Have you found yourself in this position?

I start my devotions and my Scripture for the day …

8Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

I absorb every word of this verse, because you see, this is exactly where I am now. I’m worried.

Slowly the light turns on in my head. Worrying is energy that is stolen from you. It’s your own energy that you are channelling incorrectly. Yes, worrying is exhausting. It makes your emotions run wild and before you know you are exhausted all the time. You walk around like a bear with a sore head, totally bad tempered. This is all caused by worrying and is so unnecessary, because has worrying solved any problems ever before?

Worrying has no connection with the solution.

Instead of channelling the energy into worrying, we should rather use it for the things that are important to God. The New International Version Bible puts it beautifully: 8. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

God is on our side. God already has a solution for our problems. Why then waste your time worrying about it. Rather focus your thoughts on the positive and keep on believing that God eventually will be there for you. Put a guard on your thoughts and consciously concentrate on thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and praiseworthy.

Look around you and realise how blessed you really are. Look at your loved ones and friends. Realise how rich you actually are and praise God for it. When you use your energy positively, worry will change into joy and God will indeed be glorified by this.

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:1-9

Reflection

What are you worried about?

Are you talking to God?

What is the possible that you can do?

Prayer

Lord, I’m struggling. I struggle to keep my worrying in check. It often steals my energy. I’m at my wit’s end. I no longer know how to move forward. I’m honest. Please help me to focus on You and your things. Please help me to put my energy into things that are important to You. Then everything will be lighter. I know it. I believe it. Amen.