Workshop – Worry

Discussions for Workshop

Pastor Deborah Olukoju

1. Why is worry such a natural response when we feel stressed?
2. Are you a worrier instead of a prayer warrior? What kinds of things do you worry about?
3. What promises of God help you deal with worry?
4. What troubles or concerns do you have on your mind right now?
5. Why is it so hard to trust God to take care of those things that stress us out?
6. How can you develop more trust in God?
7. What has worry helped you solve in the past? Can you share a word or two?
8. What has worry contributed to in your life as a result of its hold on your life?

9. Do you have a prayer partner, and are you willing to share your concerns with your prayer partner, and ask for prayers?In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus said, “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? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Again in Luke 12:24-34, Dr. Luke captures Jesus’ message succinctly: Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus again said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Again, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave this soothing re-assurance in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

The Bible says in Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Also, the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you”.

In Psalm 55:22, the Bible says: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall”.

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:25: “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

Apostle Paul takes this further in the book of Philippians 4:6-7 says this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.

Listen to the comforting words of David in Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 13:5-6 : “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Yet another reminder from Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you”.

The Bible gives a clear direction on what to do in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

The Bible, according to Romans 8:38 is firm on the final decision: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s Remedy for worry:

Believe God: John 14:1-2 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me”. It is our duty to choose not to worry. -Trust God instead. Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

-Meet the conditions: Trust God… -and- Seek God First: Matthew 6:33. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
God will provide: Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. -and- “Cast your cares on Jesus”: 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. You cannot save yourself: -Throw your worries off of you and on to Jesus, -and don’t let Satan trick you into picking them back up.

Remember… God loves you: Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Trust his love for you. Hebrews 6:18: “…it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged”. Be confident, be encouraged, God is true and He loves you.

Practice Prayer with Thanksgiving: Philippians 4:5-7: “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. You will receive amazing peace through prayer, replacing the worry!

Conclusion: In the Jesus’ key write up, someone said, Worry can’t change our past or future, but it can ruin the present. Our worry does not move God, because we cannot control him by it. Worry is much more than a feeling, it is the weapon Satan uses to keep us from receiving God’s blessings. Defeating worry is defeating Satan. There is no place for worry in our lives because the Almighty God loves us. We either receive God’s blessings by faith or we are cut off from the blessings by worry. Worry is meditating on Satan’s lies. Trust God instead. Walk in faith, -not worry. Take captive every thought to make it obedient unto Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) Satan will bring worry into your mind: -You must take worry captive and defeat it by speaking the Word of faith. Say: -My God will meet all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) -Fill your mind with the Word to be free from worry.

What would you do about your worries? What would I do about mine? Isn’t it time to start receiving God’s blessings by faith?

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