WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MARCH 9, 2021
TOPIC: Â SIX REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY
BY T. O. BANSO
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you” (1 Peter 5:7 New Living Translation).
Some people consider worrying as a sign of being responsible! They think if they don’t worry over a matter, they’re not showing that they are serious enough. Such people regard as unserious anyone around them who is not worrying over his or her personal problems or problems that affect everyone.
As a child of God, you must consider worrying a sin, because it is a direct violation of the Word of God. God does not want you to worry, and He has said so in His Word. He has told you not to worry, and you should obey Him.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you” (New Living Translation). The Amplified Bible says, “Casting the whole of your care – all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all – on Him for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
God didn’t ask you to give Him or cast one, two, three, or some of your worries on Him while you keep the rest. He has asked you to cast all your anxieties or worries on Him. It is either you cast all on Him or you keep all yourself.
If you cast all your worries on Him, it means you have no worries to keep. If you keep all your worries to yourself, then none of your worries are on Him. God wants to have all your worries. Would you rather keep your worries than give them to Him?
Here are six reasons you shouldn’t worry:
1. Worrying is a waste of time; it achieves nothing. By worrying you can’t change anything. Worry cannot stop what will happen and cannot change what has happened. Jesus’ question captures it well: “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not” (Matthew 6:27 New Living Translation).Â
2. Most of the fears your worrying centers on don’t ever become a reality, so why allow yourself to be tormented by negative thoughts. How many of the things you’ve worried about, nearly dying, happened eventually? Most never did. Don’t let the devil use negative thoughts to oppress you and make you miserable.
Take Philippians 4:8 very seriously: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”  (New Living Translation).
3. Worrying distracts you from finding and focusing on the right solution to the particular challenge you’re confronting. For instance, if someone doesn’t have money, how does worrying change that condition? It doesn’t, and it won’t. Continuing to worry will distract such a person from finding and focusing on the answer to the challenge he’s facing.
4. Worrying reveals a lack of faith in God. Jesus tells us that little faith is at the centre of worrying. Hear him: “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!” (Matthew 6:30 New Living Translation).
George Muller is quoted as saying, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” That means anxiety (worry) will kill your faith, and true faith will kill your anxiety!
If you’re worrying, it means you believe what your circumstances are saying more than what the Word of God is saying; you believe what the devil is saying more than what God is saying. If you’re a child of God, you should know that God is in control of your life – not the devil. You should approach life by faith not by worrying.
5. Because God cares for you. This is another important reason you shouldn’t worry. God is a dependable CARE-TAKER. That’s why He’s asked you not to worry. He can handle your cares – your challenges or troubles.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting the whole of your care – all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all – on Him for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (Amplified Bible).
You don’t need to worry because God cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. He’ll sustain you; He’ll not let you fall “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22 New King James Version). The Amplified Bible puts it this way:  “Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).”
God will provide a way of escape for you in any situation.  Romans 8:28 assures that all things shall work together for your good, so why worry? Because He cares for you, He’ll answer you if you call upon Him. “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved” (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21 New King James Version). Romans 10:13 also reiterates this Scripture.
God cares for you, and you’re free to call on Him whenever you have any challenge. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 New King James Version).
6. Worrying is not good for your mental and physical health. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (New King James Version). The Good News Translation says, “Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.”
Worry robs you of your peace. Worry has been linked to depression, tiredness, stomach ulcer, speeding up the aging process, stress, and heart attack. It can open the door of your life to other sicknesses. You don’t have to allow it – it’s within your power to do. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”(Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation). Don’t worry.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I repent of my sin of worry; forgive me, Lord. Satan I rebuke you; you will no more make me worry in Jesus’ name. I renew my trust in You, Father, and give all my worries to You. No more worries in Jesus’ name.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
