Courageous PeaceSample

DAY 5 - Shape Your Worry into Prayer

Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength – carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow; but it empties today of strength.’ — Corrie Ten Boom 

I tend to be an over-thinker. I would think through every possible outcome even before it would happen, and in turn I would re-watch it like a movie.  

I remember being challenged hearing Rick Warren say years ago, “Worrying is practical atheism”. What a challenging thought! 

Worry attempts to take our focus off today and project it into the future as the worst case scenario. 

I love Philippians 4:6 written in The Message where it says: 

"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns."

Courageous Peace is a conviction that says no matter what happens to me, I have an opportunity to deepen my trust in God. I can shape my worries into prayers, and let His true peace reside in my heart & mind. 

I want to encourage you to look at the worries within your life right now, and look at how you can shape them into prayers.  

God doesn’t want the ‘perfect version’ of you, he wants the ‘real’ you — worries & all. 

He can exchange the worry in your life with His true peace. 

Worry attempts to take our focus off trusting God, and put our focus internally. When we feed worry we empty the present of it’s potential. 

Today is an opportunity to surrender your worries, and shape them into prayers. 

Questions:

(1) What is usually your first response when you start to worry? 

(2) What habit can you create in your day to shape your worries into prayers? 

Prayer:

This is your moment to shape your worries into your prayer.

To help you get started,

“God I am worried about ______, but I choose to put my trust in you that this is working together for my good. Fill me with your peace today. In Jesus Name. Amen."