W@W WRAP – Week 362

Worship or Worry?

Read:

Act:

Let us be determined this week to:

Remember that Jesus overcame the cross and death. He is now seated victoriously at the right hand of our Father in Heaven. Once we accept Jesus, our Great I AM, as our Lord and Saviour, He provides a way for us to cast all our worries, anxious thoughts, concerns and doubts on Him. He cares for and loves us infinitely more than we can ever think or imagine (1 Peter 5:7). In Jesus’ own words in Luke 12:25 (NIV), “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” God’s grace is sufficient for each of us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) – why then would we strive, worry, or be anxious about what we’re going to do or how we will get to the other side of the storm if we know the truth? The truth is that if Jesus is for us, nothing can ever stand against us (Romans 8:31), and with God on our side, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).

So, when we next experience an earthly challenge or face a tricky situation, may we, instead of worrying:

– Worship God for His strength that holds us up and enables us to overcome our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

– Praise Jesus for giving us life, showing us the truth, and providing us with salvation and direction.

– Thank our Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of our sins and failures and for filling us with His joy and peace through His mercy and grace.

– Glorify our Lord for being involved in every aspect of our lives, no matter how big or small. We can rely on Him to direct us on the path He predestined for us, even if we don’t see or understand where He is leading us. May we trust Him and know that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

When the worries of the world come our way, let us surrender ourselves to God every day. Let us thank our King of kings and Lord of lords for His unlimited love and amazing grace, and for providing us with never-ending freedom, hope, joy, peace and refuge. Indeed, let’s worship our way through our worry.

Pray:

Lord, thank You for reminding us that just as You walked with Moses, just as You appeared to Moses – the great I am – just as You showed Him the way, You also walk with us, and You show us the way, and You become our way, our only way. Thank You, Lord, that true and eternal life is not just for one day, but it’s already here. We can already experience this eternal life. We can already live in abundance, Lord. Thank You so so much. Thank You for transcending all our understanding. Thank You that You are all we need. And Lord, today we declare that again. You truly are all we need.

Heavenly Father, we come with thanksgiving in our hearts to praise You because You are good and You are merciful. Thank You for Your mercy and tender love that kept us going when we didn’t know how. Thank You for being our shield and buckler. Thank You for showing us the way. For without You, we would be nothing. To You belongs all honour and praises forever more.

Lord Jesus, what a wonderful truth to know that You endured the cross because there was a joy set before You. Lord, we want to bow before You and ask You, Lord, to have grace and mercy on us. We want to come with our failures and our sins and just give it to You. Lord, help us to surrender ourselves in humility.

Father, thank You so much that You had given Your only Son as the solution, the perfect solution, for our sin. And the sin starts so often, literally every time, with a lie from the devil. Lord, so often it is as a result of doubt. And so, we pray that unlike so many years ago in the garden, we do not focus on the focal point of the lie, the tree, or whatever it is that Satan wants our eyes to be focused on. But rather confers with You, go back to You, submit to You, Lord. And let us live in the power of the offer that You brought at Calvary so that our lives can be aligned with You, and we can live in the joy of the Lord. I pray it in Your name.

Oh, Lord Jesus, we have learned so much as we continue to submit to You. We have learned where our worry comes from. We have learned that our longing to be in control is a subtle reminder that we are not trusting Your control over everything. We long for that peace that passes all understanding – not just as a passing quality but truly as a guard over our hearts and minds. Lord, thank You for showing us that in all challenges in our lives, worry included, Your desire is that we humbly submit to You and Your will. May we be men and women of faith and trust You in every area of our lives. Then, O Lord, as people see how we handle the foe of worry, with that same peace, may they want what we have and may we have the boldness to share how it can be theirs, for this world and for eternity. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.