NEW SERIES: KICK THE WORRY HABITIf we are going to deal with our worry-habit (click at the bottom of the page to see last week's introduction to this series), we have to go to the root and deal with the issue of trust in our heavenly Father. When we worry, whether it's about something trivial, like today's weather, or a serious issue, to do with health perhaps, we are dealing with projected negative outcomes—which often lurk half-formed at the peripheral of our minds. If we trace our worries to their starting points, we find the root is always a fear of some sort. As we are children of a loving Heavenly Father, who has given us a 'bookful of promises' to cover every eventuality, any fear must point to an area of unbelief in our lives. And if we can identify the area of unbelief, we can fix it. If we are really going to deal with our worry-habit, we have to go to the root and deal with the question of trust in our Heavenly Father. We see this issue addressed in the account of the temptation in the Garden of Eden [Genesis 1-3]. The insinuating voice of the serpent suggested that despite the abundance surrounding them, and the provision for their every need, Adam and Eve were somehow missing out. Despite being made in the image of God, with a regal purpose and calling, there was something more to aspire to. Two foundational questions arose out of this catastrophic encounter: Is God good? and Is He withholding something good from me? And man has been tempted with these two questions ever since—despite the fact that scripture proclaims God’s goodness with a ringing voice, and our lives are showered with blessings. RIGHT THINKING“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him,” wrote AW Tozer, in 'The Knowledge of the Holy', cutting to the heart. In order to get free from our worry-habit, we have to identify this root in our own hearts, for these questions, unanswered, make the whole structure of our lives shaky. So, let’s take time before the Lord in the next few days, and ask Him to show us any areas where we doubt His goodness, and any hidden feelings that He is withholding good from us. Then we need to lay those thoughts before Him, and ask for His help in building trust. We live in a world of quick-fixes, but this 'learning to trust' is a lifelong process, and we will continue to find the Lord prodding at areas of distrust lurking in the shadows of our hearts. However, as the Chinese proverb says, a journey begins with a single step. So, let's make a start... THIS WEEK'S GRACE RHYTHM:Confess whatever He shows you as sin, for wrong-thinking dishonours Him, and ask for His help in renewing your mind. RESOURCES
NEXT WEEK: STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING TRUST IN GOD... GET IN TOUCH...[Photo credits: Babi (worried woman; Andres Siimon (spade); Brett Jordan (mail icon) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
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