“‘Do not be worried and upset,’ Jesus told them. ‘Believe in God and believe also in me.’” John 14:1 (GNT)
You know what it’s like to live in constant worry, don’t you? You feel uptight, your stomach seems tied in knots, and your whole body is tense. But you don’t have to live that way. Anything that’s learned can be unlearned. It’s time to start unlearning worry!
God has promised to take care of you; that’s his job, not yours. The starting point to letting go of worry is to maintain this humble attitude: “God is God, and I am not.” When you understand this important truth, worry will start to disappear from your life.
The Bible says, “‘Do not be worried and upset,’ Jesus told them. ‘Believe in God and believe also in me’” (John 14:1 GNT).
Anytime you worry, it reveals a particular area of your life where you have not given God first place. That’s because any part of your life where God is not in control is going to be a source of insecurity and worry.
So what can you do about that? You can welcome Jesus into your life’s “house.” Give him access to all aspects of your life—the living room, the bedroom, the kitchen, and even all the closets. He already knows what’s in there. In fact, God knows your needs better than you do. You have needs you’re not even aware of—but none of them will surprise God.
Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:32-33 NLT).
When you make Jesus Christ number one in every area of your life, it simplifies your priorities and gives you a lot less to worry about.
Jesus taught, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me. . . . I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15 NLT).
If God loved you enough to die for you, he certainly loves you enough to feed you, lead you, and meet whatever need you have today.
Try this: Start every day by reminding yourself that God is good. When you wake up, sit on the side of your bed and say, “The Lord is my Shepherd. So, Jesus, I’m expecting you to feed me, lead me, and meet my needs today. I will give you first place in every area of my life. And I will trust you.”
As you begin every day by trusting God, you’ll start to see your worries fall away.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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