Sunday morning I found myself dragging around the house with a heavy heart, and not quite sure why.
I sat down to pray and read my Bible, and had a hard time focusing on God. (Surely this never happens to any of you, right?)
I bumbled through some prayers, and then felt even more frustrated. I know enough to know God isn't the problem when my connection is weak, so I closed my eyes and sat quietly for a moment, just listening. I felt inspired to make a list in my prayer journal of all the things that were weighing me down.
In less than a minute I'd jotted down eight items right off the top of my head. That in itself is bad, because Jesus said very plainly, “Do not worry!” (Sometimes these things just pile up before you notice the heap... like filing. But that's another subject for another post.)
I looked at the list, and sensed the Holy Spirit's prompt to do the following:
“Place a check mark beside the items you actually have authority to do something about.”
“Place a check mark beside the items you actually have authority to do something about.”
Reluctantly, I complied. Of the eight weights I was hauling around, only four of them were actually things I can proactively DO something about. That's half. The other 50 percent? Fears and worries... mostly about other people's attitudes and behaviors.
I don't have authority over other people's attitudes and behaviors. (Believe me, the world would be a different place if I did!) I can pray FOR them, but I can't change them. That's not my job, it's God's. Ever tried to do someone else's job? Ever try to do God's job for him? Or Jesus' job? Or the Holy Ghost's? It causes spiritual fatigue, gray hair, frown lines, and upset stomach.
“Do not fret, it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:8
As long as I'm dragging around a bunch of problems that aren't mine to solve, I'm going to feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall.
God, grant me the serenity
- To accept the things I cannot change;
- The courage to change the things that I can;
- And the wisdom to know the difference. ~The Serenity Prayer
I'm making this part of my remodeling, repurposing, reinventing year. I'm going to stop fretting and worrying about things I cannot change.
Yes, yes, I need to stop ALL worrying and fretting, but hey, I've gotta start somewhere, and so do you!
Posts
6 Comments
Many years ago, now, I was told by a friend that her pastor said, "If you are going to worry, don't pray and if you are going to pray, don't worry." It is so simple, yet so profound. I wrote it in the front of my Bible and to this day, I thumb back to it regularly. We all need to be reminded that when we worry, we are taking whatever we surrendered back into our own hands...
ReplyDeleteBlessings, andrea
BEAUTIFUL post. Just read a cool saying in my O. Chambers book.
ReplyDelete"If all power is given to Jesus Christ, what right have I to insult Him by worrying?
Convicting for me...
Blessings, dear one.
Patti
www.pattilacy.com/blog
Andrea, I like that so much I put it on my FB status yesterday! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDitto, Patti! It IS an insult to Him when we worry... it's really us worshiping ourselves and our ability (or inability) more than we worship Him. Ouch.
Dude, I swear I didn't poach my post from you. But you said it about a billion times better than me. :)
ReplyDeleteIt must be the time of year, because I can relate. Thanks for the Psalm. I think I'll put that one up on my bulletin board.
ReplyDeleteElana, you made me laugh. I just thought great minds must think alike!
ReplyDeleteJill, maybe it is something about the time of year. Tax season or winter blahs or something. Glad you liked the Psalm, it's one of my favorites.