Kick the Habit

Most people these days don’t think much about worry. They’re so accustomed to it. To them it’s normal. Some people are proud that they worry. They seem to think that to love their family is to worry about them.

But Jesus considered it deadly! He listed it as one of the few things that can kill off your harvest—even after the Word has taken root in your life.

No doubt the coming year will fly by as quickly as the past year, but, praise God, you can make it more glorious and more victorious than any year in your life. How? By making one decision, right now, before the year gets underway. You can decide that this is the year you’ll quit worrying!

“Quit worrying?” you ask. “Gloria, you might as well tell me to quit breathing! I’ve worried all my life. And this year I have more reason to worry than ever!”

On the contrary. The more problems you’re facing, the more reason you have not to worry! You see, the Word of God can overcome any problem in your life. If you’ll plant it in the good soil of your heart and let it grow unhindered, it will eventually grow up and produce a harvest greater than any problem.

Notice I said it must grow unhindered. The greatest tool of the devil to hinder the Word from working in your life is described in Mark 4:19. The “cares of this world” in that verse mean one word: worry.

“OK, Gloria, I’m ready to quit worrying. This is the year for me!”

If you’re ready to make that decision, great! But let me warn you up front—worry is a habit. If you’re going to rid yourself of it, you’ll have to be diligent. I know that from experience. I come from a long line of worriers. I’ll never forget the verse that helped me kick the habit: “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, The Amplified Bible).

When I read that verse, I decided to believe it. Once I did, I began to quit worrying like an alcoholic quits drinking—one moment at a time. I’d have a worried thought and I’d roll it over on the Lord. About 60 seconds later, I’d have another worried thought so I’d roll that one over on the Lord too.

I did that over and over every few minutes. But as I continued to resist worried thoughts and to feed on God’s Word, those thoughts began to be further apart. I hardly ever have a worried thought anymore!

So kick the habit! Apply Proverbs 16:3 every time worry knocks at your door. Pretty soon, it’ll be normal for you not to worry! You’ll be free!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7