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“All it does is make you miserable today.”

A thought by Ray Johnston (2014-05-13) from his book, The Hope Quotient:  Measure It. Raise It. You'll Never Be the Same. (p.133). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know, there are a lot of stuff that does that but worry is one of the worst ones.

Ray quotes Warren Wiersbe, the prolific Christian author and leader, who declared, “Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: yesterday’s regrets and tomorrow’s worries.”

Ray goes on, “Worry is utterly worthless. It can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. All it does is make you miserable today. Worrying has been connected to high blood pressure, heart trouble, blindness, migraines, thyroid malfunctions, and a host of stomach disorders. Dr. Alexis Carrel, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in medicine said, ‘People who don’t know how to fight worry die young!’  It’s like the hypochondriac who put on his tombstone, ‘I told you I was sick.’”

He quotes Corrie ten Boom who reminded us, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

Ray then says, “Do you know that Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, had more to say about worry than about any other topic? He gave more attention to worry than to prayer, giving, fasting, or any other issue. That amazes me. God’s Son comes to earth, and in His first major sermon, the topic He chooses to hammer home is the hope killer of worry.”

Look at this verse, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5: 7).  That was a lifesaver verse for me at a very difficult time in my life.  It is still a life changing verse for me. 

Ray has another quote.  It is by George Müller who once said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

Ray then said, “Anxiety won’t just weaken your life; it will shorten it. Let it go.”

Do you need to need to give your worries/anxieties to Him right now?  

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