3 Steps to Defeat Worry

“Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced  that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”  2 Timothy 1:12b

I stumbled across this verse a few years ago.  I remember it clearly.  It was a Saturday morning.  I had made myself a cup of coffee and had settled in at the kitchen table, Bible and journal spread out before me, ready to hear from the Lord.  On that day, He showed up and spoke directly to my sin of worry.

He showed me with this verse exactly how to proceed.

Step 1:  “I know whom I have believed.”  I believe Jesus.  I believe all He says.  I believe He is for me.  Speaking these declarations aloud is the first step.

Step 2:  I “am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”  This step is simple.  Notice the key words “for that day.”  Give the day’s worries to the Lord.  Speak them to the Lord or write them down, whichever works best for you, but give them away or rather trust them to Him.

This verse and these two steps laid a foundation for me to hand over my worries to Him.  This year, I have added one more step to this process.

Step 3:  I declare aloud, “I will not worry about… because Jesus has it.”

Friends, worrying is sin.  Graciously we can find hope in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV), “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

We can be free from the sin of worry.  We have a God who will “provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  Don’t let the sin of worry bury you and rob you of your joy.  Take the way out.  Follow the steps laid out in today’s verse and be free!