Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel

Author:Craig Groeschel [Groeschel, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56223-4
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2006-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE YOURS?

As I said earlier, throughout most of this chapter, I’ve chosen to focus on worries we can’t do anything about. What about the other worries—the ones where the solution lies at least partially in our hands? Don’t stop trusting God for these, and don’t stop praying about them. But God has entrusted responsibility to us, and He wants us to take it…starting now.

Worried about money? Deal with your debt. Write a budget. Save. Do something. Are you worried about someone finding out about your secret affair? That’s a legitimate worry. You can do something about it. It’s time to come clean. Are you worried about your weight? Step away from the ice cream sundae, and no one will get hurt.

If you can do something about your worries, by all means, do, and do it in God’s wisdom and power. If something in this category comes to mind, take action as soon as you finish this chapter (if not sooner). However, if your worry is completely out of your control…

Stop playing the what-if game.

Learn and think about God’s promises.

Give your concerns to God—then don’t take them back.

If anyone had reason to worry, it was the apostle Paul. Yet from a Roman prison, awaiting his possible execution, he penned these words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

In other words, Pray about everything. Worry about nothing. Whatever’s on your mind is also on God’s heart. Take it to Him. Then leave it with Him. He cares. He’s your Father—a Father like no other on earth.

Pray about your upcoming test. Pray for your presentation at work. Pray about what to say on your first date. Pray about your granddaughter’s sick hamster. Or pray about finding your lost keys. (I pray that at least twice a week.) Pray about everything, and worry about nothing.

Are you living with worry? Does it dominate your life? Consume your waking hours? Steal your sleep? I’ve lived most of my life like that—but God is setting me free.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

One day I went to the gym with my workout partner, John. We were doing chest exercises. On our final rounds, we did a burnout session. That’s when you completely exhaust the muscles by doing as many repetitions as humanly possible. John was spotting me on the bench press as I dropped a rather light weight on and off my chest. For a minute or so the weight seemed…well, weightless. Then my oxygen-deprived muscles started to labor, and the weight felt heavier and heavier.

John urged me on. “IT’S ALL YOU! IT’S ALL YOU!” He started supporting the weight for me.

“IT’S ALL YOU! IT’S ALL YOU!” he shouted, taking more of the weight as I weakened.

Finally, I gave up completely and let go of the bar, but John didn’t notice.

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