“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” The  Message (MSG).

One quotation read this – “Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry.” I believe it is a true statement. Bible has a lot to say about the epidemic of worry and it provides the perfect antidote to the problem of worry.

Recently I was talking to one of the coworkers. I believed she is in her 70’s. She said in recent days she worries about the incidents of Corona Virus. She is worried about her fragile husband who needs to go for treatment outside the home. She mentioned her health condition is also not good and she is required to work even in her 70’s due to financial needs.

What do we do when worry moves into the center of our lives? Listen to what the Bible says. The Message Bible paraphrases oud today’s Bible verse in a beautiful way. It says “don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

We do not commonly use the word fret these modern days. However, it has the meaning of constant and ongoing worry. It also means wearing away gradually due to worries. We all worry about something, don’t we? It could be a matter of our children, spouse, parents, finance, or something else. However, God says instead of worrying, tell him all about it in your prayers to Him because at the end of the day only He has the resources and power to help you anyway.

For example, when it comes to the coronavirus or any other diseases, you see, we can take our best and cautious steps. However, still, it is beyond our control. The final say or control is in the hands of the Lord. Take your burdens and worries to the one who can protect and help. You can plan and do a lot of things. However, it is the purpose of the LORD that will ultimately happen. Bible says our God is in heaven, he does what pleases Him. Jesus said, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Therefore, turn your fret and worries into prayers. Talk to God in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the savior of the world.

Secondly, when you let God know about your concerns, something good happens inside you. What is it? Our insights say “before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.” Is this not what we all need? A settled peace inside us? We need God’s assurance that everything is going to be ok. God will send that sense of wholeness, sense of peace inside you. It will guard and protect you safe.

You can turn your worries into prayer. Besides, you can convert worries into praises as well. When you think what God has already done for you in the past, what he does for you now, what he would do for you in the future, you would thank and praise him, wouldn’t you?

You see, as you pray and praise Him, Christ displaces worries from your heart. You become more gracious, thanksgiving and a humble person. Remember the two instruments by which you can fight worries- prayer and praise. The two that will guard you and your heart safe.

Thirdly, it says “it is wonderful what happens when Christ displaces your worry at the center of your life.” Beloved, some of you recruited worry as your companion for a long time now. It is time to turn your worries into prayer and thanksgiving. God promises if you share with Him your concerns and acknowledge him with thanksgiving and praises, He will settle you down with heavenly and divine peace. Only Christ can displace worry feeling from the center of your life. Modern man is too engaged and busy that do not have time to pray and praise God. No wonder he becomes fret over even small things, get angry, worried and stressed out.

“Father in heaven, I thank you for the insight today that I can turn my worries into prayer and praise. When I pray and praise, you would send your wholeness, healing, and peace in my inner soul and your wonderful divine peace would guard me and my heart safe and secure. I believe in the Prince of peace – Jesus Christ, the one who gives peace inside me, who died and rose again for all of my sins and mistakes.  I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Please save and bless me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”