Choosing WORSHIP Over Worry
Worry is misplaced worship. There is no benefit in worrying, but in light of the coronavirus, it's hard not too. But usually, worry imagines the worst and leads us away from faith and down the road of anxiety and stress.
No Benefits to Worry
Studies show there are no benefits to worrying. Let me pull a quote from a recent study I found in the Huffpost and how worry affects us.
Worry is no joke. The stress it generates causes serious problems. The stress hormones that worry dumps into your brain have been linked to shrinking brain mass, lowering your IQ, being prone to heart disease, cancer and premature aging, predicting martial problems, family dysfunction and clinical depression, and making seniors more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's.
Look at what Jesus and the Apostle Paul have to say about worry. Their words communicate how futile and ineffectual worry is.
Matt. 6:27, 31 "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life" 31 “So then, forsake your worries!
Phil. 4:6 "Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing." (TPT)
Why Worship?
On the other hand, worship ushers in God's presence, bringing peace and internal rest. Worship connects us with our Father in Heaven anchoring us in the love and goodness of God.
The truth is, worship and worry cannot co-exist. As light eliminates darkness so true worship removes worry.
Worship is not a means of escape but a place of security. It brings us into the Father's love and embrace. Worship keeps us connected to the One who governs all and changes the atmosphere in and around us.
Psalm 27:5-6, 13 "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
We find confidence and boldness from our place of worship. Yes, I realize we are living in difficult times, but we still have a choice. It's either worship or worry. Praise or panic. Finding rest or losing sleep. Lifting up the song of the Lord or living with anxiety, and stress.
Take Time Today to Worship
Take time today to praise and worship, preferably start the first thing in the morning and continue throughout your day. Raise your hands and lift up your voice. Like King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, let worship and praise lead you and your family.
Take 3-5 minute breaks in your day and intentionally draw near to the Lord. Turn off the news and turn on worship music. Quite yourself and soak in God's presence. Fill your space with the sounds of heaven. Let thanksgiving, praise, and worship change the atmosphere.
Let's come into agreement with Isaiah 42 as we declare the greatness of the Lord. Watch how "the Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout, he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies."
This pandemic that is all around the world will not stand. When we worship the Lord, we stir up the zeal of our Warrior King, and He triumphs over his enemies.
Isaiah 42:10-13 "Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. 11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. 13 The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
Blessings!! -- Pastor Greg
Activation
Take 3-5 minutes breaks throughout your day to simply give thanks, praise, and worship the Lord.
Sometime today, take a moment and lift your hands and declare His praises. There is a spiritual release with every physical expression of worship found in the Bible.