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Dedication I dedicate this book to the Almighty God
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Aknowledgement I want to ďŹ rst and foremost acknowledge my beautiful wife Omobonike for her undiluted support at all times. I also appreciate my pastors Revs, Yinka and Deola Ojo who has been a source of inspiration My appreciation also goes to all those that helped me with the proofreading of this book.
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Table of Contents Dedication
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Acknowledgment
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Table of Contents
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Definition
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The Rule
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The Choice
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The Love
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The Confidence
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Quotes
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Conclusion
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THE DEFINITION
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ccording to the deďŹ ni on of worry for English language learners it means:
to think about problems or fears: to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen to make (someone) anxious or upset: to cause (someone) to worry. Excessive worry is a primary diagnos c feature of generalized Worry is anxiety disorder. Thought Based
Worry is thought based. The faculty of the brain that is responsible for worry is not logical. It is spontaneous hence; it exaggerates the circumstance beyond measure which results into fear and panic. When we worry, we become less produc ve. Mental energy gets drained and the mind reclines into research
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for the worst situa on that could ever happen. Our imagina on becomes corrupt sugges ng to the mind the worst feeling of fear and anguish. In the presence of worry, faith can never thrive. We are not talking about throwing cau on to the wind, nor are we referring to eventuali es as a result of careless living or lack of planning. It is about mastering life and its challenges.
In the presence of worry, faith can never thrive.
This life is full of ups and downs. There is a me for everything, and a season for every ac vity under the heavens: a me to be born and a me to die, a me to plant and a me to uproot, a me to kill and a me to heal, a me to tear down and a me to build, a me to weep and a me to laugh, a me to mourn and a me to dance, a me to sca er stones and a me to gather them, a me to embrace and a me to refrain from
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embracing, a me to search and a me to give up, a me to keep and a me to throw away, a me to tear and a me to mend, a me to be silent and a me to speak, a me to love and a me to hate, a me for war and a me for peace. Life can throw its self at you at any me. You might even have plans and everything in place and s ll experience a hitch. It is There is time for everything in life not me to begin to worry. Such moments demand that we remain steadfast in hope, trus ng in the love of the Father that can never fail. A PERFECT EXAMPLE When we worry, here are a few thoughts that come to our mind: 1. Ge ng old. 2. Worrying about your savings and ďŹ nancial future.
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3. Experiencing low energy levels. 4. Worrying about your diet,physique and weight. 5. Your financial status and debts. 6. Job security and whether you will ever make it in life or not. 7. Wrinkles and your ageing appearance. 8. Paying your rent or mortgage. 9. Not finding fulfilment. 10. Finding a new job due to your current job being too demanding with no me to rest. 11. Whether or not you are a rac ve or as good looking as your peers. 12. Whether your partner s ll loves you or if your partner is chea ng on you. 13. Whether you will find the right partner or whether your current partner is the right one. 14. Worrying about a friend or family member you have quarrelled with. 15. Worrying whether you are a good parent of if you are raising your children right. 16. Worrying about mee ng work targets or goals. 17. Worrying if your dress sense is good. 18. Worrying about your parents' health.
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19. Worrying about the area you live in and the a endant crime levels. The list above is a large sample of our daily worry dose. They can be broadly categorised under the following main concerns: A. What we think about ourselves: For instance, in marriage, a spouse may begin to worry about what the partner does or refuses to do. Some mes, the reason for the worry may be legi mate but the fact that worry becomes a response to that par cular situa on makes it bad. Instead of just thinking about the problems or fears and going into depression because of it, do something about it. Take posi ve steps. Communicate with your spouse what you feel. There are few ways the bible wants us to see ourselves: B. The way we think others see us or rate us:
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You do not have control over what people choose to think about you. You can only manage it as far as you can conduct yourself in good will with people. That's just the best you can do. There are a few guidelines in the bible to address this though: Romans 14: 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. James 2: 8 If ye fulďŹ l the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: Ma hew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.
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Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. SCRIPTURE ON WORRY Ma hew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which
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is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of li le faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run a er all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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THE RULE
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ather than worry, our heavenly Father wants us to pour our energy into seeking His will and doing it. All those things we worry about have been provided for by God, and He has promised to give them to us as we do His will. Worrying is a sin. It is a sign of our lack of faith and impa ence. Worrying Situa ons may turn contrary and is a sin unpleasant. Rather than worry, ta ke a c o n s a n d l o o k fo r solu ons. Pray fervently, fast, and seek the face of God asking in faith not as pagans or unbelievers. Our God is a good Father who will not give stones in place of bread nor a serpent in place of ďŹ sh. He has promised in His word that he who asks will receive, he who seeks will ďŹ nd and he who knocks, to him shall the door be opened. It is the divine inheritance for every believer to live a good life. The bible says He has given us all things to enjoy. We are to enjoy the good things of life with self-
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control and contentment. However, we must be pa ent for he who believes shall not make haste. Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
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THE CHOICE
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hen we worry, we fail the trust test. Trust is a vital ingredient of faith. It gives you the power When we worry, we fail to hope. It's like wai ng for a thetrust test friend at a bus sta on who has promised to come at a certain me, but is experiencing a delay. The reason you will keep wai ng expectantly is because you heard from your friend '' a word of promise'', so you put your trust on your friend's spoken word. The reality on ground is trying to make you to understand that the fellow has failed. There is a conict of your understanding with the word of promise so you have a choice to make. In overcoming worries you need to make a choice. Dwell in the realm of faith and not knowledge. Faith is higher than knowledge. Knowledge is natural while faith
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is supernatural. Knowledge fails but faith never puts to shame. Worry is knowledge-based while faith is the evidence of what is not seen. Worry is a weapon of the devil while faith is a shield. Choose wisely. Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situa on, by prayer and p e o n , w i t h thanksgiving, present Worry is a weapon your requests to God. of the devil 7 And the peace of God, while faith which transcends all is a shield understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. John 14:27 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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2 Thessalonians 3:16 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all mes and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. THE PEACE Peace does not necessarily mean the absence of war. It is the state of mind. The human mind naturally tends to worry. Mankind is bound to worry .Un l you have the mind of Christ you can't be free from the plague. The mind of Christ is the mind that is unperturbed in the midst of storm. As the disciples cried out, “Master don't you care that we perish?''. The bible says He had His head on the pillow for He was fast asleep. Romans 12:2 says we should always renew our mind! How? By reading the scriptures and quo ng it to ourselves day by day. Joshua's secret of success was the con nuous repe on of God's word to himself day and night. Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as
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26 Since you cannot do this very li le thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of li le faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs a er all such things, and 14 your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, li le flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. To experience peace, you need to know the scriptures by heart. This is the genera on where everything is online and it is easily accessible. The word of God must be in your To experience peace, heart. It is your armour; you need to know the only thing can assure the scriptures by heart your peace in this troubled world. 15 A heart devoid of God's word is vulnerable to the onslaught of the enemy. Don't let anxiety rule your life. Put everything under control through prayer, pe on and thanksgiving. Luke 12:24-34 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
THE LOVE
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od has placed so much value on you. You are
so valuable that before you could be redeemed, God's son, Jesus Christ had to die.
If He has freely given us His only bego en son, what else can he not give us? Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give 16 us all things? Your worry hurts! Stop it and trust in the love of God. A er you have taken all the precau ons humanly possible and you have done your best in the place of obedience and prayer, leave the rest for God. Let Him take over. He will not let you down. In the Book of John, Chapter11, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus did their best. They gave their brother
Lazarus the best medical care they could aord. They sent for help and even prayed that Jesus would arrive on me, yet Lazarus died. Jesus wept because of the love factor. He loved Lazarus yet there was a lot of unbelief in the air even a er saying so much assuring words that He, Jesus, is the resurrec on and the life. Nobody trusted in His love. All they could see was the loss before them. Alas! His love restored their loss. He brought the dead man back to life. Halleluiah! Your situa on is not irredeemable. Be convinced like Paul that nothing can separate you from the love of 17 God! Romans 8:35, 38 35 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribula on, or distress, or persecu on, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers
The truth is love always wins. Trust in the love of the Father for you and get rid of fear and worries. Ma hew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Psalm 55:22 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 1 Peter 5:6-8 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may li you up in due me. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
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devour. Psalm 23:4 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Hebrews 13:5-6 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will 19 not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
THE CONFIDENCE
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e must be bold. The scripture says the
righteous are as bold as lion (Proverbs 28:1). Be confident in the fact that you have a God you can run to. You are not a vagabond or a nobody. You are en tled to the promised rest. With all gentleness and humility of heart, you can rebuff every burden thrown on you by the weights of life as you come to Jesus in the place of prayer. Daily communion with the Holy Spirit is the secret of confidence. You 20 cannot fight the ba le of worry with logic or gump on. There is more to it than meets the eye. Depend on the Holy Spirit; He is the burden bearer in the place of prayer. He is the comforter, the counsellor, the revealer of truths. Don't be afraid to share your thoughts with God. There is nothing you want to tell Him that He doesn't know already. The bible says He knows the thoughts of our hearts from afar (Psalm 139: 2).
A FEW QUOTES ON WORRIES “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” – Leo F. Buscaglia “Worry o en gives a small thing a big shadow.” – Swedish Proverb “If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” – E. Joseph Cossman ”People become a ached to their burdens some mes more than the burdens are a ached to them.” – George Bernard Shaw “Our fa gue is o en caused not by work, but by worry, frustra on and resentment.” – Dale Carnegie “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be con nually fearing you will make one.”
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– Elbert Hubbard “If you ask what the single most important key to longevity is, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd s ll have to say it.” – George F. Burns “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had 22 never happened.” – Winston Churchill “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” – Arthur Somers Roche “If you treat every situa on as a life and death ma er, you'll die a lot of mes.” – Dean Smith
“When one has too great a dread of what is impending, one feels some relief when the trouble has come.” – Joseph Joubert “That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent.” – Chinese Proverb “Worry compounds the fu lity of being trapped on a dead-end street. Thinking opens new avenues.” – Cullen Hightower “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere” – Erma Bombeck “There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem.” – Harold Stephen
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“People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins, they wonder whether they are catching a cold.” – John Jay Chapman “Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.” – Nelson DeMille “The reason why worry kills more people than work is 24 that more people worry than work.” – Robert Frost “Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” – Henry Ward Beecher “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and
then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.” – John Newton “If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.” – Dale Carnegie “I never worry about ac on, but only about inac on.” – Winston Churchill “Rule number one is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it's all small stuff.” – Robert Eliot “A day of worry is more exhaus ng than a day of work.” – John Lubbock “Worry a li le bit every day and in a life me you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes
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anything.” – Mary Hemingway “Worry is an investment that never pays dividend.” – Adedayo Ogunsanya
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CONCLUSION There is nothing you can do over a spilt milk than to clean it up. Failure to do so only gets the place messier. The truth is glaring that we cannot help ourselves out of any situa on un l we muster eort from within to move on. Wake up happy, sleep happy, let nothing rob you of the joy of daily living. Everyone is responsible for his or her own happiness. Some days may be rougher than others but it's no reason to stay gloomy. Bad days only make 27 good days' worth longing for. Instead of worrying, take ac on. Do things that will move you towards your life goals. Sooner or later your life will become a guide for others taking the paths you have trodden. Worry less! Pray more, Give more.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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astor Dayo Ogunsanya is a dynamic actor, prolific writer and motivator whose special gifts have been finding expression since his teens, and for many decades now, has been a blessing to the body of Christ and the World at large. An effective communicator of God's word, Pastor Dayo Ogunsanya is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply timeless truths of scripture to their everyday life. He is currently serving and has served more than a decade under the mentorship of Revs Yinka & Deola Ojo of Grace Family International Church. His passion for soul winning is expressed in many of his drama scripts and acts in movies, outreaches and drama c r u s a d e s .
