An Inside Job

Worry is one of the greatest thief of Joy. So is comparison but that's a whole different story. However, when your Joy has been stolen, you can get it back. You can get back your piece of peace. These are the conditions upon which you can have your Joy back: Right praying (Philippians 4:6-7), right thinking (Philippians 4:8), right living (Philippians 4:9).

Alright Baby, let's do some word study; in the Greek "worry" can be translated as "anxious" and it means to be pulled in different directions. Lawd have mercy. How many things on a daily basis get us pulled in different directions. Wooo, Honey. That sounds like a bunch of chaos to me. Our hope is pulling us one way and our fears are pulling us in another direction.

Now, the Old English form of "worry" can be translated "to strangle". Lawd help me. Strangle? Suffocate? Choke? No air? Sounds like a slow death to me.
Child, don't worry yourself sick. Headaches? Um, um, um. I can tell you about some migraines.

Now listen here, this is the modern day definition of "worry"; "to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts". My, my, my. Who is doing the tormenting? Yes you. Worry is an inside job.

This is another definition; " to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another" I ain't gotta say no more. Well, yes I do. Why would you worry yourself?

Take custody of your mind. LET God's peace in. Turn them worries into prayers. We will have trials and tribulations. The key to making it through has already been given to us. We just gotta use it. Work the word.

scripture reference: Philippians 4:6-9 (The Bible Exposition Commentary: New testament)
The MSG Bible uses worry and fret.