Day 1 – Worry to Worship

 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 (NKJV)

Juggling a busy schedule has become the norm of our daily lives while stress became the measuring stick indicating your worth in this world. Stress is the most common contributor to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion. There is not one conversation in my day where I do not hear the words “I am so stressed” or “I am under so much pressure”. (Sometimes from my own lips.) The secret to living a stress-less life comes down to a choice: directing our lives according to God’s Word or dancing to the ever-increasing beat of the world.

You might say I do not know the kind of stress your work demands, running your busy household trying to keep everyone happy, or the situations and struggles you face. I don’t. But I know God and believe His Word and promises above any stress-o-meter. Psalm 23 gives us 7 beautiful instructions to cultivate habits for stress management.

Stress destroys peace of mind. Proverbs 14:30(a) says “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body.” Lack of peace is not what you eat, but what eats you. Worry is a symptom of stress indicating a lack that robs you of peace. You worry about what you do not have or achieved – needs not being met. “I shall not want” is the first step in changing your worry into worship because God is Jehovah Jireh (God my provider). Your needs are provided for by your Shepherd.  I love that this verse starts with worshipping God! The Lord IS my Shepherd! Worship Him when you feel the niggling of worry on the fringes of your mind and take your needs to Him.

Prayer: Father, our Lord, You are our Shepherd. We praise you and worship You. Thank You for your provision while taking care of me in the pastures of this world. I pray and ask that You please provide for the needs robbing my peace and causing me to worry. Thank You, Father, for providing for me. Thank you that I shall not want. Amen.

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