Jesus Asks Us to Come, Take, and Learn

I confess that I can easily lose my peace when I focus on difficult things in my life.

Relationship disappointments are the hardest, seeing loved ones walk away from their faith and make tragic choices. These things can leave me worried, sad, angry, or depressed.

That's when I need to listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Come, Take and Learn. 

• Come to Him and quit seeking answers from ourselves or worldly sources (Isaiah 55:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:19).

• Take His yoke by surrendering ourselves to His will in our lives, seeking His plans and purposes (Ephesians 2:10).

• Learn from Him. Let His Word be our guide (Proverbs 2:6; Hebrews 4:12). And let Him show us how to have joy and peace in the midst of our trials (John 16:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

If you also lose your peace at times, I suggest you read this passage daily...better yet, memorize it.

Together let’s find rest for our souls in Jesus.

💙💙💙 

For more encouragement in this area, see Seeking Genuine Peace in the Midst of Trials. 

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If you enjoyed this devotion, be sure to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word: Wisdom for Life. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. Check out the great sales on Lifeway or Amazon.

 

 

 

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A Collection of Devotions about Overcoming Worry

Saturday Collection: These devotions address fear, worry, stress, and anxiety. You'll find some repetition if you read them all, but God tells us that repetition is good for us...a "safeguard" to keep us on track. You can use them for individual or group study.

 

Deception of Discouragement 

Scripture says we become deceived if we don’t apply James 1:22 to our lives. I sometimes fail to apply it in the area of worry.

 

Worry is Based on a Small View of God 

Something tiny and seemingly insignificant destroyed this 400-year-old tree. It's a good analogy for worry. This 1-minute devotion explains.

 

90% of the Time We're Wrong 

Scripture gives us an incredible cure for worry. This 1-minute devotion explains.

 

Jesus is Not a Sedative 

Jesus is no sedative! This 1-minute devotion explains why He is more like an "IV" injecting Truth into our souls.

 

Thanks! I Needed That! 

This 1-minute devotion offers 6 biblical truths that can help us get back on track when we get side-tracked by anxiety, fear, and frustration.

 

Biblical Key to Overcoming Fear and Worry 

Often the things that cause the most fear are things without a “time limit.” This 1-minute devotion explains how we deal with those things.

 

A Sinful, Unnecessary Waste of Time 

When faced with problems, don’t waste your time doing what most people do.

 

Scriptures for Overcoming Fear and Worry 

Let God's Word Transform You by reading, memorizing and meditating on these Scripture verses about fear and worry.

 

5 Ways to Overcome Nighttime Fears 

This 1-minute devotions offers practical advice for overcoming fearful thoughts when we wake in the middle of the night.

 

To Fear or Not to Fear: That is the Question 

This devotion explains how healthy fear is needed to overcome unhealthy fear.

 

3 More Things that Steal Your Peace 

One of these three is worry, and the other two can lead to worry. Scripture helps us overcome all three. 

 

God’s Rule for Overcoming Worry 

We can't overcome worry without applying the principle in Matthew 6:34. This 1-minute devotion explains.  

 

Aha Moments

Often while reading Scripture, I get an "aha moment."

Recently, while worrying (i.e., failing to trust God), I read John 16 where Jesus is talking to the disciples about the sorrow they'll feel when He dies. He encourages them by telling them they'll again rejoice…and here's where my aha moment came: 

He says (vs. 22), "No one will take away your joy." 

No one can take away the joy of knowing the risen Jesus because it's a joy that isn't dependent on people or circumstances. 

It's a joy dependent on Jesus alone. 

If we lose it, then we've given it away—it hasn't been taken from us. Nothing about Jesus can make us sad or lonely or forgotten or misunderstood or hopeless. 

No one can take away our joy in Jesus. No one.

Jesus knows us and our circumstances, and He knows exactly what we need to hear. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take ♥! I have overcome the world." Jesus (John 16:33)

Aha!

💙💙💙

To hear about the “aha moments” that led me to start writing Bible Love Notes, see Why Gail Has Written 1-Minute Devotions for 13 Years. Or listen to this devotion on YouTube: Gail's Romans 8:28 Miracle.

My book Wisdom for Life also contains a number of my “aha moments.” It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

 

If you enjoy reading Bible Love Notes, please encourage your friends to sign up for a free subscription HERE.

 

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Try This for Three Weeks to Overcome Worry, Fear, and Anxiety

The definition of worry: to give in to anxiety or fear; allowing our minds to dwell on difficulty or troubles.

 

It's a rare person who doesn't have occasions of worry, stress, or anxiety.

 

Aren't you glad that God understands how we are made and offers wisdom for overcoming our worries and fears? 

 

I encourage you to write down the passage below and recite it out loud whenever you begin to worry. Eventually, you'll memorize the words - they'll be "hidden in your heart" - and it will renew and refresh you whenever things seem hopeless or frustrating. See 5 Practical Ways to Hide God's Word in Your Heart.

 

Philippians 4:6-8: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."  

 

Below you'll find resources to help you overcome worry. Read the 1-minute devotions carefully and prayerfully, and be sure to read all of the linked Bible passages. You might want to keep a journal as you go through these devotions, and you might want to go through them with a friend or with your small group. Why not plan to recite Philippians 4:6-8 each morning and evening for the next three weeks. And prayerfully read one of the twenty-one devotions below each of those days. I guarantee it will help!

You'll find repetition in some of these devotions, but repetition is a good thing. The 1-minute devotion Never Enough explains the importance of repetition.

 

Deception of Discouragement 

Scripture says we become deceived if we don’t apply James 1:22 to our lives. I sometimes fail to apply it in the area of worry.

 

Worry is Based on a Small View of God 

Something tiny and seemingly insignificant destroyed this 400-year-old tree. It's a good analogy for worry. This 1-minute devotion explains.

 

90% of the Time We're Wrong 

Scripture gives us an incredible cure for worry. This 1-minute devotion explains.

 

Jesus is Not a Sedative 

Jesus is no sedative! This 1-minute devotion explains why He is more like an "IV" injecting truth into our souls.

 

Thanks! I Needed That! 

This 1-minute devotion offers six biblical truths that can help us get back on track when we get side-tracked by anxiety, fear, and frustration.

 

Biblical Key to Overcoming Fear and Worry 

Often the things that cause the most fear are things without a “time limit.” This 1-minute devotion explains how we deal with those things.

 

A Sinful, Unnecessary Waste of Time 

When faced with problems, don’t waste your time doing what most people do.

 

 

Fault-Finding, Fear-Finding Missions

This Old Testament scouting party turned a fact-finding mission into a fear-finding mission. This 1-minute devotion shares what we can learn from their mistakes.

 

5 Ways to Overcome Nighttime Fears 

This 1-minute devotions offers practical advice for overcoming fearful thoughts when we wake in the middle of the night.

 

To Fear or Not to Fear: That is the Question 

This devotion explains how healthy fear is needed to overcome unhealthy fear.

 

3 More Things That Will Steal Your Peace 

One of these three is worry, and the other two can lead to worry. Scripture helps us overcome all three. 

 

God’s Rule for Overcoming Worry 

We can't overcome worry without applying the principle in Matthew 6:34. This 1-minute devotion explains.  

 

 

Having No Fear

Whatever fears you have, real or imagined, this short devotion will encourage you with a treasury of Scriptures.

 

 

 

 

Fear of Death and Dying

Many people fear death and dying. This 1-minute devotion offers the positive Christian perspective. 

 

 

4 Aspects of Giving God Our Burdens

Life can leave us with burdens of sadness, weariness, stress, disappointment, and fear. These four truths can help.

We Need It: Peace

Genuine peace can only come from the Lord. This 1-minute devotion explains seven elements of biblical peace.

The Comfort of Being Still and Knowing He is God

Psalm 46 offers some wonderful insights for overcoming fears and worries.

 

 

Taking Thoughts Captive

These three steps can help you overcome doubts, fears, and negative thought patterns

The Power of Negative Self-Talk

The number of negative words you can think in a minute will shock you. This 1-minute devotion offers biblical answers for overcoming negative thoughts.

5 Ways to Process Problems Biblically

This 1-minute devotion shares five ways to process problems biblically (each with Scripture reference).

When Godly People Get Depressed

Let's examine some godly people in the Bible who were depressed. It can help us deal with our own depression.

I also recommend the Series 9 Things that Can Steal Your Peace.

Bible Love Notes 

Scriptures to Recite or Memorize When You Want to Overcome Worry

Please start by reading the 1-minute devotion 4 Important Bible Truths to Remember When You Feel Anxious or Fearful.

Next, I encourage you to read the 1-minute devotion A Practical Way to Deal with Specific Sins. It emphasizes the importance of reading, reciting, and memorizing Scripture to help overcome specific sins, temptations, frustrations, and discouragements. For further encouragement, there is a Bite Size Bible Study which also addresses this method: Defeating Sin with Scripture.

God's Word has a powerful influence on our hearts and minds, and the passages below can definitely help you overcome fear and anxiety. You might want to copy this list or save this devotion somewhere so you can easily refer to it when needed.

Dwelling on these passages will help you deal biblically with fear, anxiety, and stress (Colossians 3:16).

💙 Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

💙 1 Peter 5:6-7: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

💙 Matthew 6:25-32: "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 nomore than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." 

💙 Philippians 4:13: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." 

💙 Hebrews 13:6: "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'"  

💙 Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

💙 John 14:27: "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." 

💙 Psalm 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." 

💙  Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

💙  John 14:1: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." 

💙 Psalm 34:15: "The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help." 

💙 Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

💙 Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Bible Love Notes 

4 Important Bible Truths to Remember When You Feel Anxious or Fearful

What a comfort to know that our God fully and completely understands us, both our strengths and weaknesses. 

He knows that many times we give in to worry. And He tells us how to deal with it: 

1. We should take our concerns to the Lord. 

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7  

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22 

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19 

2. When we start to worry, we should pray. 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6

3. We should seek God’s purposes and deal with our problems one day at a time.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34

4. We should remember that worry is useless and unproductive. 

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:27  

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This devotion is the first in a series of 3 to help you overcome fear, stress, and anxiety:

Part 2 is Scriptures to Recite or Memorize When you Want to Overcome Worry.

And Part 3 is coming soon. It's titled Try This for 3 Weeks to Overcome Worry, Fear, and Anxiety.

It will include a short encouragement, a suggested Bible verse to memorize, and a list of other devotions that you can use as a short study whenever you find yourself worrying. 

If you don't have a problem with worry, don't worry! 😊 You'll be able to apply the principles in these devotions to other problems and temptations in your life.

Bible Love Notes

A Key to Having Peace

Lately I’ve been worrying about things over which I have no control. My anxiety is a sign that I haven’t been faithfully “putting off and putting on.”

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life...

to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires...

to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Jesus understands earthly troubles and tells us to put them into eternal perspective: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Paul, echoes this sentiment in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17: "we do not lose heart ... For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

It's my prayer to have an eternal perspective. How about you?

✜✜✜

For more encouragement and a practical idea that can help, read Set Your Mind or Set Your Alarm.

Click image to find out more about Wisdom for Life, a hardcover devotional priced lower than most paperbacks.