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JEAN FISCHER
INTRODUCTION Do you worry about finances, relationships, work, trouble in the world. . . ? Let this book guide you toward worry-free living. Even if you have only five minutes each day, studying God’s Word and applying it to your life can help you live worry-free.
L Minutes 1–2: Read carefully the scrip-
ture passage for each day’s Bible study.
L Minute 3: Understand. Consider
prompts that encourage you to apply the Bible verses and the devotional reading to your life. Reflect on these throughout your day.
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L Minute 4: Apply. Read a brief devotion
based on the day’s scripture. Think about what you are learning and how to apply what you’ve learned.
L Minute 5: Pray. A prayer starter helps
you begin a conversation with God. Remember to allow quiet time for Him to speak to your heart as well.
The 5-Minute Bible Study for Women: Worry Less, Pray More will help you form a habit of studying and applying God’s Word. Make the first five minutes of your day count! Pour yourself a cup of coffee and dig in. You will discover that even five minutes of focused scripture reading and prayer can make a huge difference in reducing your worries.
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GOD’S PROMISE
c
Read Isaiah 41:10–13
Key Verse:
“For I am the Lord your God Who holds your right hand, and Who says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.’ ” I saiah 41:13 nlv
Understand:
L What are you most afraid of? L How do you find peace when you feel worried or afraid?
Apply: Imagine a world without worries or concerns, a place free from anything that could frighten you. We can look forward to that in heaven. But we aren’t there yet. We live in a sin-filled world rife with challenges and obstacles. Allowing them to occupy our thoughts leads to worry and fear. The good news is we can find peace amid the chaos when we learn to trust in God’s goodness and His mighty power. In Isaiah 41:10–13, God tells us not to be afraid. He reminds us that He is with us. God says, “For sure I will help you” (verse 10 nlv, emphasis added). That is a promise to us, and God keeps every one 6
of His promises. Whatever trouble we face, we can be sure He will help us get through it. As you read and think about God’s Word, you will find yourself growing nearer to Him and understanding that His faithfulness is greater than your worries. With God holding your hand, you can face your fears with strength, knowing that He will fight for you. Think of His goodness and love today. God is reaching out His hand to you. Take it! Follow Him, and He will lead you to peace that is beyond your understanding.
Pray: Yes, Lord, I will take Your hand. May Your mighty power extend through me and give me courage and strength to face whatever obstacles get in my way.
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WHY DO WE WORRY?
c Read Genesis 3
Key Verses:
Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and bad. Now then, he might put out his hand to take from the tree of life also, and eat and live forever.” So the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to work the ground from which he was taken. G enesis 3:22–23 nlv
Understand:
L God created us to be free. What does that mean to you?
L How could your day be different if you made a conscious effort to obey God?
Apply: Eden was heaven on earth. Worries, concerns, and suffering didn’t exist. If Adam and Eve had obeyed God’s rule not to touch that one tree, we could be living forever in harmony and peace. But their disobedience opened the door to evil. Adam and Eve realized they could choose bad over good, and they chose bad. 8
God didn’t create us to be His slaves. He gave us freedom to make our own choices. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey, they broke their relationship with God. Their choice unleashed sin in the world, and that affected all humanity. As the world’s population grew, more and more people chose sin over obedience. The consequence was worry, fear, and suffering forever. But because God loves us, He didn’t want that. He also didn’t want us to die for our sins. So God planned to save us from sin and provide us forever life with Him in heaven. He sent us a Savior—Jesus.
Pray: Dear God, every day I am tempted to disobey You. When I give in to sin, You love me anyway. Thank You for sending Jesus to restore my relationship with You. Thank You for not giving up on me.
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OUR SAVIOR
c Read John 3:16–21
Key Verse:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.” J ohn 3:16 nlv
Understand:
L What does the word atonement mean? L How can you attain forgiveness for your sins now and forever?
Apply: In the Old Testament, people atoned for their sins by killing one of their best animals on an altar as a sacrifice to God. The animal that was considered the purest of all was the lamb. The shedding of its blood was a way of temporarily receiving God’s forgiveness and being reconciled with Him. These acts would later be seen as a symbolic foreshadowing of Jesus’ death on the cross. God sacrificed His best—His only Son, Jesus—shedding His blood as a permanent way of repairing our relationship with Him. Jesus suffered all the consequences of our sins, past, present, and future, so we could be pure 10
enough to enter heaven. If we believe this, we are promised eternal life. Believing that Jesus is our way to eternal life is a choice. The book of John says some will choose not to believe because they love sin and evil. Others will not believe because they are afraid God will punish them if their sins are exposed. But God already knows our sins. Jesus has already taken the punishment for them. So confessing our sins to God results in just one thing—forgiveness forever. Because we are forgiven, we have nothing to worry about or fear. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is our Savior. Not only will He save us from the punishment of sin, but He will save us from every worry and fear, if only we trust Him.
Pray: Dear Jesus, help me to be firm in my belief that through You all my sins are forgiven. Remind me that You aren’t just my Savior but also the one I can trust.
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ONE DAY AT A TIME
c
Read Matthew 6:25–34
Key Verse:
“Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.” M atthew 6:34 nlv
Understand:
L What do you most often think about as you lie in bed wanting to sleep?
L What can you do at bedtime to turn your thoughts from worries and concerns?
Apply: Did you lie awake last night unable to sleep because a bazillion thoughts barreled through your head? Maybe you replayed something unpleasant that happened and you imagined what you could have said or done. Were you thinking about how to stretch your paycheck or about an important decision you need to make? Maybe last night you worried about today. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowd, “The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.” He offered some examples of things 12
we worry about, and then Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For. . .your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31–33 niv). The takeaway, the most important idea Jesus wanted the crowd to remember, was this: Give all your worries to your heavenly Father! Taking things day by day can help you get a good night’s sleep. Form a bedtime ritual of giving all your worries to God. Say this verse to yourself as soon as you lie down: “I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe” (Psalm 4:8 nlv).
Pray: Father, tonight, I give all my thoughts to You. I know You have everything I worry about under control. In the safety of Your presence, I can sleep in peace.
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TODAY IS A NEW DAY!
c Read Psalm 118
Key Verse:
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it. P salm 118:24 nlv
Understand:
L What do you have to be glad about today?
L What are some ways God has been faithful to you?
Apply: Good morning! This is the day the Lord has made. Yesterday is gone. Last night before you slept, you gave your worries to the Lord and, hopefully, you trusted Him to work out all your troubles. Today, God gives you a fresh start, an opportunity to put aside those old, stale worries and look to the future with hope. Psalm 118 is King David’s prayer of praise. He said, “I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me and put me in a good place” (verse 5 nlv). His prayer is a testament to God’s faithfulness, power, and strength. David recalled some of the 14
ways the Lord saved him from trouble. He encouraged others to praise God too: “Let Israel say, ‘His loving-kindness lasts forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His loving-kindness lasts forever.’ Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His loving-kindness lasts forever’” (verses 2–4 nlv). Praise is a great way to replace worrisome thoughts with good thoughts. Dwelling on God’s faithfulness will help make you strong. Embrace this new day! Instead of beginning it with worries, set your thoughts on God. Think of how He has been faithful to you and praise Him.
Pray: Good morning, Lord. Thank You for this new day. I praise You for the many ways You have been faithful to me. Walk with me today. Remind me to keep my thoughts centered on You and Your goodness as I move forward with hope.
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THE GOD WHO REMEMBERS
c
Read 1 Samuel 1:1–20
Key Verses:
Hannah was very troubled. She prayed to the Lord and cried with sorrow. Then she. . . said, “O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me. Do not forget Your woman servant.” 1 S amuel 1:10–11 nlv
Understand:
L Have you poured out your troubles to God in prayer?
L Do you trust that God hears you when you pray?
Apply: Hannah was one of Elkanah’s two wives. His other wife, Peninnah, had children, Hannah did not, and Peninnah never let her forget it. She did her best to hurt Hannah by constantly reminding her that she wasn’t a mom. This made Hannah so sad she wasn’t even able to eat. What did Hannah do? She took her problem to the Lord in prayer. “O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me.” Hannah prayed silently, 16
pouring out all her troubles to God. Hannah is a good example of what to do with our worries. When our hearts are troubled, we should pour them out to the Lord. When Hannah said, “Lord, remember me!” it wasn’t because she thought God had forgotten her. It was a plea for Him to relieve her suffering, a fervent and hopeful prayer. God never forgets us. It’s just that His timing isn’t always congruent with ours and His answers are often beyond our understanding. Make prayer a key element in relieving your worries. Hannah trusted God to work out her troubles, and so can you.
Pray: O Lord, You are the God who remembers! My spirit is troubled today, but I have faith that You understand my hurt and worries. I believe that in Your own time You will relieve my suffering. Please comfort me now as I wait.
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A PRAYER MODEL
c
Read Matthew 6:5–13
Key Verse:
“When you pray, do not say the same thing over and over again making long prayers like the people who do not know God. They think they are heard because their prayers are long.” M atthew 6:7 nlv
Understand:
L Do you ever find it hard to pray? L Does anything stop you from talking with God as a friend?
Apply: Jesus was teaching about prayer in today’s scripture reading. The passage includes a familiar prayer that you’ve likely heard or prayed many times, the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven. . .” (verse 9 kjv). It is a prayer we often recite without thinking about its words, but we need to think about them because they model a way to form our own prayers. Let’s look at Matthew 6:9–13 and build a prayer.
L Verses 9 and 10: Begin by praising God. Ask Him to answer your prayer according to His will. 18
L Verse 11: Next, tell God what you need. L Verse 12: Ask God to forgive your sins and to help you forgive those who have wronged you.
L Verse 13: Ask God to lead you away
from Satan’s traps. End your prayer by putting all your faith and trust in God’s mighty power.
When you aren’t sure how to pray, use Jesus’ model in the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer isn’t reciting the same words over and over or saying everything perfectly. It’s simply talking with God and speaking to Him as if you are talking with your best friend—because you are!
Pray: Dear God, I praise You. Meet my needs today according to Your will. Forgive me for my sins, and help me to forgive those who sin against me. Keep me away from doing wrong. I trust in You and Your mighty power.
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POSITIVE THOUGHTS
c
Read Philippians 4:4–8
Key Verse:
If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things. P hilippians 4:8 nlv
Understand:
L Why does positive thinking help when you worry?
L How did Paul stay positive while suffering in prison?
Apply: The apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote to the Christian church in Philippi. Paul loved the people in this church, and they loved him. Although Paul was suffering greatly for preaching about Jesus, he encouraged his friends not to worry but to pray, and to be joyful because they belonged to the Lord. Paul reminded them that they would find peace beyond their understanding by giving God thanks and asking Him to meet their needs. Paul told them to keep their minds on what they had to be thankful for—“whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, 20
and whatever is well thought of” (Philippians 4:8 nlv). Positive thoughts, along with prayer and keeping your mind and heart fixed on Jesus, are key to releasing your worries. This six-day written exercise can help you begin to think positively:
L Day 1: Jot down thoughts about God you believe to be true.
L Day 2: List some people and ideologies you respect.
L Day 3: Write down three to five things you firmly believe are right and pleasing to God.
L Day 4: Define what purity means to you. L Day 5: Make a list of who and what you love.
L Day 6: Reread what you’ve written and thank God for His many blessings.
You might consider also keeping a daily journal of positive thoughts and prayers.
Pray: Heavenly Father,remind me to set my thoughts on the many ways You bless me.
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WHO IS SATAN?
c
Read Ezekiel 28:6–19
Key Verse:
“All who know you are appalled at your fate; you are an example of horror; you are destroyed forever.” E zekiel 28:19 tlb
Understand:
L Who was God speaking about in Ezekiel 28?
L What was Satan before God cast him out of heaven?
L What evidence do we have that Satan is active in the world today?
Apply: Ezekiel 28 provides Satan’s backstory and hints at his ultimate demise. Satan was once a mighty guardian angel in heaven, appointed by God and trusted by Him. But all the wisdom and riches God gave Satan went to his head. Pride made him think he was as powerful as God, and he used for his own gain everything God had given him. This made God very angry. He cast Satan out of heaven and called 22
him “an example of horror.” God vowed to destroy him forever. We first meet Satan in the book of Genesis as the serpent who convinced Adam and Eve to sin. We see him in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) as he unsuccessfully tried to tempt Jesus. Throughout the Bible we find people giving in to Satan’s temptations and suffering because of it. Then in the book of Revelation, God does what He promised and destroys Satan forever. Satan is the source of everything evil, everything that leads us to worry and fear, and that is why we need to cast God’s enemy out of our lives, like God cast him out of heaven.
Pray: Lord God, help me to recognize Satan in my midst. Through Your Holy Spirit, caution me to turn away from him and toward You. Strengthen me to resist temptation and to trust that You will deliver me from evil.
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THE ENEMY BRINGS SUFFERING
c
Read 1 Peter 5:6–11
Key Verse:
Stand against him and be strong in your faith. Remember, other Christians over all the world are suffering the same as you are. 1 P eter 5:9 nlv
Understand:
L Is all suffering caused by Satan? L How can we endure our suffering? L Does worry exacerbate our troubles?
Apply: Today’s scripture reading encourages us to stand strong in faith so we can stand up to Satan. It reminds us that Christians all over the world suffer because of his evil—in other words, you are not alone. There is no one on earth who can escape evil, just as there is no one who can resist God’s power. Peter told us to give our worries to God and then trust that in His time He will relieve our suffering. “Keep awake!” Peter said. “The devil is working against you” (1 Peter 5:8 nlv). We can resist Satan by reading God’s Word, knowing what pleases Him, and then doing our 24
best to obey. We avoid a lot of worry and suffering by not falling for Satan’s tricks. However, because everyone has free will, we can be victims of the bad choices others make. Their decisions can result in our suffering. When that happens, instead of blaming God, blame Satan, the enemy, the one who is the source of every sin and its aftermath. God loves you. He gives you strength to resist temptation and also to endure its consequences. God has power over all things. When you put your trust in Him, God will bring you through your troubles so you can share in His shining-greatness forever.
Pray: Dear God, evil and suffering are a part of life, but I don’t need to add worry and fear. You will lift me up from my troubles. Your goodness and love bring me peace.
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