Week 28: Fretful
Weekly Chapters:
Proverbs 5 - 28
Passage of the Week:
Proverbs 12:25
Adjective:
1. disposed or quick to fret, irritable or peevish
Thesaurus:
Cranky
Irritable
Grieve
To lose sleep over
Agonize
Fuss
Stew
Contrary
Father God,
As we go on to our study this week, open my eyes to the times when I fret or get anxious, when I fuss or stew. Give me a heart to see why I do what I do so that I can find peace and correct my behaviors.
Amen
Authentic vulnerability:
Overanalyze, overthink, despair and worry. These are my fretful activities. I can be bold. I can be strong, and I can be decisive. But that is only on the outside. This mask and costume I wear of self-assurance only hides the immense insecurity that lives in me. My fretting is well hidden. It is the other side of the coin that no one is ever allowed to see. It destroys relationships and stands in the way of my success. But I hide it so no one can see it but me.
What is your Authentic Truth?
Study:
As humans, we can make higher-level choices. We are given free will by God, our Father so that we can make decisions that are pleasing to Him. And with that, we have minds that are subject to worry or fret. Our fretful behaviors are a hindrance to our lives, and it hold us back. In Proverbs 12:25, Solomon says, “worry and fret weighs a person down.” And it does. It falls heavy on our heads, and it pulls us down. Fret sits on our shoulders and creates stress. Fret puts our head in a tailspin thinking of our current situation over and over again. The second half of the verse says that an encouraging word cheers a person up.
An encouraging word cheers a person up.
Our negative self-talk and fret create weight on our shoulders. It creates heaviness in our bodies and our souls. If we are to rise above the fret, we need positive self-talk. We need grace, self-grace. The weight of fret causes unhappiness and an inability to feel light and free. The weight makes us irritable and crabby. The weight turns us into someone else.
An encouraging word. Solomon was a wise man.
Today give yourself an encouraging word. Stop the self-talk that weighs heavy and start the self-talk that brings freedom—an encouraging word.
I Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 21:19
It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.
Father God,
Thank you for guiding us with your words of wisdom. Let our minds be free from trouble. Give us strength to let go of past discretions. You have given us forgiveness. We need to forgive ourselves. Give us strength to forgive ourselves and live a life that is pleasing to You.
Amen.
Homework:
· Write a mantra in a place that is prominent in your vision and repeated every morning. A mantra that says you are a good person, loved by God, important to those you love.
· Forgive yourself and give yourself grace. You are not perfect, nor are you created to be perfect. But, you are loved.
· You have likely learned to talk down to yourself from past transgressions. Let them go.
