Worship is the Antidote for Worry

by Rick Warren — December 8, 2021
From God’s Vision for the Rest of Your Life

“[Christ’s] love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center.”

2 Corinthians 5:14 (The Message)

God made you for five purposes: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. But you can’t fulfill those purposes on your own. Life is not a solo act. You were created for community.

The only way you can fulfill God’s five purposes in your life is with people giving you spiritual input. You need a church family! Why? Because the church helps you center your life around God.

God didn’t put you on Earth to live a self-centered life. He wants to be at the core of your life. He made you to love you, and he wants you to love him back. In a sense, God says, “I want to be the hub of your heart. I want to be the focus of your attention. I want to be the center of your life. I want to be the axis of your existence.”

The Bible says, “[Christ’s] love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center” (2 Corinthians 5:14 The Message).

How can you tell that Christ is at the center of your life? You stop worrying. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (The Message).

There’s a word for this: worship. When you focus your life on God, you worship. And worship is the antidote for worry. If you want to worry less, worship more.

When are you supposed to worship? The Bible says, “You have six days when you can do your work, but the seventh day of each week is holy because it belongs to me. No matter where you live, you must rest on the Sabbath and come together for worship” (Leviticus 23:3 CEV). Once a week, God wants you to come together with other believers to refocus, recalibrate, and recenter your life on him.

Where are you supposed to do it? Acts 2:46 says, “They worshipped together regularly at the Temple” (TLB).

Can you see that God meant for you to be part of a church family? A church family helps you focus and center your life around God so that you can fulfill his purpose for you.

Talk It Over

  • What is one thing you’ve been worried about? How can you turn that worry to worship today?
  • How do you think your life would change if you gave all your worries to Jesus and allowed him to be at the center of your life?
  • In practical terms, what can a church family do to help you re-focus your life on God?

God made you to love you, and one of the places you see that most clearly is on the cross.

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God made it possible for you to become part of his family for eternity. No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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