“Do not fret.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a command, not a suggestion. 

Why?  Because fretting or incessant worrying steals your focus, burns up your energy and leaves you with a crispy attitude. 

The word for “fret“ is “charah” in Hebrew. 

It is a word picture to burn something until it is charred. 

It means to be kindled with a spark of anxiety or worry then whip it up into an inner frenzy.

It means feeding worry until it is a voracious fire in your soul that burns long and hot. 

What is the best thing to do when a spark of fear ignites a frenzy of anxiety? 

Take a deep breathe and quiet down before God. Don’t worry about what others are doing or not doing and ask God to do what you can not do.

“Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.  Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.”

Psalm 37:7-8 MSG