Give Up Worry for Lent!

Why wait for Lent?  It would be easy to apply these principles any day of the week.  As a non-Catholic and/or of a denomination which does not observe Lent, I practice it personally.  It is a life-changing time of renewal and commitment and to accompany it with a text of encouragement and practical wisdom makes it a very special time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ave Maria Press, for the read of Gary Zimak’s, Give Up Worry for Lent!

I feel like this book was written for me and anyone who worries about just about everything.

I have read the book and you do not need to wait to do this for Lent. It’s a perfect time to start it, but truly, you can implement this any day of your life. 

Gary Zimak’s four simple steps, read, reflect, respond, pray… works. It works. Reading is like the hope you seek. Reflecting is like the deep breath. Responding is like the inhale. Prayer is the meditation. I truly felt moments where I could feel my trust in God actually go through my mind, body and soul. 

I loved this and will practice it in all areas of my life. I felt it bring me that much closer to our Lord, and gave a real boost of inspiration to my faith.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Ave Maria Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in my review are my very own.

Not until I read Gary Zimak's book did I realize how many areas of life where worry occurs.  Not intentional, but something that is naturally wired into our human psyche.  Give Up Worry for Lent! is a daily lesson on focusing on the areas of life where we can control worry not only during Lent but as a guide EVERY day of the year!  

By waking up five minutes earlier, these short chapters are a way to start the day on the right note and keep your path directed in a positive direction despite life's obstacles that may come your way.  

In thanking Gary Zimak for this book, as a fruit of the leading of the Holy Spirit, I commend him for providing my daily dose of 'vitamin Z'!

Jeff Blackwell
Director of Operations
Catholic Community Radio
New Orleans - Baton Rouge

All too often for Lent we give up simple things and after Lent we go bak to our old ways. Zimak has a different idea, one that will improve your whole life a well as your spiritual life -- give up worry.

There is a short daily reflection for each day in Lent, including Sundays. These reflections, mostly a page or so include a short Bible reading, reflection, and a prayer.

Even if your are giving up other things, add this as your manual for Lenten devotions, you'll be better for it.

It is so easy to “give up” something trival during lent, something that on Easter Day we end up eating or doing in excess.  Why not give up worry, during lent, but also by training ourselves to trust so that we can give up worry all the time.  This short daily devotional during lent is a great and accessible reminder to trust and not worry.

For those self proclaimed "worry worts" (myself included), this book is ideal as a daily reminder during Lent that, if we have a personal relationship with Jesus, there is no room for worry and fear. Why? Because Jesus has our backs and "all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose." All things work for good- even our sufferings and crosses.  How comforting is that? We just have to trust in the Lord and His plan for us.

     "Give Up Worry for Lent!" is the perfect daily Lenten program with a short Scripture verse regarding worry, fear, hope, trust, surrender, peace, etc., followed by a reflection on that verse, a practical response and a short prayer.  It is a great way to unplug for a few minutes each day and remember all that the Lord has done for us and how he continues to work in our lives.  The book teaches us that the closer we become to Jesus through prayer, reading Scripture and receiving the Sacraments, the more peace (and, therefore, less worry and anxiety) we will experience in our lives. 

I highly recommend this book to all who want to experience an enriched Lenten season.

I love these short devotionals that focus on areas of life where I need an push to do better. This book has daily scripture readings, simple action steps, and a prayer  to help the reader  kick the worry habit. I found the Bible verses that the author chose were an excellent match to go along with the topic and the examples and personal experiences  the author shared were a perfect addition. 
 
While this is marketed for Lent, if you are a worrier, you don’t need to wait a year to start this. I believe it would be helpful for anyone who has too much of a tendency to worry any time of the year.