“What am I ever going to do?” I fretted through the day. My
thoughts bounced from the reasonable to the silly. Do I have a reason for concern? I sure do. Is
worry going to solve the problem? It will
not. So, what should I do? Are you
worried, too? There are so many things ‘out
there’ that will keep us in a full state of anxiety if we focus on them. North Korea is developing nukes. Some say our
economy is overheated and the bubble is about to burst, taking the value of the
dollar on a tumble. The earth is warming
and our coastal cities are going to be underwater in 25 years. In my world,
there are real issues with the Christian church and questions about her
survival (at least in the form we know). What’s keeping you up at night? Health
concerns, teenagers, marriage troubles, self-doubt?
Anxious care is an epidemic for so many people. It is not
the things I mentioned above are without merit. But, our news sources keep us
tuned in by stoking our fears with whirling graphics and ominous music. All of the noise and
fury of our media culture keeps most of us from realizing that on the whole we
live amazingly good lives. It's not Heaven, but most of our fears are exaggerated. (Read about The "Fear IndustrialComplex")
I need to be reminded repeatedly that my worry and fear is
not from God. It is fed by prayerlessness, thanklessness, and self-focus! The
first step to defeat my fears is to confess my lack of faith and immediately
follow that with renewed understanding of the majesty of the Lord Almighty!
For the those times and situations in our lives that really
do bring us anxiety, the Bible gives each of us a tremendously wonderful
invitation. These words of Jesus are
familiar so you might be tempted to skim through them. Don’t!
"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV)
"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV)
When we choose to live as an obedient subject of the Eternal
King we find security in His provisions for each day. When we keep on worrying,
fretting, and complaining we dishonor and displease our Heavenly Father. I
cannot control the arrival of thoughts that tempt to me to be afraid and/or to
worry, but I have a choice about what to
do with those thoughts. I can persist in worry or I can prayerfully present
those threats and needs to my Father.
Paul, a man who had plenty of real concerns and needs, was
inspired to write this to us. Take this word from the Word to heart today. "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray
about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
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."
(Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
What a promise! He has a gift for us - 'peace which transcends human
understanding.'
Will you worry or will you pray? Will you praise God that He is bigger than
any trouble that could come into your life or will you try to be your own god
and 'manage the risks' as you grow increasingly anxious?
_____________________________
Wonderful Peace
Coming to Jesus my
Savior I found
Wonderful peace
wonderful peace
Storms in their fury
may rage all around
I have peace sweet peace
Peace peace wonderful
peace
Peace peace glorious
peace
Since my redeemer has
ransomed my soul
I have peace sweet
peace
Peace like a river so
deep and so broad
Wonderful peace
wonderful peace
Resting my soul on the
bosom of God
I have peace sweet
peace
Haldor Lillenas
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