February 16 – The Bankruptcy of Worry

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” – Matthew 6:27 (ESV)

“Don’t worry about it!” “I’m not worried, just anxious.” It seems we’re in for the worst of times and the best of times are gone forever. We know this isn’t true for we believe and trust Jesus for all outcomes. He promises we'll have all we need. To worry is like withdrawing money from a bankrupt account⸺we get nothing. Worry, anxiety are the same. We really can’t get away with "we’re only anxious, not really worried." Honesty will bring out the truth that anxiety is a cloak word. We might sometimes use “care” when we're really anxious for something to happen or be over with. “When I 'care' over some concern” Or “When I'm eager for my child’s safe arrival home might I also worry?” We might say ‘I care’ when we mean ‘I have some worry’. The Greek uses the same word for ‘care’, ‘worry’, and ‘anxiety’. Trusting God is better than caring, worrying, or being anxious. Trust the outcome to God and it’ll be what it’ll be according to His will. We won’t live an hour more by worrying over unknown outcomes. Today, when we sense worry building, let's trust in God's promises.

  

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February 15 – Anxious or Worried?

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” – Matthew 6:25 (NASB)

“These are the days of worry and fretting.” Is this true? Perhaps for many it is days of anxiety. If attention is given to “news” there is little reason to have confidence that all is well in our lives. We can’t begin to list all the “warnings” and “breaking news” flooding our broadcasts, newspapers, and online sources. Some translations use “anxious” as an alternative for “worry.” Our verse is much better understood in its larger context. “For this reason” indicates the connection with the preceding verses (Matthew 6:16-24). The connection between the preceding and the following passages, likely has this meaning: Since earthly treasures fail to satisfy, and setting the heart on them indicates forfeiting the enduring pleasures of heaven, the yearning for such earthly riches distorts our mental and moral vision,  And, because a choice must be made between God and Worldly wealth, we are warned to not continue setting our hearts on mundane earthly things, such as food and drink to live, or on clothes to be dressed. Our promise is that life and the value of life in God is greater than what is needed to sustain our life which God provides.

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November 11 – Searched and Cleansed

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” – Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)

After acknowledging and confessing God to be all and in all that is good and holy, David returns to his first request with an one more request. The words which the psalmist thought about as he composed this song finally spurs him to recognize that he needs the all-knowing, everywhere-present, and all-powerful God. We do too. None of us, just as David, can set our way right on our own. We need our perfect God, our all-knowing Lord to execute the search warrant within our lives. We need our all-powerful God to discover the anxious thoughts and the hurtful way we have within ourselves. God promises to make our paths straight and that is how he leads us in the everlasting way. We must trust in the Lord with all our heart. We must recognize the all-knowing God is the one we need acknowledge and we need to get rid of the thought that we can figure this out ourselves. We can’t. Searched and cleansed is what God promises as an outcome if this is what we are willing to submit to. Let’s do it today. Let’s do it tomorrow too and every day after that.   

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October 8 – What? We Worry?

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

Don’t worry! We hear and we say this so many times in our lives. “I can’t help but worry!” we say. Why do we? One word. CONTROL. We wish to control our world and we do not like somethings that come into our world. We want to be in control and that means everything and everyone around us. Spend a little time on social media and you’ll see how full it is of people spouting off their fix-it solutions. Here is what happens: We worry, no matter what it’s about, and we chase our peace of mind and heart out the door. “Scat!” is what we say to our peace. A better way is to follow verse 6 so we can enjoy the promise in verse 7. Simple and easy (when we rely on God) is the way. Next time refuse to think for even a moment that our worries have any effect on any outcome. Acknowledge that anxiety (worry) is powerless in the realm of fixing anything. If we do, we receive a promised peace that we will not understand and it will guard our hearts and minds against renewed anxious thoughts.

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December 12 – Feeble Hands, Shaky Knees

“Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” Isaiah 35: 3-4 (NASB)

We have looked in the past and considered the promise of our eternal source of encouragement and today's verse shows us a way we are encouraged. These words are interesting because they mention exhausted and feeble knees that give way. The ‘exhausted’ are those with slack hands not from lack of work but from much work the hands give out. The ‘feeble’ are those with tottering knees.  They have become worn out and need new energy.  But it is also clear that weak hands and shaky knees are caused by fearful hearts. So, what the Lord promises us is that He will come and He will strengthen our hearts so that we do not need to fear. When we trust him to help us not fear, that will make our hands and our knees strong. When we have needs like this in our lives our God is aware of them and He promises to come to help us. If we know that God will respond in this way, it encourages us to depend on Him and press on. He will supply whatever we need for whatever is ahead in our path.

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November 7 – Anxiety: Don’t OD on Worry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

This is a powerful passage and we have considered its promises before.. It’s is a good time to consider again the instruction that our God has given to us through the inspiration of His Spirit. We seem to be overdosing on anxiety these days. We find it expressed by nearly everyone.  Especially in the United States following the recent Presidential election. Results are up in the air and there is a pretty fierce battle going on. The end results will bring satisfaction to only about half of the American population.  The command is blatantly clear. Do not be anxious for any reason about anything at all. Instead, take the concerns you have to God in your prayers. And in your prayers, plead for what is good and Godly and be thankful God hears your prayers. Then what? Then, a peace that comes from God will stand guard over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Garding against the hate, bitterness, worry, and despair that may be filling your time. No, there is no explanation. This peace is beyond our understanding. But it is the Word of God and He promises this peace if we obey these instructions.  

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September 29 – Seek First Instead – How Not To Worry Part 6

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)

In our passage Jesus provides and alternative to worry and it really is not and optional alternative. If we certainly desire to be rid of worry and anxiety, we need to replace it with God’s way of righteousness. This is the Way of living Jesus taught throughout his time on Earth. As Jesus promises, he supply these needs and we will more clearly see that promise fulfilled if we choose through obedience to set our sights on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We know what that means, right? The Kingdom way is found in God’s inspired Scriptures. God will never let us go without supplying our needs but the pleasure, joy, and satisfaction of His provision is best seen without worry and with focus on the righteousness God calls us to. Being anxious about the future means we are borrowing pain and trouble from tomorrow. Trust in God for what we need today and when today is yesterday and tomorrow is today, we trust again in God for what we need. We have enough ‘cares’ from today to cast onto the Lord who cares about us. We’ll cast tomorrow’s cares on Him tomorrow. 

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September 28 – He Already Knows – How Not To Worry Part 5

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Matthew 6:31–32  (ESV) 

We have considered five posts with one more to go using Matthew 6:25–34 which contains at least six promises given by Jesus to help us fight against unbelief and be free from worry or anxiety. Today we see another promise and words of wisdom from Jesus. The worry about what we eat, drink and wear is unnecessary because it changes nothing. It is God who knows we have these needs just as every person in the world does. Jesus in this context reminds us that the Gentiles seek after all these things. Worry is a shared practice among all people. The Jews at Jesus’ time were very bigoted toward non-Jews and all non-Jews were unclean Gentiles. That included anyone who was not a Jew by birth or by conversion had become a Jew. The Jews followed the Mosaic Law and a multitude of additional traditions and laws. Jesus drawing the comparison that Jews and Gentiles are not so different when it comes to anxiety about essential things. God our heavenly Father knows our every need.  If He knows our need will he not make certain that those needs are met? (see Philippians 4:19)

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September 27 – Exercising Faith – How Not To Worry Part 4

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”  Matthew 6:28-30 (ESV)

Remember the popular song from the 1960’s?  “Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees…” We have considered the birds and how God provides for them.  We are encouraged to not worry about what we will eat because God certainly will provide for us.  Now it’s time to consider the flowers and learn from this example that worrying about our clothing and appearance is also unnecessary.  Why? Because God takes care of dressing the flowers like the lilies. Like the birds the flowers cannot work for what gives them their beauty for God dresses them in a more glorious array than King Solomon was ever dressed.  God has an abundant creative energy and care; he lavishes it on flowers that last only a matter of days. We are a much higher priority for God, because we eternally belong to Him. We can bring God eternal praise as his loved children.  We are assured that He will certainly take that same creative skill and use it to care for his children who will live forever. The question is: Will we believe this promise, and so put away anxiety?

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September 26 – It Accomplishes Nothing – How Not To Worry Part 3

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”  Matthew 6:27 (ESV)

Nobody can extend their life because they worried.  Why do we ever worry anyway?  What cranks up our general anxiety? Is it not one or more of the big questions?  What’s going to happen to me or my  life?  If we are ill or if another loved one is ill it might be; will they die? The number of questions like this all really come down to one. One very big one.  WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME?  This is really a simple promise of sorts — a straightforward  promise of reality that we can discover from multiple experiences during a lifetime. But we fail to live by it because worry wins.  This is the promise; Being anxious will simply not do you any good. That’s a promise. Failure to trust this promise is frequent.  Sometimes we just have to get tough with ourselves and say, “Soul, this fretting is absolutely useless. It’s worthless. It promises nothing. we are not only messing up your own day, but a lot of other people’s as well. Renounce it. Leave it with God. And get on with your work.”  Anxiety accomplishes nothing worthwhile. That’s a promise. Believe it. Act on it.

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September 24 – Things That are More Important – How Not to Worry Part 1

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

In the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 6 Jesus takes up specifically the problem of worry, or anxiety.  We will look at what Jesus gave us to address that problem. Jesus starts by confirming that our bodies and our lives are massively more complex and difficult to provide than food and clothing are. Yet God has, in fact, created our bodies and provided us with life then surely, we can be confident that He will be able and willing to provide us with food and clothing.  First, we affirm that our life which is sustained by the  food we live on is more significant than the food itself. And, the body we cover with clothing has greater value than the clothing itself. Additionally, no matter what happens to all who of us who in faith believing have receive Christ as Savior, God promises elsewhere that He will preserve our life and body for his eternal fellowship.  Eating and clothing are essentials which God will make sure we have and we do not have to worry over them when tested by trials.

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April 14 – God’s Consolations

“If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul”  Psalm 94:17-19  (NASB)

If we trust the promises God has given to us in the Bible, and we certainly can choose to do that, we will find help for the times of our lives that are packed with stress and cause anxiety or worry in our lives. This is the condition many in this world have been facing over the past few months.  Uncertainty is significantly up even with those who are making the decisions and plans of how to cope with a world in fear.  It may even be difficult to decide who of our world leaders and our country leaders to believe.  But we can put our trust in our God.  Without help from our LORD God, we would be at a loss for anything to say to each other.  We need to encourage those around us with our confidence that God’s mercy and love will sustain us and He will console our worried hearts.  He promises here, that He will replace our worry with delight because we know He is with us to hold us up now and forever.  Anxiety is a killer. God is our perfect remedy.  Trust Him. 

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March 19 - Trust Who We Know

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”  - Psalm 94:19 (NASB)

Anxiety and worry become our companions when the future is uncertain.  When our life is unsettled we ask what is going to happen?  The current disturbance in our lives has left the most powerful in this world stumbling around trying to find a way to manage the outcomes.  That is understandable, especially if we have put most of our security in what we know and what we have.  Our routine makes us comfortable perhaps and now we can not operate within any routine.  If we do not feel the need to avoid contact, our loved ones do and press us to use caution.  So many of our decisions these days are fueled by our uncertainty.  But we do know that, if we have trusted Jesus as our Savior that there is consolation available.  God promises consolations that will delight our soul even while our anxiety multiplies in our thoughts. Trust is the word and the action we need to replace our anxious thoughts.  Trust Who we know is faithful and Who promises to never desert us. God. He never fails his promises.

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February 5 - Unbelief Missile Defense

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”  -  Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

This is not the first or second or even third time we’ve looked at this promise from God.  But repetition is good for us.  Just as our Enemy seeks to devour and destroy, we know it is done repeatedly with anxiety.  We become disturbed with worry over matters that appear very important.  Our eyes shift from God’s promises to our concerns and doubt becomes a force we do not need.  So, we are reminded again, this time using the New Living Translation.  Notice the inclusion of ‘thank him’ in our verse.  One of the things we are thankful for when we tell God what we need are His promises.  The promises God has given to us are the ammunition in the artillery that is our unbelief missile defense. It is good for us to load up on our ammo so that we are ready and practiced when the attacks of worry and anxiety come at us.  In the next few days we will look at eight promises from God that He has given to us for our defense against various anxiety.  We are told here, “Don’t worry about anything;”  God’s promises enable us to abide by that instruction.     

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November 26 – Prayer Wrapped in Thanks

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

There are verses in God's Word that we find ourselves thinking about frequently and today's verse is one of those.  But we look at this familiar passage this week because of one very important word which is often overlooked when the verse is considered.  The verse reminds us about the importance of thanksgiving in prayer.  It is possible that many times we consider this verse as an instruction on how to not worry or be anxious but instead we are to pray about things that we might otherwise find our anxiety growing.  God does not want us to worry, fret, or be anxious.  So of course it encourage us to pray about such things. We notice that it very importantly encourages us to thank God. Our prayers and petitions are presented wrapped with our thanksgiving to God. We give our thanks because we know God hears and cares and will answer.  So let us never forget that when we pray we should also thank God for all His goodness and love for us.

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November 6 – Sufficient Grace and Mercy – Seven of Seven

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  - Matthew 6:34  (ESV)

It is the seventh promise of seven from the larger passage we have considered. Matthew 6:25-34  The passage instructs us to not be anxious for anything but especially not for our personal material needs.  Jesus tells us to seek not the supply of our those needs but to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. He promises to be the supply we need for all things. And then we have the instruction in today's verse.  Do not be anxious (worry or be concerned) about tomorrow.  How often when once we have dealt with today's challenges we begin to worry about tomorrow's challenges.  Tomorrow there are other challenges we do not need to take up today.  Here is the promise from Jesus: Today we have enough trouble to deal with.  And God always gives us enough grace and strength so that we can bear the trouble.  Each day also has all the mercies we need from God.  New mercies come each morning that are sufficient for that day's trouble.  Don't take them up today.  Let's face today with all the grace and mercy we need and God promises to be with us tomorrow to help us as well.  

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*Some of this content has been drawn from a series of articles from "Solid Joys" a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

October 31 – No Benefit At All – Three of Seven

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”  Matthew 6:27 (NASB)

This is a promise – a simple promise of reality –  that we discover through experience. Perhaps when we read this verse apart from  the larger context of verses 25-34 in Matthew chapter 6, we miss seeing the promise that is here.   God tells us through the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that choosing to be anxious simply does not do us any good.  Taking up worry as a way to deal with challenges or life in general results in ZERO gain.  That is a promise.  How many time in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, do we find the instruction to not fret.  What is fretting?  We don't use that word in our common speech so much anymore but it means to 'stew', 'sweat', 'agitate', 'lather' and 'worry.' None of these reaction are called for since we are trusting in God who provides all we need to eat, drink, and clothe ourselves.  If we choose to be anxious we are messing up our own day and life as well as a lot of other people's too.  Let's renounce it and leave it with God. 

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Some of this content has been drawn from a series of "Solid Joys" articles off the Internet.  Solid Joys are a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

October 29 – Promises One of Seven

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

These words from what we know as “The Sermon on the Mount” are part of a much longer passage.  There are at least seven promises* planned by Jesus to help us fight the good fight against doubt and unbelief and be free from anxiety.  Anxiety is another word for 'worry' which is something we face nearly every day of our lives.  Although in this verse Jesus is talking about our worry over food and clothing, His truth and promises relate to all things which we worry about.  Our anxiousness over our finances and housing and food and even clothing can become consuming.  So consuming that it leads some into mental anguish and illnesses.  Here God promises to provide for our bodies and our lives with all we need, even food and clothing.  And, no matter what happens, God has promised to preserve our life and that He will raise our bodies to enjoy fellowship in His eternal family. 

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*Some of this content has been drawn from a series of articles from "Solid Joys" a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

June 30 – No Need to Fear or Worry

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”   Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

It was through the Prophet Isaiah that God sent this promise to His people.  In the midst of warnings about what God was going to do to the unbelieving nations around Israel, he sends this encouragement that they did not need to fear or be anxious.  God would not be bringing the same judgment on His people.  This is a good promise for us to take hold of too.  When circumstances in our world and life become increasingly upsetting and disruptive we can cling to this promise that God is our God.  We do not need to be afraid of what is happening around us.  We do not need to be looking over our shoulder worrying about what might happen to us.  God  promises strength when and where we need it.  He promises to help us with full assurance.  In fact His promise is that He will be the One that holds us up and keeps us from falling.  We are helped by God's righteous right hand.  

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June 4 – Peace Beyond Comprehension

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

Our God in heaven wants us to look toward Him and to depend on Him for our needs.  Our promise today is a promise of peace that is beyond our understanding. No matter what our circumstances or needs we face we are called here to not be anxious about anything.  Now, this may be a difficult principal but we are told that for those things that we might be anxious for, we are to bring them to our God in prayer.  As we bring them we present both our petitions – or supplication, since that is a petition offered humbly for a need.  With the petition we offer our thanksgiving because we know that God, who has promised to hear,  is listening and He cares about us.  God will respond with His peace and that peace will guard our hearts and minds from being anxious.  God's offer of peace comes to us when we take our troubles, needs, and worries to him in prayer and when we cease to be anxious.  What is our concern today?  Let's bring it to God and let Him know and let's be thankful because we know He cares.    

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