worry

Wisdom for a Worry-free Life

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” – Luke 12:29-31 Jesus has a practical solution for worry. He instructs us to seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all will be delivered to us. I recently heard this great line by a pastor: “Why pray when you can worry.” We see the humor in this, don’t we? Many of us are hoping to get a break from our worries. However, we must acknowledge the unfortunate reality of the many concerns in the world today. Once we accept this, we can begin to change our viewpoint. We can set our sights in one direction: the Lord.  Jesus uses

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Go in One Direction

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “ – Matthew 6:31 I understand we face difficult situations in our lives, in our country, and globally. But, Jesus instructs us not to worry! Perhaps the doctor has given you a poor diagnosis for your child, your mom, your dad, or even yourself. Maybe you go into your prayer closet and you don’t sense God hearing or answering your request. Sometimes we feel anxious and start to battle old habits we thought we overcame. Any of these issues can feel so overwhelming and crushing. Jesus said not to worry about what we will eat, drink or wear. “For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.” —Matthew 6:32. Jesus does not just say “don’t worry,” but He gives us additional instructions: But

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Faith in the Small Things

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10 Do you like to fly? If you’re like a lot of people, you may not. I used to feel a fair share of apprehension when I would fly, even going so far as to put my hand on the little logo of the plane as I was walking through the door and saying a prayer. However, as the years have gone on and I have flown more frequently, I am not uptight like I once was.  I remember when I was on a flight some time ago, a lady sat down next to me. She had a totally dignified demeanor and she was flying from Orange County to Texas to meet her new grandbaby. She warned me from the start that

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The Norm of Being in Need

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 Did you know that the default in our culture is to be afraid and in need? It’s the norm to be hurried and to have a life characterized by worry; in fact, this is one of the ways people manage you. By playing into your fear and leaning into your lack, you can be controlled by those who promise to relieve it. If it’s with the next great product, book, or career opportunity, culture has made an art out of getting you to do what you’re supposed to do, whether it’s buying a product, pursuing an appearance, or working tirelessly at a job.  Because of society’s mentality of lack, it’s actually weird to say and believe that you

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Jesus Won the War

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:10-12 I believe that as Christians, you and I are in a war with the enemy. It’s imperative to acknowledge that we have an enemy and that he comes to steal and destroy. However, though it sounds contradictory, I don’t want you to be afraid of him because he’s a defeated foe. Don’t tune out teaching about your adversary, but on the other hand, don’t feel discouraged, oppressed or worried about his influence in your life. As a believer in Jesus Christ, baptized into His

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Fear Not

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.’” – Acts 18:9 Fear Not! Do Not Be Afraid! These commonly used Biblical commands always precede God doing something really great in a person’s life. For instance, every time an angel appears to one of the Lord’s chosen, whether Mary before becoming pregnant with Jesus or the Apostle Paul before surviving a shipwreck, He tells that person to not be afraid. Naturally, the presence of an angelic being, full of power and celestial glory, would be enough to make anyone tremble in fear, at least in the moment, but after the call of God is given, there is an even greater opportunity for worry to set in.   The world is full of obstacles and there are more opportunities for angst and anxiety than ever before. When Jesus calls us

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Your Life is Full; You Lack Nothing

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” – Psalm 23:1 In today’s worry-laden culture, many of us have shrinking worlds. Let me explain to you what I mean by that. Because we exist in a society that is laden with fear, we tend to see our life and its possibilities through a lens of scarcity; and a sense of lacking what we need. But what are we so afraid of? Many of us are in a kind of vortex of worry and we don’t even realize that we are. We are rushed, hurried and driven not by our true desires, but by our feelings of never having enough, whether it’s time, money, opportunities, friendship, or freedom. When we focus on everything we don’t have, our lives begin to lose its luster and dreaming becomes nearly impossible.  The fruit of this mentality of scarcity is that we become protective of

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Carried by His Currents

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8 We talked about how the winters in our lives provide us with force and strength the other day. Today, I want to remind you that a winter storm is always blown away by the wind, ushering in a new season. You can feel the Holy Spirit blowing through you as you grow in your connection with Jesus, just like the grass moves with the power of fresh breeze. As you become closer to Him, you’ll be able to hear His voice more clearly and understand where He’s taking you, but with the knowledge that He’ll be the one driving you. If you find yourself lying awake at night wondering what you should have done or

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Willpower Has No Effect on Worry

“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 6:33,34 Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about anxiety and how we may seek to reduce its impact on our lives. Today, I want to encourage you that winning the anxiety war is a natural outgrowth of pursuing God’s Kingdom above all else, not by your strength and determination. You will have a more serene existence if you prioritize Him in your life. When it comes to trying not to worry, willpower doesn’t work, and here is where many Christians become discouraged. Even if I tell you not to think of a purple elephant dressed in a tutu and wearing a sombrero, I guarantee you will. Why? Because even

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Facing Your Fears

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” – Psalm 46:1-3 When you hear the term worry, what comes to mind? Maybe you’re thinking about a circumstance or incident that makes you scared, or maybe you’re thinking about an upcoming appointment or meeting. Whatever it is, I want to share with you today that worry has nothing to do with a specific event or situation, but rather with the desire to avoid it. Worry is the result of our attempts to avoid unpleasant feelings or events. When we are injured or burned by someone or something, our bodies and minds have a natural protection mechanism, which is to build walls and promise

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