Worry has a deep hold on us today because of our failure to see it as sin. We pass off our worry as concern and therefore entertain it as a Christian virtue, however, the bible indicates otherwise. Concern in itself is caring about someone or something - worry is fretting about things to the point of unrest or anxiety.
Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
Do Not Worry
25"Therefore 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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) People of his day could be free from worry if they chose to trust God to make them able; followers today have that same priviledge.
Psalm 37: 1-8
1 [a] Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
This Psalm tells us not to worry, but to trust. We are to turn from the evil of fretting to the good of trusting God.
Can I challenge you: if this is an area (like me) you have struggled in, write down the worry/anxiety you carry today. Confess each one to God and thank him for helping you to overcome the sin of worry and each time you find yourself taking that worry back - place it back in Jesus' hands.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
Do Not Worry
25"Therefore 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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) People of his day could be free from worry if they chose to trust God to make them able; followers today have that same priviledge.
Psalm 37: 1-8
1 [a] Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
This Psalm tells us not to worry, but to trust. We are to turn from the evil of fretting to the good of trusting God.
Can I challenge you: if this is an area (like me) you have struggled in, write down the worry/anxiety you carry today. Confess each one to God and thank him for helping you to overcome the sin of worry and each time you find yourself taking that worry back - place it back in Jesus' hands.
GOD BLESS YOU!
