In the last year, my family has had much to worry about. My wife wasn’t called back to her full-time teaching position (we counted on her income to help cover household expenses), my son was having recurring chest pain that we thought was due to an enlarged heart, our insurance was running out and an alternative plan was going to be more than we could afford, and—if that wasn’t enough—I changed jobs. At some point these concerns turned into worry and we let them consume us. We desperately needed the wisdom Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6.
That section begins with Him commanding His followers to stop worrying and scurrying in different directions (Matthew 6:25). He went on to give His followers four reasons why they shouldn’t worry:
Life is more than food, drink, and clothing (Matthew 6:25). Jesus understood that these are necessities in life, but they aren’t the most important things in life.
God cares for His children (Matthew 6:26). If He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers with beautiful color, how much more does God care for those created in His image?
Worrying doesn’t accomplish anything (Matthew 6:27). Jesus said that worrying doesn’t add anything useful to the worrier’s day; it’s actually a life-draining endeavor.
Worrying is godless (Matthew 6:32). Those who don’t know God depend on material possessions, and they allow things to rule their lives. Jesus wants His disciples to live with the assurance that His heavenly Father is in complete control.
Let’s focus on what God cares about, and then He will take care of what we worry about (Matthew 6:33). This means pursuing His rule and supremacy in our lives with all we have. When we do that, He will take care of our needs.
More:
• Philippians 4:6-8
• 1 Peter 5:7
Next:
What worries or anxieties do you need to cast on God? How can you turn your worry into a prayer request today?
AManofGod on December 27, 2010 at 1:13 am
I had a pastor tell me years ago that if you are going to pray you need not worry and if you are going to worry you need not pray. God knows all of our needs and wants and we can’t add one moment to our lives by worrying….yet most of us still persist in worrying. God knows all that we can bear and will never give us more than we can handle…..so I amaze myself when I persist in worrying instead of falling on my knees and praying.
Lets al rely more on God and less on worrying……I pray that this is something we all as Christians will focus on in our futures.
AManofGod
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 11:31 am
AManofGod, you are spot on with prayer and worry. The two just cannot coexist in the same space of the heart. Thanks for your words of wisdom. I will trust God more in this next year.
Geraint Davies on December 27, 2010 at 5:28 am
Thank you for todays thought Marvin and your comment AManofGod, I am a born worrier and need to be constantly reminded to let go of my fears and let God take control
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 11:33 am
It is a daily practice and discipline. Let’s keep encouraging one another to trust God.
cspevacek on December 27, 2010 at 5:44 am
Marvin thanks for todays thought and AManofGod your comment is helpful too. This year I am going to reread, “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Dr. Peale and focus more on God and less on what is out of my control. Bless you all.
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 11:40 am
Here is another suggestion, cspevacek. Commit to memory the verses in the Bible dealing with worry and trusting God. I would start with the Matthew 6 passage referenced in today’s devotion. Philippians 4:4-7. It is the word that develops faith.
Soldier4Christ on December 27, 2010 at 8:46 am
God spoke to me about this just this past month, He said to me, ” just trust me.”
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I Like that – “just trust me.” For me that is easier said than done. I am learning to do this daily. Thanks for sharing with this community how God spoke to you. It is encouraging to all of us.
GrowinginChrist on December 27, 2010 at 9:01 am
Thank you Marvin. AManofGod, my pastor has told our congregation the same thing about praying and worrying. I also heard somewhere about worrying and meditation. If you can worry, you can also meditate. Meditate on the word of God, on the good things, on the goodness of God. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God is one of my all time favorite verses. I must admit that there are times that I have to repeat it out loud it seems a thousand times a day.
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I think repeating the word aloud to yourself is a great practice. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
KrisB on December 27, 2010 at 9:20 am
Fantastic word today and right on time. My pastor asked us to right down our strategy for 2011. I honestly was worried I couldn’t come up with one because I spent most of 2010 trying to figure out what God wanted me to do.
My strategy is not to worry about anything in 2011, trust God that his plan for my life is good, and make it a point meditate on his Word daily.
Miss a day and you miss a lot. I try now to read my bible daily but it’s always that day I miss when my thoughts can change my perspective. I start worrying and such.
Anyway thanks Marvin, AManofGod, Soldier4Christ, and GrowinginChrist. Your words were right on time for me. All such lovely reminders.
marvin williams on December 27, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Psalm 1 immediately came to mind when I read your reply. It is during our meditation on the word that God anchors us, so that when life hits us hard, we won’t crumble underneath the pressure. Thanks for adding your voice to the conversation.
Daren on December 27, 2010 at 10:38 am
As humans we are going to naturally worry. It is up to us to ask God to help us (I know easier said than done in not worrying) to overcome our unknown fear. I have lost a job and have days where all I could think about was why can’t I found a job. Then I just said God, its in Your hands and He has taken care of all of our needs.
daisymarygoldr on December 27, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I agree, it is human to worry about our health, hunger and home needs but it becomes easier for believers because we have the privilege to cast all our worries upon God in prayer.
Jesus notes that the pagans worry about food, clothing and shelter but His disciples need not worry because their heavenly Father already knows and meets their needs. They were told to instead seek eternal things—God’s Kingdom.
The main purpose of Christ’s first coming was to preach the Kingdom of God (Luke 4: 43). And that should also be our priority. For disciples, worry is equivalent to unbelief. Many missed the first coming of the Messiah because they were preoccupied with earthly concerns to seek after temporal things.
This being said and done, I must admit it is becoming increasingly difficult for me and my family to live as disciples in a society that lives to be entertained and embraces freedom to do as we choose in order to satisfy our pleasures. To amass material abundance and achieve financial security so we can live in material comfort seems to be the one overriding purpose of chasing the American dream.
However, it is because we know that God feeds the fowls, clothes the flowers, and faithfully meets all our needs we must also be faithful to set our eyes on eternal things and seek His Kingdom. Thank you Marvin, for this timely post that helps us to realign our priorities regarding winning over worry even as we prepare to wrap up another whole year!
purestrength on December 27, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Last year the Lord told me if I have time to worry I have time to worship. So when I begin to worry about something I just start singing – aloud or in my head – praises to our King. He is amazing!! and Oh how He loves us.
I have also found that thanking Him for what we have helps me to focus on His goodness and grace. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
sowharvest on December 27, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Marvin Thank you for the timely message and I mean timely. My family too has experience so much lack and lost this past year. Yet here we sit alive, healthly and loved. Knowing all this– this morning I awoke to a heavy heart and all the concerns and problems would not let me rest. At one point it was difficult to just breath. I felt like all my disappointments left me broken. I began to call on his name “JESUS just come”. My struggles and feelings are still weighing heavy yet your word was encouraging. Thank you again Marvin. I pray that I will release this heaviness and continue to Thank HIM for all that HE has bought us through. We get a clean slate every morning.. THanks be to GOD.