Worry

Good Morning,

Matthew 6:25, 27, 31, 24 (NIV)
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.
27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Because of the times in which we now live and because of the situations that have come to bear in our lives, many of us have gone back to that old saw, worry. If we listen closely to the prayer requests and to people talking about what is going on in their lives right now, we see that things are, to say the least, bothersome...and, at times, even terrible. More often than not, these conditions that we find ourselves in are not of our own doing, but because of the greed that has been allowed to run rampant through not just our country, but the entire world. The point here being that predicaments that people are in are exactly what is necessary to bring on that terrible emotion...worry.

Jesus was clear in His teaching about worry, I think. In just 10 verses of Scripture, Matthew 6:25:25-34, Jesus tells us three times, "Do not worry..." and He also adds the question, "Who of you by worrying can add a single your to his life?", which I take to mean something like, "Who can change things by worrying?" So, we see clearly, that Jesus taught us, to put just as simply as He did, "Do not worry!"

Yes, we've spoken about this subject many times in the past, and we'll probably touch on it many more times in the future. But there are those of us who need to be reminded of these verses and there are others who've not had the opportunity to read all the messages God has given us about worry and worrying, so I guess it's timely that the Lord has led us here today to learn, once again, from Him.

Worry is 100% a waste of time and energy. I'll reiterate what studies have shown: Ninety percent of everything we worry about will never happen, so worry is a waste. The other ten percent, well, we can't do anything about anyway, so worry is wasted here, as well. You see, nothing good comes out of worry, but only bad. When we worry, we lose sleep. When we worry, we are unpleasant to be around. When we worry, we are unable to see the good things happening around us. When we worry, we argue about almost everything...and NOT just those things we're worrying over. When we worry, we don't get done the simple things of life that we know we ought to be doing. When we worry, our bodies react by almost shutting down to any kind of activities. When we worry, we are tired, irritable, and, well, just downright unpleasant.

I'm sending this message along today because it seems in my heart and mind that God wants us to revisit these verses of Scripture and more fully understand what Jesus was teaching us. I know that this particular message, and even many of these words, are a bit redundant. But, you know what? Sometimes it's good to be somewhat redundant, just in case there is even one person out there who needs to hear what God has to say.

Please, if worry is overtaking your life, give it to God and do all you can to rid yourself of this terrible emotion. Surround yourself with friends and Christian brothers and sisters. Don't be afraid of talking openly about whatever situation you might find yourself and don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Most importantly, pray...talk to God...bear your heart and mind and soul to Him...ask Him to come and give you comfort and peace, the comfort and peace than can ONLY come from God.

Let us all remember one another, and even all the world, in our prayers during these most disturbing and difficult times.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David