NEVER WORRY ---- { Day 274 }

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Last week, I wrote about who we’d want to stand in front of our gate…about not letting fear in and keeping our eyes on Jesus.  http://sweetandsour365.blogspot.com/2014/09/who-do-you-want-standing-in-front-of.html This week...I’m writing about why God does not want us to worry.  I’m sensing a pattern here in my topics…which means God is really trying to get this in my head!

  

Lately, the news is downright scary.  I don’t know about you…but my brain does not understand the evil going on in our world.  The news is filled with it, my social media is a constant scroll of it, the kids are chatting about it in school hallways, and friends are discussing it.  It’s all over.  My heart rate increases, my blood pressure rises, and my anxiety level shoots through the roof. It can really wear me out physically and emotionally.  

“Look for God in it all” ~Lysa TerKeurst

 

AND God says, “Never worry about anything.”   He didn’t say, “Sometimes don’t worry.”  He said, “NEVER.”  That’s kind of a hard thing to swallow.  I mean really…there are evil people out there and I’m not supposed to worry- ever?” 

I started thinking about the word, “Worry.”  The definition of worry (according to Google) is “give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.” 

  

If I dwell on my worries…they grow – they increase and maximize in size.  Rick Warren says that “The battle is between your eyes.”  And God says that what I fill my mind with will determine how I live.  

“Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.”
~Phil. 4:8

  

How do I want to live?  In a constant state of worry?  AND if I refuse to “never worry about anything” – what does that say about me?  What does that say about my faith?  

Do I then not believe that God will meet my needs?  Do I then believe that God can’t handle my worries?  

"Worry is belief gone wrong. Because you don't believe that God will get it right.”
~Ann Voskamp

Ann’s quote really stops me…she says that worry is belief gone wrong because I don’t believe that God will get it right.  But I want to believe.

 

Grace.

Jesus says that worry is unnecessary because God will meet my needs.  I need to pray about it…drop it at His feet…and walk away from it.  Fill my head with gratitude for all the things He has blessed me with.  Be thankful! AND…ask God for His strength to move forward. 

Joshua 1:9 says, “This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go.”

I tell my kids that God goes before them, He is behind them and He has His hand upon them - all the time!  But I forget to tell myself that as well. 

There will be hard times in our lives…Jesus warned us of this.  But there is always something to be grateful for.  His grace is given to us.  He gave us His Son – I think… no I know… He will give us what we need.  

Go to Him…rest in Him…drop the worries…take on His yoke…be thankful…and look for His hand in...

e v e r y t h i n g!

“Your decisions will determine direction. Your direction will determine destination.” ~Lysa TerKeurst