by David Brenneman
Luke 12:25-31 NASB "And which of you by worrying can add a day to his life’s span? Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things are what the nations of the world eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided to you."
Matthew 6:25-34 NASB “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Colossians 3:2-4 NASB "Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
Philippians 4:4 NASB "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"
Jeremiah 29:11 NASB "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Philippians 4:8 NASB "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Gee is it apparent what the Spirit says through God's Word concerning life?
We read in John this also:
"But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people, and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind." Chapter 2: verses 24-25.
We may indeed be going through more stress in this life due to things such as inflation or wars and rumors of wars. No surprise again that the Scriptures tell us those would be happening. Matthew 24.
We may also indeed be concerned about loved ones and our own lives in facing the day. Concerns are normal for a Believer, worry never should be. The Scriptures that God brought to me this morning on all of this barely scratch the surface.
Consider it also that after we come to Christ for salvation, a great work begins in us. A work that will not be thwarted by all the powers of Hell nor any other created thing. Our Sanctification in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NASB "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:10 NASB "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
We often get the misguided idea from the world to be all we can be, to pursue health, wealth and prosperity when that's not what the Bible teaches. That's not what we are promised. We get a new life, hidden in Christ Jesus, that He's working on in us to transform us into His likeness.
We can create stress because we keep fighting back at keeping things that the Spirit is urging us to let go of. Things that are not a part of God's plan for us.
We worry because of what our eyes see.
We worry because of what our ears hear.
We worry because of where our thoughts take us.
Rereading those passages and others we see that there's more going on in our lives than we know.
"My God is Still the Same" Sanctus Real
Just ask the waves
If they are stilled at the mention of His name
They'll say my God is still the same
Ask the walls
If they still fall at the mighty sound of praise
They'll say my God is still the same
When did He break His promise?
When did His kindness fail?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same
When did He lose His power?
When did His mercy change?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same, yeah
My God is still the same
Just ask the words
You prayed in desperation if they're heard
They'll say my God is still the same
Ask the grave
If it's strong enough to keep hope in it's chains
It'll say, "God is still the same"
Yeah
When did He break His promise?
When did His kindness fail?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same
When did He lose His power?
When did His mercy change?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same, yeah
Not once did He ever stop moving
Not once has He ever let go
Not once did He ever stop proving
Our God is in control
Not once did He ever stop moving
Not once has He ever let go
Not once did He ever stop proving
Our God is in control
When did He break His promise?
When did His kindness fail?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same
When did He lose His power?
When did His mercy change?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same, yeah
Not once did He ever stop moving
Not once has He ever let go
Not once did He ever stop proving
Our God is in control
Not once did He ever stop moving
Not once has He ever let go
Never has, never will
My God is still the same
(My God is still the same)
My God is still the same
Our thoughts and ideas about everything from careers to pursuits of things are changed when we come to Christ for salvation. We read many times in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 about being a part of the body of Christ. Of what we are to be doing. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4 about God's Will, our sanctification.
We indeed need to choose wisely in our lives concerning things such as eating and drinking. We ought indeed to consider our ways because we can cause our own anxiety because of comparing our lives with others. We are who WE are in Christ. Others are who THEY are in Christ. Each of us is an individual work of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus. Not a collective work with others.
We will ruin our lives if we don't consider what the Spirit says through God's Word.
Jesus knows what's best for you and I in regards to His purpose and plans for you and I. There's a good chance it is something that you may be interested in, it may possibly not.
Jesus's words remain the same: Trust Me. Live in obedience to My Words. I promised never to leave you nor forsake You. I have a greater plan for your life than you can imagine, but you need to let go of your ideas and embrace what I bring to the table. I cause all things to work together for good to those who love Me and are called according to My purpose.
Yes times might get difficult. Jesus's words remain the same.
Yes we may not see the outcome. Jesus's words remain the same.
Hebrews 13:8-9a NASB "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings;"
If Jesus hasn't changed, and the Spirit is still being the promised Helper who would teach us all things...and He hasn't changed...and none of the Father’s plans for us have changed...regardless of Satan's attempts or his requests to do so...then consider whether or not you are stressing over yourself because you are wanting to pursue what isn't God’s plans for you.
Circle back to Colossians 3 again. Set your mind on things above. Worry is a prayer with no direction. Take such things to Jesus to deal with.
Don't behave as if life's challenges and circumstances are a surprise to Jesus and that He's not prepared or planned for them.
There is no better place to be than in the center of God's Will for you. When there, as we read time and time again in the Bible, nobody ever failed to live in life.
We are told to bear one another's burdens. Sharing a burden isn't worrying. It's doing as we are told so that prayers might be offered up on behalf of one another.
Rethink your life if stress and worry are knocking at your door. Where are you looking for your life's direction? If you aren't looking to Jesus you're looking the wrong way.
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