by David Brenneman
Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulations. He didn't refer to them as worries.
"Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or like a watch in the night." Psalm 90:2,90:4 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." Luke 12:25-31 NASB
Whether said aloud or kept to yourself to worry about life is to quite honestly not trust God. It's almost the opposite of faith in a way.
We do indeed live in perilous times. We do indeed. But it isn't a cause to find ourselves doubting God's love or provision for us.
Jesus says we have an Advocate before the Father in Heaven. Him. Our prayers ascend straight to Him through the Spirit. He presents them to His Father and Our Father.
We believe this or we don't.
I have made mention to many people that a worry is a prayer that never went anywhere. Give it a direction: UP!
Reread what Jesus said in Luke. Don't ever think for a moment that in your obedience to God's Word in your life that He would not remember you. It's never a case of Jesus thinking "Oh he or she is doing ok, I'll focus on so-and-so over there".
He never once takes His eyes off of us. Both when we do right and when we sin.
The early Church went through rough times, yet in and through their obedience God still provided.
When the people in King Hezekiah's day listened and were obedient, God provided many amazing things to help them live and worship.
Daniel and his friends were literally behind enemy lines and God still provided because of their obedience.
Reread what Moses said to the children of Israel. Both a blessing and a curse, depending on their obedience to Jesus.
Are things different than back then? Technology may make things appear differently but no its no different.
What to do...pray for wisdom in what you do. Know what God's plan is for you...and focus on doing it.
Philippians 4:9 NASB "As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Colossians 3:2 NASB "Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth."
These are what the early Church did that made them prosper in a time when others could not and did not.
Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
Oh what is really there with us that our eyes cannot see!!
Elisha prayed a prayer to address his servant's worry. 2 Kings 6:17 NASB "Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
We are easily deceived, both in sight and sound. CGI and other technologies fool us into believing what isn't really there.
Truthfully you cannot really know thst the news stories you watch aren't artificially generated. I saw a video years back complete with newscaster commentary, of an emergency landing of a passenger plane onto a California highway. It was insanely real. Yet only existed in the computer.
What does the Bible say?
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB "Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He will make your paths straight."
To worry is not just a sin, it's incredibly disrespectful to God. You are essentially telling God that He's not capable or sincere enough to handle what's in your life, that because He wasn't paying attention you're suffering.
We are indeed going to have rough days. Jesus forewarned us. We who are in Christ are no longer of this world. We have no land that is our land. We own nothing. God owns it all. We are considered aliens in a foreign country. Literally we are behind enemy lines. The god of this world would love nothing more than to see all who claimed the name of Jesus Christ to be gone so that he could rule unhindered.
What does the Bible also say?
James 5:16 NASB "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much."
Live your life with God's Word and you will find yourself in God's Will. His Will is your sanctification. To make you more like Christ. Not to make you prosperous or popular. Not to make you at all not dependent upon Him.
When worry is at your doorstep, tell it to go away. When things wrap around your mind, send them to the Throne of God. Even if it's a hundred times an hour.
Ephesians 5:19-21 NASB "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ."
Giving thanks for all things...all means all. We don't just thank God for what is appearing to go right, but thank God for even what appears to have gone wrong.
Appears because we don't know what God's seeing that we won't know in this life.
Your troubles just might be because He knows you can handle something that someone weaker in this world cannot.
We are also told to make the most of every opportunity. Make the most of your time for the days are evil. Waste isn't a part of the Christian life. We are children in a toy store at times, listening not to parents to control ourselves. Then something breaks and all the joy of the moment is gone.
Don't get ahead of God. Be patient and ask for His understanding and wisdom. He says in James 1:5 NASB "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.".
Confession is said to always be good for the soul. If you have been worried or are worrying, stop. It's time to be doing what God says to you to handle things.
It may include a leap of faith. It may mean big or small changes. Trust in the Lord with all your heart In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. All means all...no buts.
We often aren't thinking and cry out to God saying " But God you don't understand! You don't know!" Really? The one who created all things, who searches the hearts, who holds all things together, doesn't know or understand what's going on in your life?
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