Worry Doesn’t Solve Anything

In review of Matthew 6:25 it says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV)

Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells me not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry can damage my health, disrupt my productivity, negatively affect the way I treat others, and reduce my ability to trust in God. There is a difference between worry and genuine concern. Worry immobilizes me, but concern will move me to action.

Worry is essentially a control issue. It’s trying to control the uncontrollable. I can’t control the economy, so I worry about it. I can’t control my children and grandchildren, so I worry about them. I can’t control the future, so I worry about it. But worry never solves anything! It’s stewing without doing anything.

Jesus gives me four reasons I don’t need to worry in his Sermon on the Mount.

1. Worry is unreasonable.

Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV).

Jesus is saying, if it’s not going to last, don’t worry about it. To worry about something I can change is foolish. To worry about something I can’t change is useless. Either way, it’s unreasonable to worry.

2. Worrying is unnatural.

Jesus gives us an illustration from nature in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (NIV).

There’s only one thing in all of God’s creation that worries: human beings. We’re the only things God has created that don’t trust him, and God says this is unnatural.

3. Worry is unhelpful.

It doesn’t change anything. Matthew 6:27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV). When I worry about a problem, it doesn’t bring me one inch closer to the solution. It’s like sitting in a rocking chair, a lot of activity, energy, and motion, but no progress. Worry doesn’t change anything except me. It makes me miserable!

4. Worry is unnecessary.

Matthew 6:30 says, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (NIV). If I trust in God, I don’t need to worry. Why? Because he has promised to take care of all my needs: “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

This includes my bills, relational conflicts, dreams, goals, ambitions, and health issues that I don’t know what to do with. God will meet all my needs in Christ.

So don’t worry about it!

In summary, I should not worry about my life. Life is more than material things I think I need. I shouldn't worry about the things that God promises to supply. Worry can only damage my health, disrupt my productivity, negatively affect the way I treat others and reduce my ability to trust in God. Worry will immobilize me, but concern will move me to action. Worry is essentially a control issue, with me trying to control the uncontrollable. Worry will never solve anything. It's much like stewing without doing. Jesus tells me that worry is unreasonable as it's not going to last, so don't worry about it.  It's unnatural and we are the only living things that God created that don't trust him. Worry is unhelpful, it won't change anything. Lastly is unnecessary. If I trust in God, I don't need to worry. He has promised to take care of all of my needs. So today don't worry about it. God will meet all of my needs in Christ.

As I reviewed this today, my first thoughts are that “I don’t worry”.  However, I have allowed situations to affect my health, disrupt my productivity, and negatively affect the way I treat others. This is illustrating that perhaps I’m not really trusting in God to provide. Father this morning I pray that with the help of your Holy Spirit that I will not let things stew up inside me, which is on par with worrying. Give me the insight to hear from you when I start to do this, and to turn to and trust in you. I also pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Four Reasons to Keep Praying for an Answer

In review of Ephesians 6:18 this morning, I'm reminded to “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (NLT)

How can I pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers my habitual response to every situation I meet throughout the day. Another way is to order my life around God's desires and teachings so that my very life becomes a prayer. I don't have to isolate myself from others and daily work in order to pray constantly. I can make prayer my life and my life a prayer while living in a world that needs God's powerful influence. I should also pray for all believers in Christ; so pray for the Christians I know and for the church around the world. 

Why should I be persistent in my prayers, like Ephesians 6:18 says, even when I don’t get an answer? There are four reasons.

1). Persistent prayer focuses my attention.

When I pray for something repeatedly, it’s not to remind God. He doesn’t need to be reminded! It’s to remind myself who the source of my answer and all my needs is. If every prayer I ever prayed were instantly answered, two things would be true. First, prayer would become a weapon of destruction in my life. Second, I’d never think about God because he would become a vending machine. If every time I prayed I instantly got results, all I’d think about is the blessing. God wants me to think about the Blesser.

2). Persistent prayer clarifies my request.

A delayed answer gives me time to clarify exactly what I want and to refine my prayers. When I pray persistently to my heavenly Father, it separates deep longings from mere whims. It says, “God, I really care about this.” It’s not that God doesn’t want to answer my prayers. He does. It’s just that he wants me to be certain of what I really want.

3). Persistent prayer tests my faith.

James 1:3-4 says, “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (NLT). The only way I can grow to spiritual maturity is to have my faith tested. One of the ways God’s going to test my faith is by delaying some answers to my prayers.

4). Persistent prayer prepares my heart for the answer.

When I make a request of God, God almost always wants to answer in a better way than I’ve prayed. Sometimes God denies my prayer requests because I’m thinking and asking too small. He wants to give me something bigger! But first, he has to prepare me for it. So God uses delays in answering prayer to help me grow, get ready, and prepare for a bigger and better answer.

Remember, “God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20 NCV).

In summary, Pray in the Spirit at all times. Stay alert and be persistent in my prayers. Learn to make quick, brief prayers my habitual response to every situation I meet throughout the day. Order my life around God's desires and teachings so that my very life becomes a prayer. Make prayer my life and my life a prayer. Pray for all believers in Christ. Be persistent in my prayers because; 1) It focuses my attention. It's not to remind God, but rather to remind myself who the source of my answer and all my needs is. 2). It clarifies my request. A delayed answer gives me time to clarify exactly what I want and to refine my prayers. It separates deep longings from mere whims. He wants me to be certain of what I really need. 3). It tests my faith. When my faith is tested, my endurance has a chance to grow. The only way I can grow to spiritual maturity is to have my faith tested. One of the ways God's going to test my faith is by delaying some answers. 4). It prepares my heart for the answer. God almost always wants to answer in a better way than I've prayed. Sometimes God denies my prayer requests because I'm thinking and asking too small. God uses delays in answering prayer to help me grow, get ready, and prepare me for a bigger and better answer. 

Father, I thank you this morning for the reminder of persistence in prayer on my part. My persistence helps me focus my attention, clarify what I’m asking for, helps to test my faith and ultimately prepares my heart. I pray that through the help of the Holy Spirit that I remember to pray in the moment. I ask you also today for wisdom and guidance for my work tasks, my leadership and my interaction with others. May what I do, be pleasing to you and in your will. These things I ask through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

What Am I Allowing To Control Me?

In review of Romans 6:12-13 it says,  “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” (NLT)

To keep from letting sin control the way I live and to not give into its desires, I should: (1) Identify my personal weaknesses, (2) recognize the things that tempt me, (3) stay away from the sources of temptation, (4) practice self-restraint, (5) consciously invest my time in good habits and service, and (6) lean on God's strength and grace. Paul used the word instrument, referring to a tool or a weapon. My skills, capabilities, and body can serve many purposes, good or bad. In sin, every part of my body is vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service. It is to the one whom I offer my service that makes the difference. I should give myself completely to God, and ask him to put me to good use for his glory.

Every day I am controlled by something. I may be controlled by my own ego or by the expectations of others. I may be controlled by fear, guilt, resentment, or bitterness. I may be controlled by a substance or a habit. The bottom line is I am controlled by something every day.

Freedom will come when I choose what’s going to control me. When I choose Jesus Christ to be in control of my life, when I am mastered by the Master, I can master everything else. If God is not number one in my life, something else is, and it’ll control me to a negative degree. When Christ is in control of my life, he always moves me in the right direction.

Giving control over to Christ is a choice. Here are some steps to help this:

. Admit that I’ve been trying to play God.

. Admit that I can’t change on my own.

. Humbly ask God to help me change.

. Be honest with someone else about the things that need to change in my life.

. Give Jesus Christ total ownership of my life.

Stop trying and start trusting. God gives me the option to either depend on him or depend on myself. The result is either freedom or frustration.

Why not give it all to Christ? What do I have to lose?

In summary, do not let sin control the way I live and do not give in to sinful desires. Don't let my body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Rather give myself completely to God. Use my body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Ask him to put me to good use for his glory. Every day I'm controlled by something. Freedom will come when I choose what's going to control me. When I choose Jesus to be in control, I can master everything. If God isn't number one, then something else is. With Christ in control, he'll move me in the right direction. Giving Christ control is a choice. So I need to admit that I've been trying to control things on my own and that I can't change on my own. Humbly ask God to help change me. Give Jesus total ownership of my life. God gives me the option to depend on him or depend on myself. The result is either freedom or frustration. So why not give it to him?

I thank you Father for this perspective today. It is difficult for me to give over everything. I pray through the help of the Holy Spirit that I turn it all over to you and allow myself to be used for your purposes. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work tasks, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

When God Doesn’t Immediately Answer, Remember This

In review of Psalm 130:5 this morning, I read “I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.” (TLB)

When I feel overwhelmed by a problem, feeling sorry for myself will only increase feelings of hopelessness; but crying out to God will turn my attention to the only One who can really help. I need to remember that God is holding nothing against me. His lines of communication are completely open.

God wants me to wait patiently for him to answer my prayer, but he also wants me to wait expectantly. Have faith. Trust God to hear and to answer. When I wait expectantly, I show God that I believe his promises. I believe he’s going to keep his word.

At times I feel bewildered. Bewildered about my career: “Do I go up, down, or change jobs?” Bewildered about relationships. I may feel powerless and hopeless, like I can’t do anything to change my situation on my own.

God’s Word tells me to not be discouraged! To not give up! Rather Look up. Turn to prayer. There will be times with requests in my life that when I pray may never be answered. I may never know why God hasn’t chosen to answer that prayer. But I can decide this: Whether or not God ever answers that prayer, I am going to die believing his promises. Because God is a good God, and he knows what’s best, even when I don’t understand it.

When God doesn’t answer my prayers, I need to remember a couple very important truths: 

First, God is in control, and I’m not. He knows better what I need than I do. There is no mountain too tall that he can’t move it. There is no problem so big that he can’t solve it. There is no sorrow too deep; he cannot soothe it. God is in control, and he has a plan.

Secondly, I need to remember that, whether or not I ever receive my answer, God will honor my patience, if not here in this world, then in eternity.

So I need to learn to wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised he will.

In summary, I need to wait expectantly, trusting in God to help, for he has promised he will. When I feel overwhelmed, feeling sorry for myself will only increase my hopelessness, but crying out to God will turn my attention to the only One who can help. God wants me to learn to wait patiently and expectantly for him to answer. So have faith and trust God to hear and to answer. There will be times when my requests may seem to go unanswered. I may never know why, but I can decide that I'm going to die believing in his promises. God is good and knows what's best for me. When God doesn't answer, I need to remember that he is in control and I am not. He knows better what I need than I do. He has a plan. Secondly, whether or not I receive my answer, God will honor my patience, if not here, then in eternity. So I need to learn to wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised he will.

In the last two years, I have experienced more areas that have caused me to wait patiently for an answer. I do see things changing and not always the way that I would like to see them go. I have been doing my best to trust that God knows what’s best and that he is using the experiences to build my character and faith. I also believe that he will use these in my life for his purposes. Father I pray that with the help of your Holy Spirit that I am reminded to go to you and not feel sorry for myself. Know that you are in control and that you will honor my patience. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen.

What to Do While I Wait for an Answer

In review of Psalm 37:7 (NLT) I read to, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.”

In Psalm 37, David calls me to take delight in the Lord and to commit everything I have and do to him. This means I experience great pleasure and joy in his presence and doing what I do for him. Everyday I strive to know him better and to be faithful in my relationship with him. I need to be willing to wait patiently for him to work out what is best for me.

So what does God want me to do while I’m waiting on an answer to my prayer? According to this verse, God wants me to wait patiently for him to answer.

Yet, like a little 2-year-old, I get the spiritual wiggles while I’m waiting for God to answer a prayer. I get nervous and restless. I want to jump up and do something. But God says, “Wait patiently. Be still. Watch me act. Don’t get restless, don’t get nervous, and don’t try to take matters into your own hands.”

And, don’t ever make Abraham’s mistake in the Old Testament of trying to be the answer to my own prayer. It will cause all kinds of problems! One day God told Abraham that he was going to make him the father of a great nation. There were only two problems: Abraham was 99 years old, and he was childless. Abraham looked at his own body and said, “I don’t think so, God!” And he looked at his wife Sarah, who was infertile, and said, “Double no way! It ain’t gonna happen.”

So Abraham took matters into his own hands and had a baby with his wife’s maid, Hagar. Abraham said, “Here’s my answer to prayer! I’ve got a son at 99. His name is Ishmael.” God said, “No, no. You missed the point. That’s not my answer to prayer. That’s your own answer to prayer. I’ve got a miracle boy who’s coming, and Sarah’s going to be the mom. You’re going to name him Isaac.” Isaac means “laughter.” When Sarah was told that she was going to be pregnant, the Bible says she laughed because she didn’t believe God.

But God had the last laugh. Isaac was born, and it started an intense rivalry between him and Ishmael that we’re still paying for today. The tense relationship between Jews and Arabs all began because Abraham tried to answer his own prayer request.

Whenever I try to answer my own prayer, I’m asking for trouble. Instead, wait patiently, and watch God act.

In summary, be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. I need to be willing to wait patiently for him to work out what is best for me. Unfortunately I get the spiritual wiggles while I'm waiting for God to answer. I want to jump up and do something. However God tells me to "wait patiently, to be still, watch him act, don't get restless, don't get nervous, and don't try to take matters into my own hands. Like Abraham, who took matters into his own hands, I'm only asking for trouble when I try to answer my own prayers. Instead, I need to learn and practice patience and watch God act.

I know that waiting on God will always be a tough thing. I’m always wanting things on my own terms and my own timing. I pray this morning Father that I remember your promises whenever I get antsy and that I wait on you to act. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things in your Son Jesus name, Amen.