WORRY SHOULD NOT COEXIST WITH FAITH IN THE MINDS OF BELIEVERS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
(Philippians 4:6)

MEDITATION:
Satan wants us to believe that we cannot help worrying about things.
He wants us to think it is just part of who we are, and that if we fail to worry
then it is an indication that we don’t care about others.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Does our Creator want us worrying?”

Of course the answer to that question is a resounding, “No!”
In His Word, He tells us to forsake worrying.
The absence of worrying does not mean the absence of care and concern.
When we choose not to worry,
it is an expression of our faith in the Lord and His provisions for us..

Have you ever noticed that many times the scriptures not only tell us what to
avoid, but they also provide us with something else to focus on as a replacement.
When it comes to being anxious, we are given specific instructions
about what we should do instead of worrying.

We shouldn’t have a list of things we choose to worry about.
The scriptures tell us, “do not be anxious about anything”.
When worry starts to creep into our minds,
according to God’s Word we should pray instead.

Not only should we offer up our requests and concerns to the Lord,
but we should also pray with thanksgiving.
We should be thankful for what He has done in our lives,
what He is doing in our lives, and what He will do in our lives going forward.

One survey found that 90% of the things we worry about never happen,
and the other 10% could not be changed by worrying.
The best thing we can say about worry, is it is useless;
the worst thing we can say about worry is, it dishonors God.

There two specific things we should not worry about:
– the things we cannot do anything about.
– the things we can do something about.

Why does the Bible tell us not to worry?
Because it shows a lack of our faith that God is in control.
If we love Him as we should, then we should remember
how much He cares about us, and find comfort in knowing that He is in control.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

It is a contradiction to say, “Lord I trust you” and yet spend time worrying.
When we acknowledge the magnificence of His power, then we can say like Paul,
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

ACTION:
Do you ever spend time worrying?
We all have concerns and may experience brief periods of worry, but God’s Word
is encouraging us to prevent worry from becoming a permanent part of our lives.
It is also emphasizing the importance of prayer.

Too often we get caught up in the circumstances and fail to pray.
Prayer should be our first choice and not our second one,
or something we decide to do when all else fails.
Prayer is a gift the Lord has given us which we can open over and over again

In Hebrews we are reminded of the importance of faith,
which is the opposite of worry.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes
to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly
seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to replace my worries with a renewed and
deeper faith in You. Teach me how to turn to You whenever worry starts
to infiltrate my mind. I know that when I turn away from worry and turn
to You instead, my life will become more peaceful and full of joy. Thank
You Lord for all You have done, and for how You care about my welfare.
It is comforting to know that You want what is best for me.”

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