Thought fo the day
Overcoming Worry (part 1)
I heard about a ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home who received a visit from one of her fellow church members. The visitor asked her, "How are you feeling?"She said, "I'm worried sick!"Her friend said, "What are you worried about? You look like you're in good health. They're taking good care of you, aren't they?"She said, "Yes, they are taking very good care of me.""Well, then, what are you worried about?"
The elderly lady leaned back in her rocking chair and said, "Every close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I'm afraid they're all wondering where I went!
"My guess is that most of you haven't started worrying about that yet, but my guess is that there's something in your life that worries you. Maybe some of you are worrying about school. Maybe you're worried about upcoming exams and papers that are due.
Or maybe you worry about financial matters (Is the stock market going to crash? What if I reach retirement age and I don't have enough saved up? Or maybe even, Can I afford to fill up my car with gas this month?). Maybe you worry about your job (What if I get laid off? What if I don't get the promotion I'm counting on?).
Maybe you worry about health issues. Maybe you worry about computer viruses or the possibility of being audited by the taxman or the embarrassment of having a credit card declined in public. Maybe you worry about how your kids are gonna turn out. I think it's safe to say that worry is one of those problems that we all struggle with from time to time, whether we want to admit it or not.
What is worry? The Greek word comes from two root words meaning "divided" and "mind". In other words, a person who worries suffers from a divided mind. In Luke 10, Jesus used this word to describe a good friend of his. When Martha asked Jesus to rebuke her sister for not helping with the dinner dishes, Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
Jesus is saying, "Martha, you're trying to do too many things at once. Focus on one thing." We do the same thing -- we keep one eye on God and another eye on the problems we're facing, one eye on God and one eye on all the material things we want to collect.
Now, of course, we're not the first people to experience stress and anxiety. Anxiety has been around for a long time. And in Jesus' day, folks worried just as much we do. They had to deal with the problems of paying their bills, feeding their families, pleasing their employers, raising their children, paying their taxes and saving for the future just like we do.
So what did Jesus say to help them deal with the pressures of life? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deals honestly with the problem of worrying. "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25)
In the next daily mail, we'll look at several reasons Jesus gives as to why his followers shouldn't worry and, perhaps more importantly, how we can stop worrying.(to be continued)
Verses
1 Peter 5:7
Casting the whole of your care -- all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all -- on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.
Matthew 8:17
that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, `Himself took our infirmities, and the sicknesses he did bear.'
Matthew 5:44
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Isaiah 41:17
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Philippians 4:19
And God, my God, shall fill up the measure of all your need, with an abundance limited only by His own riches, shall supply it by His glorious presence in the person of Messiah Jesus.
Prayer
Father, we want to live above the fray of this world as a people of righteousness set apart for Your purpose. We forsake the things of this world that bring disgrace to Your holy name and live for the purpose of bringing glory, honor and praise to You, our Father. We pray for our nation, for the turning away from our sins and turning toward the abundant life we find in Christ our Lord. You’ve called us to repentance and to share the good news of salvation to all who are lost. Help us to seek a fresh calling upon our lives to be obedient in this commission from Scripture. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment