Worry: August 10, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY AUGUST 10, 2009

WORRY

Defined by Webster:

Cause to feel anxious; harass; bother; fret; anxiety; trouble.

GODS WORD

Therefore I say unto 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 important than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” Matthew 6:31.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

When Jesus was on this earth the scripture tells us that He went up onto the mountain and the crowds followed Him and that is where He gave what we call today the “Sermon on the Mount.” He began with the beatitudes. You can read these in Matthew chapter five. In Chapter six, Jesus instructs us on why we should not worry.

Just as today, many people listening to Jesus had reasons that they believed were valid reasons to worry. But Jesus started out His comments on worry by saying not to worry about one’s life. He said not to worry about food, drink, and clothing or about tomorrow.

These words are very relative for today. Doctors tell us that worry is an underlying cause of many illnesses, in fact more than 60% of illnesses relate to worry. It is also a known fact that worry leads to emotional turmoil in family relationships. People also worry about major items that more than often will never happen. WORRY IS THE INTEREST YOU PAY ON BORROWED TROUBLE. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus says to us, “Who of you by worrying can add a simple hour to his life?”

Why do people today worry so much? Possibly one reason is that they do not have confidence in what they are doing. People are also concerned about being questioned about a past issue or action that was not truthful. In other words our own actions give us cause to worry.

Real life happenings are often the cause of worry. A loss of a job, a home foreclosure, expenses running higher than the income being received or even a breaking family relationship, all cause people to worry. But the scripture tells us that when these things come to pass, a Christian needs to respond as Jesus said in His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 6:25). He reminds us that He knows all of our needs and He is willing to meet those needs if we have our priorities straight. He said: “Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added onto you. Therefore DO NOT WORRY.”

When bad things happen to us, we must do all we can to relieve the issue of worry. We are limited in what we can do, but God is unlimited. He is all powerful, all knowing and always there for us. This is where our trust and faith comes in. We must be willing to let go of our worry and put our trust in Jesus and “SEEK HIM FIRST!”

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Thank you that I can give my worries to You with the assurance that if I seek You first that You will provide what I need. I can always be assured that You know better than I as to what I need. Help my family to understand this as well. May each of us do all we can to learn more about You. Help us to read Your Word and to communicate with You through prayer daily.