Tag Archives: Matthew

A few words on WORRY.

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Are you a worrier?

You know the old saying, don’t you? ”Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps you moving, but gets you now where.” Let me tell you worry does get you places…but places you don’t want to go!

I think all of us have been there to one degree or another. Some of have made a life time “business” from worry, while for some it is easy to turn loose of things, like water rolling off a ducks back. These that let their worries roll off them seem to be far and few between in my experience. This is rather sad, we are missing out on a great deal of life and the treasures the Lord wants us to experience and enjoy in Him.

We are told in Scripture to not worry.

Philippians 4:6 (Amplified Bible)
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Worry is lack of belief and faith in the Lord, there for it is sin. Sin is toxic and destructive to our health, families and spiritual walk.

Luke 10:38-42 (KJV)
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

There are things we do need to take care of in our lives. BUT if they over take our relationship with Jesus and begin to put others down and think or feel ill toward them we have worried to sin against others and against the Lord.

Matthew 6:25 (KJV)
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Are you blessed with more than you know what to wear today, why are you worrying about what to put on?

Did you have plenty to eat today and clean water to drink along with any snack of beverage you could ask for?

Matthew 6:31 (KJV)
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Many go with out. Many have nothing in comparison to any of us. Why do we worry and complain about what we have to wear or to eat or drink. God has provided for these ones, will He not provide for you.

Matthew 6:33-34 (Amplifed Bible)
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

We need to be grateful for what we do have. One day we may not have what we do have today. But this is no reason to worry.

Okay, "What if..." What can you do? Who is in control, you or God?

 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7  (Amplified Bible)
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.

Money does run short and our government is in debt...so we worry do we?

Jobs are scares and many are not content with the job God has blessed them with.

As long as one works, lives, plays we will have bills to pay.

Psalms 55:22 (KJV)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

We need victory in our lives when it comes to worry. The victory only comes by and through trusting the Lord for our daily needs.

 

Psalms 56:3-4  (KJV)
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

I have given several verse here that god has expressed to us not to worry. These are familiar scriptures and that is why I used them, but there are many, many more.

 

*Now I’d like to share a few things I recently read, but not finish with it…

**If you remember nothing else remember this; Truth, the Word of God, is the antidote with more power to rid ones self of worry.

Worry doesn’t prevent things from happening. It prevents from the full life God intends for us to live. Anxiety creates more problems.

Worry can be a habit or even a way of life.

I took a picture of this long before I started to read this book. It was written on a restaurant wall.

I like this one…WORRY IS LIKE A ‘LAY’S’ POTATO CHIP~YOU JUST CAN’T STOP AT ONE!

Worry poisons our joy and ultimately robs us of all joy and peace. 

Worry will destroy the thought life…What you put into your mind your being will show forth…We will begin to give thought to hopelessness. The analogy was given about Eeyore, the sad little donkey from Winnie the Pooh…Negative thoughts will consume you.

Why are we commanded not to fear?

Where there is fear there is no faith.

1 John 4:18 (Amplified Bible)
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

What is fear or dread? It is worry!

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) With worry we can not “draw near to God.” (James 4:8) Nor can we receive the comfort or direction of God. (Psalms 25:5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long. Psalms 61:2 …when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [yes, a rock that is too high for me].)

I want to leave you another thought.

Many get CONCERN and WORRY mixed up.

  • WORRY: is usually unfounded - CONCERN: involves a legitimate threat
  • WORRY: is generalized – CONCERN: is specific
  • WORRY: obsesses about the problem – CONCERN: addresses the problem
  • WORRY: creates more problems – CONCERN: solves problems
  • WORRY: looks to self or other people for help – CONCERN: looks to God for answers

Worry is allowing problems to come between us and the heart of God. It is a view we have developed that some how God has lost control of the situation and we cannot trust Him.

A legitimate concern draws us closer to the heart of God and causes us to lean and trust on Him all the more.

Concern draws us to God. Worry pulls us from Him. (Oswald Chambers)

*NOTE:  Many of these thoughts have come for a book I have been reading, I am not through with it; “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver.

Leaving you with the verse I started with, this verse has the key elements in overcoming worry. I am trusting to visit with you about this later.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Lord bless you.

Sharing a devotional page with you today.

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Yes today I am sharing a page from a devotional I read today. The Lord is dealing with me about my prayer time with Him. This was taken from “Morning and Evening,” this is from this mornings piece. I trust it will minister to your heart as it did mine.

Matthew 26:39
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

“There are several instructive features in our Saviour’s prayer in His hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from His three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God‘s.

It was humble prayer. Luke says He knelt, but another evangelist says He “fell on His face.” Where, then, must be THY place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that He may exalt us in due time.

It was filial prayer. “Abba, Father.” You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child’s right to a father’s protection. Be not afraid to say, “My Father, hear my cry.”

Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. (look at verses 42 & 44) Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.” —Morning and Evening

“Lord here I am to express my heart to You. Oh how I love You and yet I seem to fall short and feel so undeserving of Your amazing love, yet You continue to love me anyway. Nothing changes Your love for me…that is amazing. I can not begin to comprehend Your great love and grace You have shown me time and time again. You are waking me up once again.

(I love this song “Amazing Love.” This one is done by Hillsong. Chris Tomlin and a few others sing it also, but I came across this and I had to share it. I trust you will enjoy it as well. I love sign language, it is a language of love in itself.)

“Lord I am here to ask You to teach to pray as You did, alone with You as You did with Your Father, with no distractions, separated unto You only; humbly, on my face before You without an inkling of any preconceptions, teach me to deny myself, teach me to leave my will at Your feet so that I be emptied of self to be filled and full of You, Lord Jesus; teach me to persevere, to continue in my petitons before You no matter what I see, think, hear through or by others or what I feel; teach me to resign myself completely to You, to full rest, trust and believe you in all circumstances and situations, to resign myself to nothingness before You so only You are to do with me as You will. Bring to the place Lord Jesus that I say, believe, and desire ONLY Your, that I say. “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Lord I ask You to make this my hearts cry and desire.

“Thank You my Jesus for Your love and what you have put into my life. I kick and scream, yet my desire is still You. I desire You and You alone. Though my actions and words many times speak great volumes of contradictions, You are still my hope, foundation, love and desire. My trust is in You.

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus. The painting in the graphic was painted by Paul Duderstat in Grace Tabernacle Church. Photo and graphics by Candy Clonts

 

“I’m asking a lot. I’m opening myself up for exposure to You and to others, but I need it and I want it. This is the only way this heart of mine can be taught Your will and not my will. Opening myself, being exposed, causes the heart to hurt, because it is being opened before You, Jesus, before others, and myself….sometimes that is the hardest things…to see myself for what I am. My desire as Isaiah in Ch. 6, when he expereince You. He was touched by Your cleansing fire-he says, “woe I am undone.” I’m asking for cleansing fire. It is only by the fire of Your truth I will become the one You desire and useful unto You. My desire is to come through as Job did. ‘Do I really want to go through all THAT?’ I ask my self….Oh yes Lord I do. Why? Because of what Job had after he was tried….he saw You! I not only want to know You, but I want to see YOU Jesus, to see You and You alone. ‘Not I but Christ who lives in me.’ (Galatians 2:20) So this means the death of me. Death of my flesh. Life in the Spirit of Christ. Yes this is my hearts desire.

“Lord I am done dilly-dallying around. As David asked in Psalm 51, ‘create in me Lord a clean heart…renew a right spirit within me…sacrifice you do not desire but a broken and contrite heart You will not despise.’ Lord shake me, turn me upside down and every which way but loose.

“Lord I do have some fear, I don’t want to hurt in so many ways. BUT You are BIGGER, GREATER, FAITHFUL, IN EVERYWAY…YOU ARE TOTALLY SUFFICIENT for ALL I need and hope to need in any way. Lord here I am, I lay my life before You. I feel as if I have been around this corner more than I’d like to count, yes here we go once again. Open me up, clean and cut away all that does not belong in my hear, mind (every thought), my actions, my whole being….make me pleasing unto You. I know You will not leave me half-finished, this is also a life long continual work, nonetheless, keep doing what needs to be done. Don’t spare for my crying.

“My motive is You Jesus. I want to win You as my Bridegroom and I feel as if too many things are getting in the way. My view is being obscure and difficult to see where I need to be running. (Philippians 3) Lord continue to put accountability before me. Let not my lamp grow dim. Cause to walk the path of truth and righteousness before You…no matter how tight and narrow it may seem. (Matthew 7:13, 14)

“This I pray Father in Your blessed and holy name of Your Precious Son, Jesus, my Lord and soon coming Bridegroom. I thank You, I know the hope I have in You and how great Your grace is in every situation You allow in my life. I thank You and praise You for You are with me always. I love you Lord. I am so grateful for Your love for me…I would not make a day without Your great love.

“Amen, my Lord, Amen.”

The Master’s Touch…We all need His touch.

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We all need the hand of the master to touch our lives each and every day.

Matthew 9:20-22 (Amplified Bible)
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment; 21 For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health. 22 Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health.

 

Luke 8:43-48 (KJV) 
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Lord I thank You and praise You as touch my life. It is by and through Your touch I will never be the same.

Thank You for Your grace that carries me each day and the hope I have in You to see me through today and my tomorrows as You give them to me.

 

 

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