A Beautiful Picture of God’s Creation! New River Gorge, W.VA.
Are you more anxious than usual? Has the bad economy and job insecurity dragged you down? Are you concerned you won’t have enough money to pay the bills, and you might lose your home? Are you anxious about your children and their future? Are you worried about catching the swine flu? The list could go on and on.
If you are a Christian I want to remind you that we do not have to live with worry. In fact, God has told us not to worry, “be anxious for nothing.” God knows all about each of our individual lives and needs and He is still in control, even though it doesn’t look like it at times.
Have you ever really grasped the truth that God is Sovereign? It is so important and especially during these hard times to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God knows what you face, and that He does not allow anything into your life that He does not permit for His own purpose. You may not fully understand but you can be sure He does.
I’ve struggled with this truth myself and wondered why certain things happened, but I’ve come to the point where I know that God’s purpose for me is my eternal happiness. No matter what happens I have a home in Heaven where everything will be wonderful beyond anything I can imagine.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Pro 3:5-6 NASB
Also, the Bible tells us that He will not permit us to go through more than we can endure.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1Co 10:13 NASB
When I talk about God being Sovereign I mean that God is absolutely free to do whatever He wants. He is GOD! He is in complete control! We are not. He is in charge and rules over us and the world. We must depend on Him for the outcome. He is Lord and He owns us, therefore, we can be sure He wants only the best for us. And, He is the only one who knows what is best! When we realize that God is the one who calls the shots then we can rest in the security of His wisdom. That knowledge gives us peace!
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. Psa 103:19 NASB
Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. Psa 135:6 NASB
God is in control of the seasons and day and night.
“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.” Gen 8:22 NASB
God controls the weather.
For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. Psa 107:25 NASB
God knows the number of our days, as individuals and as nations.
“Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. Job 14:5 NASB
and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, Act 17:26 NASB
God does whatever He wants, even over-ruling plans of people and nations.
Psa 33:9-11 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
It is God who gives us success in anything we do. We can do nothing apart from Him.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Joh 15:5 NASB
God has adopted us into His family and given us an inheritance. We were predestined to this for His purpose, and for His glory.
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Eph 1:11 NASB
God is even Sovereign over our rebellion and sin.
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Rom 9:18 NASB
After pondering all of these scriptures, don’t you agree that God is in control? He will take care of us and His will will be done in our lives.
Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 tells us that we are not to worry. Read this section. He says that He will take care of us. Instead of wringing our hands and worrying we are to do the following:
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Mat 6:33 NASB
Then He concludes by saying this:
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Mat 6:34 NASB
Here is a great promise from God telling us what to do with our anxiety. We can let God handle it. We don’t need to carry it.
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1Pe 5:7 NASB
Another promise we can count on.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Php 4:19 NASB
So, we can conclude with this wonderful uplifting scripture. We do not have to be anxious over our circumstances. We do not have to be anxious over perceived fears of things that might or might not come about.
We must keep our focus on Jesus and know that He loves us and will meet our needs.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31 KJV
I pray this reminder will bless and help you keep your focus on things above and not on your circumstances.
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. Psa 121:2 NASB
“Deny that God is governing matter, deny that He is ‘upholding all things by the word of His power’, and all sense of security is gone!” Arthur W. Pink
Hi Svetlana,
Jesus told us in Matthew that we are not to worry. Now, he didn’t say this just to people who were wealthy. He said it to everyone, not matter who they were, rich or poor.
This is a command of God, not to worry. Therefore, when we do worry it is a sin. God hates sin; he hates worry.
I know personally of poor people who worry and I know of very rich people who worry. Worry crosses all lines, and worry isn’t always about material things, it is also about people, and health. But, God said do not worry. Why? Because he wants us to depend on him, no matter who we are.
Myself, I’ve been very poor at times. In fact, it took me to get to that point in order that I would turn my eyes to Jesus for help. I had nothing, I had lost my job, my health, my car, my money, and only had a very few clothes. I did have a roof over my head but it wasn’t in good shape at all.
It was at my poorest time by the world’s standards that I found Jesus and became a born-again Christian. I watched as Jesus provided for me. I prayed, and trusted him and he came through every time. It was truly amazing. All my bills were paid on time, and eventually my life got better as I trusted Jesus, and studied his Word.
Here is what Jesus says in Matthew about worry:
Mat 6:25 NASB
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Mat 6:26 NASB
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Mat 6:27 NASB
“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
Mat 6:28 NASB
“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
Mat 6:29 NASB
yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
Mat 6:30 NASB
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Mat 6:31 NASB
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
Mat 6:32 NASB
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Mat 6:33 NASB
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Mat 6:34 NASB
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Blessings
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Hi Bonnie,
God has told us not worry ” be anxious for nothing”.It is true. You said “If you are christian I want to remind you that we do not have to live with worry” It is true ,too.
Many of our worries arise from materialism. It is true. I think that many our worries arise from survival. If person has subsistence wage he/her to lives with worry . It is normaly. If person subsist on charity he/her can not says “Do not worry be happy” We who have our own house , job, have food , have money for education our children , have money for health care , have money for clothes ,we can say “Do not worry be happy”
If persons have not their own house, job, have not money for food, money for education their children, money for health care money for clothes , I think they to live with worry.
I can not say :you have not money for food, for health care , for clothes, do not worry be happy.
I think that person who is not poor can not to understand poor.Who is not poor he say do not worry, be happy.
Svetlana
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Hi Svetlana,
Thanks for the comments and for the Bible verses. You are so right Christians do have many reasons to rejoice!
Blessings (blessed means happy by the way)
Bonnie
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Hi Bonnie,
Do not Worry Be Happy!
Boby Mc Farrin sings:”Do not worry Be Happy.In every life we have some terible.When you worry you make it double”
Bible says “Do not worry about your life”[Matthew 6;25] and “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad”[Matthew 5:12]
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression but a good word makes it glad.[Proverbs 12:25]
Many of our worries arise from materialism.”No one can serve two masters.; for either he will hate the one; and love the other; or and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon-money” I say to you do not worry about your life what you will eat or what you will drink;nor about your body, what will put on.Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing…Therefore do not worry saying “What shall we eat?” “What shall we drink” “What shall we wear?” …But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things be added. to you…”{Matthew 6:24-34]
WHY PRAY WHEN YOU CAN WORRY?
Be happy
Christians have many reasons to rejoice I add all people around the our world have many reason to rejoice.
Be happy
Svetlana from Belgrade Serbia
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Absolutely great advice that is spot on! Wonderful references as well for specific information!
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