Be Anxious for nothing? Are you Kidding?

In a quick summary of Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus tells us that worry robs us of life because when we worry it shows a lack of faith and that our utmost affections have been placed on things other than Him. He tells us that our Father in Heaven knows what we need so set our utmost affections above and He will meet all of our needs. In Philippians 4:6 the Apostle Paul addresses an issue in the church that is synonymous to worry, anxiety. Anxiety is defined as an emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune.

The first portion of Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything"...(AMP) God's Word tells us not fret or have any anxiety about ANYTHING." Should not a believers response be, "Yes LORD, you said do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, so I am going to commit myself to do what Your Word tells me do. I choose not to fret or have any anxiety about anything?” Most definitely! This is faith in action.

The next portion Philippians 4:6 “...But in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”(AMP) reveals how we deal with anxiety. So a believers response should be accordingly, “LORD I am taking this problem and turning it over to You. I thank you for the answer. It is no longer my problem, I gave it to you and you will work it out. Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

This truly is an easy thing to do. However, for most believers it really isn't easy. Many believers have been raised in a family where a parent, family member or someone they were close to were worriers and they themselves have adopted the same habit. We also know that the devil will use his arsenal to rob people from believing God because worry/anxiety manifests where there is a lack of faith. What do we do? We trust God and stand on His Word with a response something like this, "LORD I am giving you this problem and I am not going to take this problem back, I give it to you, it is your problem, you keep working on it. Satan worry and anxiety are not from God they belong to you so you take your things and go in the name of Jesus. I receive the peace that Jesus has given me and I thank you Father for solving this problem, in Jesus name."

Remember, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Believers are in a battle 24/7 whether they believe it or not. Believers also deal with this battle in their minds. "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
(II Corinthians 10:5)

The point is that if the problem that a believer gave to the LORD tries to fill their mind again causing worry or anxiety then they must exercise faith and by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. In other words, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) As believers take a more agressive part in 'Fighting the good fight of faith" they will enjoy the promise of God that we will look at next. So in the mean time, "Resist the devil, steadfast in the faith". 

The Game of Worry

Worry is the state of engaging in chains of thoughts and images of a negative and an uncontrollable nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. In a sense, worry is a game of the mind. One moment a person is worrying about one thing and before you know it something else seems to become more of a potential threat and new negative thoughts and images replace the former ones. However, worry in not a game. Games are designed to be recreational and fun mainly based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve. The definition of worry deals with torment not fun.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 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? We certainly have to think about things and even make plans concerning our future. However, the main thought that Jesus is conveying here is God does not want believers burdened with the cares of this life, period.

In Matthew 6:26-30, Jesus wants us to see how much more value people are to God over the animals that God takes care of. He wants us to understand that worry does not add to ones life. We are to consider the beauty of flowers, they just grow, they do not put any effort in and of themselves to do so. How about the most magnificent king of Israel with all his colorful robes and splendor?  Even Solomon magnificence does not compare to Gods creation, yet people, especially His children are more valuable to Him than these splendors. If God is willing to take such care of flowers which grow one moment and are cut down and use for fuel the next, will He not provide so much more for people. "O you of little faith" carries two thoughts.  One is that just a little faith will deactivate worry and is enough to believe God for provision; and or worry becomes a product of those with little or weak faith. Either way, worry takes life away!

Matthew 6:31-32 To worry about the things in which Gods Word says are our in Christ is no different than acting like a lost person who has no hope. Basically worry is sin. God already knows what we are in need of and when we do not believe that what He has promised He is able to perform then we are rejecting His Word and actually believing the devil's lies more than Gods truth.

Finally Jesus tells us a way to get rid of worry. Matthew 6:33 It goes back to the beginning of this passage, ‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” A believers duty is to seek, pursue and desire God and His realm not the things of this earthly realm and He promises to take care of us so that we do not lack but that our needs are always met. It is an act of our will and an exercise of faith to give ALL of our concerns to the LORD, but we must be  convinced (have faith) that God will do what He says.

So therefore give ALL your concerns to the LORD and take one day at a time if and when it comes.
(Matthew 6:34)