“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage ; I have overcome the world.” ~Jesus

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Courage, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 16, Peace, Trust, Victory, Worry

Difficulties are a natural part of the world. Jesus brings me peace and offers courage.

In fact, Jesus promised us me I would have tribulation. That is life in this world.

In Jesus I have peace.

How can Jesus do this? He has overcome the world and I am a new creation that shares in His resurrection.

I can take heart. Jesus is risen and I am seated with Him. The victory belongs to the LORD!!!

May peace be mine. May I have courage today. Why worry?

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage ; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

A tribute to my brother Jerry Wright. First said “Why Worry” to me in 1973. He has been right all these years.

"What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax." ~~Jesus

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Anxiety, Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 6, Relax, Worry

I worry a lot. It isn’t good. I know that. I worry anyway.

Jesus challenges me to trust God completely and not worry. Life is not about how much I have to eat and beautiful cloths to wear. It is not about getting. It is all about giving.

People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over lots of things. I know both God and how he works.

Jesus challenges me to steep my life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.

Jesus demands that I don’t worry about missing out. In God’s world, I find all my everyday human concerns will be met.

That is just God’s way. God is in a very good mood. God wants the very best for me. My job is to trust him.

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 6:33 The Message)

“The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” ~King David

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Faith, Fear, Jesus, King David Sayings, Psalm 27, Wise Sayings, Worry

Worry

God lights my path. God saves me. Jesus, the Messiah, has paid the price for my missing God’s goal and placed me in right standing with God. Now that is good news!

Simple but straightforward truths about our amazing heavenly Father. I am participating in His new plan for my life. I am hearing great news today. God is smiling. God shows me his grin.

Why should I be worried? Why should I be afraid? If nothing is impossible with God, why would anything seem like a big deal?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

May I rely on the stronghold of my life. May I have no fear.

“I tell you, do not worry about your life.” ~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 6, Messiah, Worry

Good news of God

What Jesus would say to me if he just walked into my room right now?

I think he would look right at me and smile. He would sit down right beside me and he would put his arm around my shoulder to talk. I think on most days he would say “Why do you worry so much, child? You belong to me. Your family belongs to me. I want you to count on Me. Know that I love you. Your worry smothers your awareness of how my Love for you constantly fills your life.”

And then, I would look right back at Him and say “You’re right!” And then I would smile too.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

Worrying always results in missing God’s goal

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Fear, Trust, Worry

Why Worry?

Worrying always results in missing God’s goal. Fear paralyzes and keeps us from acting on what God has planned for us right now.

May I trust Him. It is all about trust. We must change our mind (repent) about who is in control. We must trust Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus is the way to God.

We must trust completely.

We must trust always.

Want a present? Focus on today as a gift of God.

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1 Corinthians 1, Gift, Jesus, Present, Regret, Worry

Gift of God

We worry about tomorrow. We regret yesterday.

Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenged us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread”.

God is a God of today and now. God is. God has given us a great gift. It is now.

May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus the Messiah, be yours. 1 Corinthians 1:3 The Message (MSG)

Worrying is a nasty habit ..you’ll notice if it ain’t one thing it’s another.

Tags

God, God's Plan, Worry

Why worry? God has a plan. God is working his plan. We can trust in Him. He is in a very good mood. He will do what He says. He never abandons us at all. He is always looking out for our best interest. That is just the way He rolls.

Worry is a nasty habit. Worry has a some very evil brothers and sisters. Worry will derail us.

With worry, if it is not one thing it is another.  Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere.

Why worry? God has a plan. God’s plan is Jesus.

Worrying is a nasty habit ..you’ll notice if it ain’t one thing it’s another.

Will I hear GOD or will I be deceived?

Tags

Anxiety, Faith, Jesus, Matthew 13, Worry

Worried! (Photo credit: photoloni)

The worry of the world can completely drown out the word of my heavenly Father. Jesus speaks to me. He gives me His love.

But worry has a way of overcoming what I know God is saying. How often do illusions about getting more choke out the word? The way of the LORD is to hear the word and understand it. True repentance is to change my mind. That brings fruit!!

Jesus challenges us about how deceitful the pursuit of wealth can be. That leads to worry and not hearing GOD.

May I hear GOD and believe He is good. He has my best interest at heart. He will not fail me.

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns , this is the man who hears the word , and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful . Matthew 13:22

“Do not worry about how or what you are to say.” ~Jesus

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Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 10, Speak, Worry

Why Worry?

Oh man, this hits home with me. I think a lot. I am a thinker. So, I think about what I am going to say.

I rehearse things in my mind. Maybe this goes back to my acting and speaking training. So yes … I worry about how or what I am going to say.

I need to trust that my heavenly Father will give me what I need to say. His Spirit speaks in me.

So if it is His Spirit speaking in my, why would I worry?

Here are the key ideas:

1. God is in charge and will give us the words to say.
2. Our job is to trust in God.
3. God loves us and will take care of us.

Do not worry about how or what you are to say ; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:19-20

“You are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.” ~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Luke, Service, Worry

Heartfelt experience with Jesus

How often do I go about fussing? I get worked up over nothing. Worrying about how everything is going to get done. Putting my best “servant” attitude on and letting Jesus know it.

I need to get to the essential and choose the one thing that is necessary. My relationship with Jesus is the most important thing. It is the main course.

May I choose the good part. Why worry?

Here are the key ideas:

1. It is easy to get distracted with all the work to be done and ignore my relationship with Jesus.
2. God’s goal for me is to start with sitting at Jesus feet and know what is important to him.
3. God is in a good mood and will not take anything away from me that is rooted in my relationship with Jesus.

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

"Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear." ~~Corrie Ten Boom

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Corrie Ten Boom, Fear, Jesus, Worry

Why Worry?

Worry is a vicious cycle. When we worry, our thoughts spin out control. We forget that God is in control.

The root cause of worry is fear. God’s perfect love drives out fear. Jesus shows us the way.

Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear. ~~Corrie Ten Boom

"Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." ~~Jesus

Tags

Anxiety, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 6, Relax, Worry

God is in a good mood

Jesus challenges us to not worry. God is God, in complete control and in a good mood.

God will take care of us. God has our best interest at heart. God takes pride in us.

Do I believe that? Does what I say reflect that? Do my actions make it clear to everyone that is my reality? Do I have that understanding deep in my heart?

At our core, we are concerned we are missing out on something. By trusting in God, we are getting everything God wants us to have. We can relax. We can respond to God. We need to focus on who God is, how God takes the initiative in our life to bring his goals to fruition and how much God loves to provide for our needs.

This is tough but it is essential in God’s World (Kingdom).

Here are the key ideas:

1. We are important to God. No detail of our life is too small for God.
2. God’s goal for us is to relax and focus on God.
3. Take time to know God and how God works.
4. Spend as much time every day on God, his reality, his initiative and how he provides for us.

 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:30 The Message (MSG)

“Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” ~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Luke 2, Obedience, Worry

Here is a lesson in worry from our Master Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t worried. He wasn’t anxious. He was just doing what He knew to do which was be in His Father’s house.

His parents were worried. Jesus was not.

I should be concerned about doing my Father’s business and not worry about anything else.

Jesus continued to grow this way. Stuff just didn’t faze Him because He was listening to His Heavenly Father and just doing what He heard Him saying.

May I be about my Father’s business and grow in His favor. May I worry about whether I am pleasing him.

Here are the key ideas:

1. Jesus challenges us to focus on pleasing God. There is nothing more important.
2. God’s goal for us is to grow in wisdom.
3. Our growth should focus on what God thinks about us.
4. We can go from weak to strong in Jesus.

When they saw Him, they were astonished ; and His mother said to Him, “Son , why have You treated us this way ? Behold , Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:48-52

 

“Do not be worried about your life.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 6, Worry

The list of things I can worry about is pretty long. Give me a whole day and it grows enormously.

My heavenly Father knows I need stuff. I have to have faith. It is all about faith. Do I believe He loves me and has every good thing ready for me? Will He not do His best for me? I have to be going after His Kingdom. I have to seek the right standing He can bring to me. The other stuff will come.

Here are some things worry can do.

1. Damage my health.
2. Cause the object of my worry to consume my thoughts.
3. Disrupt my productivity.
4. Affect the way I treat others.
5. Reduce my ability to trust God.

May I pay attention to what He is doing now and not worry about what may or may not happen tomorrow!!!

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life …. 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! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow ; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

“What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” ~The Disciples of Jesus

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Calm, Faith, Fear, Jesus, Lord, Matthew 8, Wind, Worry

Jesus didn’t cause the storm to arise. The storm wasn’t His doing at all. He didn’t “weather” the storm although he was sleeping and not concerned or afraid one bit.

He did tell it to stop and it did. Completely. It became perfectly calm. No wind. No waves. Just calm.

They were amazed because He is amazing. He did what He saw His Father doing. That is all.

Our God is Great. His son Jesus, the Messiah, does amazing things.

May I see things as He does.

May I do what I see Him doing.

He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:26-27

 

Want to worry less? God suggests you praise Him more. Who is the enemy of thanksgiving? Discontent and his brother dissatisfaction.

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Anxiety, Praise, Thanksgiving, Worry

Why Worry?

We love to worry. God has a better way. Praise Him and thank Him for all He is doing right now.

Worry has us focus on our problems. Worry has us focus on ourselves.

Praise and thanksgiving has us focus on God. Thanksgiving has us focus on what God has done and can do. Nothing is impossible with God.

Want to worry less? God suggests you praise Him  more. Who is the enemy of thanksgiving? Discontent and his brother dissatisfaction.

“Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.” ~~King Solomon

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Confident, Honesty, King Solomon, Lie, Proverbs 10, Wise Sayings, Worry

Honesty and Integrity

Honesty seems to be hard come by as a moral imperative.

We tell white lies and believe that is okay. Our culture is one where God’s truth isn’t valued. All the time and effort, for example, we spend on making ourselves look good means nothing to God. Yet we pretend that it makes a difference. And we are reluctant to admit it in what we say to others.

When we tell the truth, we can be confident. God’s word stands on its own.

When we tell the truth, we don’t have to worry about being found out later on.

Shifty people are found out in the long run. The truth will come out. Now that is something to think about.

God’s goal for is for us to honesty, with ourselves and with others.

“Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.” ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 10:9)

"No one can pray and worry at the same time." ~~Max Lucado

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Max Lucado, Peace, Prayer, Worry

Why Worry?

God’s goal is for us to talk with Him, trust Him and obey Him.

Our alignment with God takes the anxiety out of the equation.

Want peace?

Talk with God.

No one can pray and worry at the same time. ~~Max Lucado

"People who don’t know God and the way he works worry too much." ~~Jesus

Tags

Anxiety, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 6, Worry

God is good all the time

Why do we worry?What produces that anxiety in our gut?

Because we don’t know what a good mood God, our Father, is in. It is easy to confuse God with what we know here about our fathers. God is God. God is completely perfect. God is good all the time. We must get that in our core.

God loves us. He has every good thing in store for us. When we get that at our core, we relax. We are at peace. We don’t worry at all.

May I remember, today, how God works. May I relax. May I be at peace.

“People who don’t know God and the way he works worry too much.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 6 The Message)

“Carpé diem quam minimum credula postero.” ~ Horace (Roman poet)

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Horace, Today, Worry

Carpe Diem

We are all worried about tomorrow or the next day. Jesus wants us to focus on today.

Horace said it well.

 “Carpé diem quam minimum credula postero.”

Translation: Seize the Day, put no trust in tomorrow. ~Horace

God bless Robin. He knew it.

“But take heart! I have conquered the world.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Courage, Fear, Heart, Jesus Sayings, John 16, Worry

Overcome Fear

Many days, there is a whole lot of worrying going on.

Fear can cripple. How many times does God come to us and say, “Fear not”? That is one of His great themes.

Jesus knows that this world is going to present challenges to us. We will experience difficulties.

God’s goal for us is the we trust in Him. He is in control. He didn’t bring us this far to leave us now.

Here is the good news. Jesus has overcome everything. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. All is well. It is finished.

Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”  John 16:33 The Message (MSG)