Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus Teaches About Worry

For many years I spent endless number of hours worrying about EVERYTHING. Not kidding...if I had a stomach ache I expected to visit our local doctor and be told I had cancer. It was immobilizing, horrible, life altering and very real to me. I didn't understand it but I knew it was my reality. BUT was it really reality??? Obviously not but until I knew what it felt like to live a part from it I didn't know any other way to live. This was until somewhere in my college years that I began to see glimmers of hope in living free of constant worry. I can't put an exact date or time to it but I know that's when God began to really do a work in me. Showing me verse like "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it's own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today" and "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Both of these incredible encouraging verses come out of Matthew 6.
Here are some of the explanations taken from my NIV Life Application bible on Chapter 6:25-34:
-Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may (1) damage your health, (2) disrupt your productivity, (3) negatively affect the way you treat others, and (4) reduce your ability to trust in God. How many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern-worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.
-To "seek the Kingdom of God above all else" means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly become most important to you if you don't actively choose to give God first place in every area of your life.
-Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.
All of this at one point in time or another rained priority in my life...NOT trusting God. I was completely filled with fear about everything. I made myself sick a lot, had panic attacks, would scream and yell at family including my husband on a plane full of passengers...you'll have to ask him about that one. I felt like I had no control which looking back I think is what scared me even more. God's incredible and very specific words on worrying have brought me through a lot. I love him so much for providing it. He's so good to each of us, knows the struggles in our lives and provides such specific actions and encourage for us. In fact, did you know that He knew "fear" was going to be such a stronghold for His people that it is mentioned in the bible 364 times...that's right. You could do a year long devotional about fear using one verse a day. God is so loving!