April 18-Do Not Worry

Deuteronomy 32

Psalm 48:1-7

Proverbs 11:16-18

Luke 12:22-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear…. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!.... Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:22-31

These words are hitting home to me right now. God is teaching me not to worry. It seems that the only way He can teach me is to put me in situations where I have to trust Him, over and over and over. He is stretching my faith and testing me to see if I really do trust Him or if I will fall back into my old patterns of worry and fear. I wish there was an easier way. But I don’t think there is. I know it doesn’t do any good to worry. It doesn’t change my circumstance in any way, but it seems to be my default setting. I am not there yet, but He has brought me a long way. Slowly, but surely He is teaching me a better way. Instead of stressing out and panicking, my first reaction now is to take my concern to Him. Instead of going over and over it in my mind trying to figure out how to fix the problem, I am learning to “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” Instead of focusing on the problem I am facing, I am learning to “fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith” and to remember all the times He has been faithful to me in the past with confidence that He will not let me down now. Instead of manipulating and trying to fix the problem myself, I am learning to leave it in His hands and wait. Instead of sinking into despair I am learning to say, “Lord I don’t see how this problem can be fixed, but I trust you. I know you are faithful and I believe you will take care of me.” I have to admit that I still find myself worrying occasionally, but I am catching myself much sooner and not allowing myself to go down that long, dark path of fear. For years I have used the excuse that I am just a worrier and I can’t do anything about it. That is just who I am. That is a lie from Satan. Worrying is sin. It is a lack of faith and it is not pleasing to God. He is ridding my life of this sin and He is in the process of perfecting my faith. I cannot manufacture or develop faith. I can only cooperate as He develops it in me. I pray you will cooperate as He perfects your faith as well.