Worry

Matthew 6:24-27  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 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? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

 

The King James version translates the word “worry” in Matthew 6 as the term “taking thought”. It is the Greek word “merimnaō”, which means to be anxious, to be troubled with cares. Noah Webster’s dictionary defines “worry” as troubled; to be harassed with importunity, or fatigued with care and anxiety. I read that worrying is feeling uneasy or being overly concerned about a situation or problem. With excessive worrying, your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly focus on "what might happen." In the midst of excessive worrying, you may suffer with high anxiety -- even panic attacks. 

 

Anxiety from worrying is a normal reaction to stress. Stress comes from the demands and pressures we experience each day. The problem occurs when fight or flight is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. Chronic anxiety and outpouring of stress hormones can have serious physical consequences, including: Suppression of the immune system, digestive disorders, muscle tension, short-term memory loss, premature coronary artery disease, and even a heart attack. Do not allow worry to be your master.

 

Matthew 6:28-34 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

Meditating daily on God and His holy words of the bible, instead of worrying will help you move beyond negative thoughts and allow you to become "unstuck" from worries that keep your body on high alert. Spending time with God, you purposefully pay attention to your personal relationship with your all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present Father in heaven without thinking of the past or future stresses. With a heartfelt prayer, have a conversation with your loving and caring Lord. Worries become like “water on a duck” and roll off. The opposite of worry is peace of mind. It’s one of the fruits of the Spirit – (Galatians 5:22). The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ tells us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." That is why Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Rejoice in peace!

 

Philippians 4:4-8 declares, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your  gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

 

Don’t worry, be happy.

In Christ, Brian