Welcome!
Date: Monday, June 21, 2010
Today: When worry becomes a habit
Passage: Phil 4:6-7 NIV
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Worrying about things once in a while is different from worrying all the time
Once a Pastor went to a counselor
He was too much concerned about his wife, who was not very much supporting his ministry
The counselor, who was a Christian, asked him: “Did you pray about this?”
The Pastor said: “No. How can I pray about something like this?”
The counselor sent him back, asking him to try pray for a month and then come back
The Pastor started praying, and the issue was resolved
Many a time, we fail to pray about many things and we choose to worry, instead of praying
Worry is a choice. Some people worry about things that others do not worry about. Then, they express their worry through various emotions, or they get physically sick.
Worry causes some people to commit suicide. Worry does not come from God
The Bible is very clear on the issue of worry. Jesus said, “do not worry”
Worry does come to us. But it is important, not to continue worrying
Worry does not solve any problem
Sometimes, we ourselves create the very reason for our worry
We get too Lazy and postpone things for ever
Finally we get into some trouble because we failed to do things on time
Then, we choose to worry about it
We need to pray and get victory over such laziness, because laziness is not from God
God has given us the best alternative to worry, which is prayer
But the devil does not want anyone to pray
So we see that majority of the believers spent little or no time in prayer
Once the walls of prayer and praise are broken in the life of a believer, devil finds his way vey easily and makes his seat right there
A feeling of complacency tells us, there is no need to pray
The other day, someone was sharing, “I am not able to pray. Please pray for me”
I could understand what she was saying. I had been in that situation many times
It is a dangerous situation, when we don’t feel like praying
In the 1010 wins radio station which is the most popular among New Yorkers,
There is a small bit, an advertisement from the Times Square Church, which I hear very often
It ends with the phrase, “It is time to pray”
Prayer followed by action. That is what we need
May the peace of God, which is different from the peace that the world can give us, replace the worry in us-the peace that passeth all understanding
God is ready, willing and able to help
Why not go to Him?
God bless you
BG
Do Not Worry (Mattew 6: 25-34 NIV)
25“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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Prayer: Lord, I worry a lot. I now know that worry comes from the devil, and that the divine alternative to worry is prayer. Help me to pray, instead of worrying. Amen.