I recently was in a conversation with a friend who referred to the times we are living in as "The Age of Anxiety." I have often had things come up in life that I have spent a great deal of time worrying about what the outcome would be. We have I believe all gone through this to one degree or another. There are lots of examples. It may be health issues, personal relationships, the stock market, employment, life and death or provision for you and your family.
We see all kinds of negative events that take place around us. In the last several years we have witnessed many events that are disturbing, as well as just plain evil. A few examples would naturally include 9/11. Child Soldiers killing people in Africa, Tsunamis killing thousands and right now today wild fires burning out of control in the Western United States, that will displace thousands of people. So what are we to do?
The World View has a lot of interesting little antidotes that are used to try to make people feel better about their circumstances. Here are just a few.
(1) Don't worry, be happy! (2) Don't worry, go see your therapist! (3) Don't worry, it may never happen!
(4) Don't worry, get busy doing active things, it will get your mind off of reality. (5) Go read a Physicians Desk Reference. There has to be a pill in there that will fix your life. Then there is my favorite (6) Wile E. Coyote survived and so will you.
I'm not suggesting that we don't have things that happen in life that we should be concerned about. What I am saying is that worry serves absolutely no good purpose and is contrary to Biblical Living. Worry is taking a self oriented assumption of responsibility, and fails to take God into account in whatever situation or trial you may be walking through. Worry is quite often nothing more than a distraction that creates an illusion of what might be. Does it ever come to fruition? Is it ever as bad as you thought it was going to be? It is this type of thinking that creates all that anxiety. Who wants three scoops of anxiety, and top it off with some chaos? Not me!!
So what does scripture have to say about this ? Plenty. In fact the theme is repeated so many times in scripture that God obviously knew we'd have to be reminded to look to him and to seek him in all we do.
The Book of Philippians is Paul's joy letter. The church in Macedonia had been a great encouragement to Paul. I trust you'll be moved to read the entire book. It is short, but packed full of encouraging words.
Philippians 4:6-7 say, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present all your requests to God (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
My prayer this week: Lord Jesus allow us not to forget as we walk through life that the only place that we ill ever find true peace is when we walk with you. Don't allow us to be distracted by what we see going on in this world but to keep our eyes our mind and most importantly our hearts focused on you. Thank you for the resurrection power that you shared with us through overcoming the grave, that we might live together forever with you. I am under no illusion Lord, I recognize that without you in my life I am hopelessly lost. Thank you for allowing me to recognize your truth. Amen
We see all kinds of negative events that take place around us. In the last several years we have witnessed many events that are disturbing, as well as just plain evil. A few examples would naturally include 9/11. Child Soldiers killing people in Africa, Tsunamis killing thousands and right now today wild fires burning out of control in the Western United States, that will displace thousands of people. So what are we to do?
The World View has a lot of interesting little antidotes that are used to try to make people feel better about their circumstances. Here are just a few.
(1) Don't worry, be happy! (2) Don't worry, go see your therapist! (3) Don't worry, it may never happen!
(4) Don't worry, get busy doing active things, it will get your mind off of reality. (5) Go read a Physicians Desk Reference. There has to be a pill in there that will fix your life. Then there is my favorite (6) Wile E. Coyote survived and so will you.
I'm not suggesting that we don't have things that happen in life that we should be concerned about. What I am saying is that worry serves absolutely no good purpose and is contrary to Biblical Living. Worry is taking a self oriented assumption of responsibility, and fails to take God into account in whatever situation or trial you may be walking through. Worry is quite often nothing more than a distraction that creates an illusion of what might be. Does it ever come to fruition? Is it ever as bad as you thought it was going to be? It is this type of thinking that creates all that anxiety. Who wants three scoops of anxiety, and top it off with some chaos? Not me!!
So what does scripture have to say about this ? Plenty. In fact the theme is repeated so many times in scripture that God obviously knew we'd have to be reminded to look to him and to seek him in all we do.
The Book of Philippians is Paul's joy letter. The church in Macedonia had been a great encouragement to Paul. I trust you'll be moved to read the entire book. It is short, but packed full of encouraging words.
Philippians 4:6-7 say, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present all your requests to God (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
My prayer this week: Lord Jesus allow us not to forget as we walk through life that the only place that we ill ever find true peace is when we walk with you. Don't allow us to be distracted by what we see going on in this world but to keep our eyes our mind and most importantly our hearts focused on you. Thank you for the resurrection power that you shared with us through overcoming the grave, that we might live together forever with you. I am under no illusion Lord, I recognize that without you in my life I am hopelessly lost. Thank you for allowing me to recognize your truth. Amen
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