“do not be anxious about anything, 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 in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) “Don’t worry” may be the most difficult command in the Bible to keep. Every one of us has broken that commandment. We break that commandment all the time, because it’s in our nature to worry. Jesus said it like this: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NIV). The reason why you mess up today is because you spend most of your emotional energy regretting the past and worrying about the future. But worry has never changed anything. Worry is worthless! It can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. Worry can only make you unhappy today. Every moment of your life you spend worrying is wasted. Worry is focusing on your fears instead of trusting God. It’s practical atheism. When you worry, you’re acting like an orphan. You’re acting like you don’t have a heavenly Father who’s promised to care for your needs. You’re thinking it’s up to you to take care of your problems. That’s not in the Bible—that’s in self-help books. And it’s just not true. If you’re going to break that habit of worry in your life, you’re going to have to learn how to focus on something else. Fasting—where you abstain from something for a certain amount of time and let your need draw you closer to God—can help you do that, and so can prayer. The Bible says in Romans 8:6, “If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace” (NCV). You have to choose your focus. If you’re going to think your way, you’re going to get worried, fearful, and anxious. You are going to have anxiety because you’re controlled by your sinful nature. When you’re focused on God, and you have God’s Spirit in you, you don’t worry. That leads to life and peace. The key to overcoming worry is not to say, “I’m not going to worry.” That’s never going to work, because you’re focused on what you don’t want. The key is to change the channel. Don’t resist it. Refocus. Put your focus on God, and trust in his love and promises for you.
0 Comments
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) God doesn’t listen to prideful complaining, but he does listen to humble confessing. God responds to humility. Many people hesitate to admit their sins because they think they’re going to get punished. But God already knows about all your sin! He knows every mistake you’ve made in your entire life. He just wants you to confess them. He wants you to show humility. When you are humble before God, he doesn’t respond with punishment. He responds with forgiveness, mercy, and blessing. God’s not going to take you down—that’s what your pride does. When you humbly confess your sin, God is quick to forgive. He gives grace to the humble. The Greek word for “confess” is homologeo. Homo means “same.” Logeo means “to speak.” To confess simply means to agree with God about your sin. You say to him, “You’re right. That was a sin. I don’t want to make excuses for it. You told me not to do it, but I did it anyway. It was wrong. It was rebellion against you.” Daniel said, “We have sinned and done wrong,” but he didn’t just stop there: “We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants . . . Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame” (Daniel 9:5-7 NIV). Daniel got very specific with his confession, and you need to as well. Don’t lump all your sins from today together, as if you’re too busy to name them. God wants you to be specific, because he wants you to know what not to do again. Knowing that the Israelites didn’t deserve God’s blessing, Daniel threw himself on the grace of God. When you humbly confess your sin to God, you are surrendering your will to his. You are acknowledging your weakness and asking for God’s mercy. God’s answer is always grace. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV). |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|