May 17: Worry Free

Mama always said, “Don’t worry yourself to death.” Well it seems that a group of Harvard researchers have confirmed what Mama knew what she was talking about. “Anxiety and worry and damage one’s health and even lead to death”, according to the researchers’ findings.

Wisdom is ancient. A couple of thousand years ago the writers of the Bible and Jesus himself taught about the dangers of worry. But they did more than sound a warning, they pointed to some remedies:

Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money. 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? 26 Look 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?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If 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?

31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:24-34)

Since you can’t serve both God and Money, choose God, put Him and His priorities first in your life.

The Apostle Paul, in a letter from a prison cell, wrote, “Do not be anxious (worry) about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Now if anyone had reason to worry or be anxious it would be a man in prison with a possible death sentence in his future. Yet Paul encouraged his readers to replace worry with prayer—talk to God about everything you’re thinking and feeling. The effect of this prescription is that God’s peace will guard your mind (thoughts) and heart (emotions, feelings); the two areas where the Enemy will launch his most subtle and damaging attacks.

Trading worry for peace—not a bad proposition. Prayer is the key. Do you have time for a conversation with your Creator right now? Why not take Him up on His offer?

~ Father, change my heart from one filled with worry to one filled with peace. Amen.