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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Replace lies with truth.

How much worry do you carry that is based on false assumptions or false information?  How much worry do we carry because we seek to solve the issue with our own abilities and realize our limitations?  How much worry do we carry trying to figure out multiple answers when we have none or little of the information?

Perhaps it’s those situations when we look back we say, “Why did I worry about that?” or “That was dumb to worry about that.”

A lot of worry is time, energy and effort NOT well spent.  Jesus said, “Who by worrying can add a single hour to our lives?”  The opposite is true that worrying can shorten our life rather than lengthen it.

So, when worry begins to creep into my heart, what truth can replace or counter the potential lies or misinformation that is creating worry.

1. God loves and cares for you. 

Situations arise that tempt us to worry and our conclusion is that God has left us or abandoned us.  There is nothing farther from the truth.  In fact, God is ready to journey with you and for you into the uncertainty and fear of the situation you face.  Jesus reminds us in a comparison from the lesser to the greater that if the Father cares for the birds of the air, he WILL care for you because, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

2. God has the future figured out.

Worry comes when we perceive future problems.  Without knowing the future, the news of the present tries to predict or give indication of what the future holds.  Will it be a time of prosperity and success or a time of hardship and persecution?  However we perceive the future may indicate our daily sense of worry.  But here’s the truth.  God knows and sees the future.  Not only that, he controls and is present in the future.  So the promise we can carry when we are tempted to worry about the future is this, “         Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands;  deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. David didn’t worry about the future, he commended it to the Lord…so can we.

3. God turns tragedy into triumphs.

What if the things we perceive as tragedies are actually triumphs waiting for us to realize?  Tragedies are events in life that WE didn’t plan, WE don’t like, WE wish we could change.  But what if we perceive them as situations GOD planned, GOD desires us to experience, and GOD planned for us to experience…not for our hardship, but for our blessing? We can carry this perspective because of this promise, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

4. God is in control.

Worry comes when we realize something is out of our control.  Sometimes this is the “bottom” that we hit that turns us back to the Lord.  Worry often intensifies as we try to control a situation, but we can’t.  We try to control the future, but we can’t. We try to control a relationship, but we can’t.  So we give up and worry changes to despair.  Instead of allowing worry to change to despair, forge the worry and replace it with this truth, “God IS in control.”  The disciples realized this as they were worried they were going to drown in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, until Jesus did something about it.  Jesus’ miracle was not just to still the waters, but to still the disciples hearts and help them realize, “Jesus is in control, not them.”  Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Let God’s truth and promises always replace the lies that lead to worry.

Apply: Which of these four truths resonates with you most today?

Prayer: Father, replace the lies I believe wit

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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The answer to worry is trust. 

Jesus is teaching us this week that we don’t have to worry, because our heavenly Father loves us and cares for us, more than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field.  He challenges our worry with the statement, “Oh, you of little faith.”

Worry is the opposite of trust.  Worry indicates there is something real or perceived that I am concerned about that my heavenly Father says, “I already know you need it.  I will take care of it.”  Worry is a heart that is consumed with the affairs of life to the point it chokes out our trust and relationship with our Father in heaven.

So if we are NOT to worry?  What is the replacement?

Trust.

But what is trust? What does trust look like? 

Trust is not laziness.  Trust is not doing nothing and waiting for God to do everything.  

Trust is rooting my confidence in the promises and presence and provision of my  heavenly Father.

The prophet Jeremiah put it this way:  

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 

Trust in the Lord allows us to face the challenges and difficulties of life without worry or despair.  Our confidence is that the Lord will sustain us and strengthen us for whatever is present or ahead of us.

Trust is not wishing away the hardships of life, it is engaging in life without fear.  Trust is not wishing God removed all challenges, it allows us to produce fruits of faith in the middle of those challenges.

Where does this trust come from?  

Trust comes from watering your spirit with the Word of God.  Trust is strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit as he works through that Word.  Trust is feeding our heart on the promises of God so that when the challenges come (and they will), the promises of God sustain us.

The worries of life will come.  Trust in the Lord will keeps your “leaves green” and your branches “bearing fruit!”

Apply: What part of this image painted by Jeremiah stands out to you today?

Prayer: Lord, keep us deeply rooted in your love so we trust you more and worry less. AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Fan or Follower – Worry Less”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 13:22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Worry is worrisome.

Worry is the state of anxiety or uncertainty over actual or potential problems.

What makes worry worrisome is the effect it can have on one physically, emotionally, but most importantly spiritually.

Worry creates stress and can create physical problems like high blood pressure, heart issues, ulcers and more. Worry causes emotional anxiety that keeps us up at night or can even lead to one having depression.  All of these are serious and important to address medically if necessary.

However, the greatest danger of worry is that it chokes out our trust in the Lord.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seed.  The farmer casts the seed of God’s word onto the soil of people’s hearts.  One of the soils on which the seed falls is full of thistles and thorns.  Jesus explains that what keeps the Word of God from being fruitful in that person’s life is the “worries of this life.” 

What are those for you?

Health worries?  Work worries? Family worries? Relationship worries? Financial worries?

What happens is that these very real, challenging situations can take our time, energy and effort away from time with the Lord.  However, perhaps the threat is that we turn inward to ourselves to figure out the outcome or try to determine what the potential issues may be and try to plan for each one or simply stress over potential outcomes.

The result?  We lose our focus and trust in the Lord and his promises.

So again, Jesus warns us so we are familiar with the dangers to our faith and our relationship to our Savior.

So Jesus says in his sermon, “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?  

The reason we can let go of worry is because of our relationship with our heavenly Father.  Jesus reminds us that he cares for the birds of the air, small creatures in all of his creation.  If he does this, he WILL take care of each of you.  

We will want to know the future.  We will want to know how a situation will turn out.  We will want to have the answers…but Jesus simply just says, “Your heavenly Father will care for you.”

Let the Father’s care and love for you calm your worries you carry today.

Apply: What worries are you carrying today.  What happens emotionally, physically and spiritually when you give those concerns to your Father in heaven to deal with?

Prayer: Father thank you for inviting us to cast our concerns and worries on you. Thank you for your care that reminds us that you care for us more than every other part of your creation.  AMEN

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of “Fan or Follower – Invest Wisely”  (LISTEN HERE).

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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Matthew 6:25)

Easy for you to say.

I don’t know if I’ll have my job tomorrow.

I don’t know if my retirement income will be enough.

I don’t know how I am going to pay for college?

I don’t know how I am going to buy groceries.

What if inflation continues to rise?

What if the economy crashes?

And the list goes on.

What are your worries today?  Are they as Bobby McFerrin sang about in his 1988 hit, “Don’t worry. Be happy”?

Ain’t got no place to lay your head

Somebody came and took your bed

Don’t worry, be happy

The landlord say your rent is late

He may have to litigate

Don’t worry, be happy

(For a little fun for your morning – here’s the link to the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU) 

Is the answer to worry simply to be happy?  Perhaps.

The answer to worry really starts with Jesus’ word, “Therefore…”  These verses in Matthew 6:25 and following come after Jesus teaching on storing up treasures in heaven and making the clear statement, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Worry comes when we are trusting and loving material things more than God…or trusting anything or anyone more than God.

Is worry a litmus test to where our heart is?  Probably.  It is a window to at least ask the question when I am worried about something to ask, “Am I trusting God? Or trusting myself? Or trusting the Government? Or what am I trusting?”

This week’s spiritual battle pits “Team Worry” against “Team Trust.” As with all the matchups in this series, the challenge comes when we are on the field and seeking to faithfully follow the Lord.  Jesus knows our hearts are vulnerable to worry.  He knows we live in a material world and there are situations beyond our control that lead us to worry about how to fix them, how to provide for them, or how to change them.

There may be something you can do.  There may be something you have to change.  There may be actions you have to take.

However, the premise is, “Don’t worry.”

What is it based on?

Matthew 6:25-26 Is not life more than food, and the body more 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?

You are valuable to your heavenly Father.  Because he loves us and cares for us, we can trust him with each of our days…and don’t have to worry.

Apply: What worries are on your mind today?  Knowing your heavenly Father loves you, in prayer give them to your Father in heaven to deal with today.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for worrying today.  Lead me to remember that you find me more valuable than any part of your creation.  Because you love and value you, I know you will care for me and I don’t have to worry. AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of “Fan or Follower – Invest Wisely”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus’ encouragement is clear, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

This week we have reflected on what lasts and what doesn’t.  Yesterday’s devotion pointed out the eternal value of nurturing our relationship with the Lord Jesus and his word.  Today the third way to invest in that which will last is to live out the faith God has given to us.

Works of faith are recognized and rewarded by the Lord.

To be clear, the living of our faith is in RESPONSE to the faith and forgiveness we have been given and in no way is earning a spot in heaven.  Yet the Scriptures imply that works of faith are noticed and affirmed by our Father in heaven.

Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Yet, living out our faith isn’t a “God did you see that?” type of effort.  Because we are simply living our faith from a heart of faith and not a heart of obligation or earning a spot in heaven, we really aren’t keeping track or even noticing…but God does.

Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The righteous didn’t notice and weren’t keeping track…but the King was.  God noticed.  The reward? That’s up to the Lord.  Our life is investing in living out our faith because that is what life is all about.  

We ask questions such as:

• Lord, this is the day you have made and given to me, how do you want me to invest if for you?
• Lord, the earth is yours and everything in it, how do you want me to invest the wealth you have entrusted to me?
• Lord, the people and relationships you have given me are for me to let my light of faith shine. Show me who needs your love and grace today.

As we ask questions like this, the Spirit of God orients our life to our heart which loves and treasures him.  As we treasure him, we spend our life storing up treasures in heaven.

Apply: What question is helpful to begin your day to orient your day to storing up treasures in heaven?

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for investing in us that we might be your own and live each day for you.  Guide us every day to invest wisely in those things that last forever.  AMEN.