Why worrying never solved anything…

Ok, that might be a little bit of an over exaggeration when it comes to my thoughts on my coffee intake, I don’t torment myself about it… but I do think about it, every time I slam a double shot latte…

We all worry don’t we?

Yet worry is the very thing that God tells us not to do. (Wouldn’t be the firts time we’ve done something God tells us not to do, would it… #awkward)

Matthew 6:25-34 says (In the NLT)…

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Ah, such good advice!

But how do I live this out in my everyday life?!?

I think the key is found in verse 33.

The key is to stop seeking and looking to the things of this world, and to start seeking and looking to the things of the Kingdom. Sounds fairly simple doesn’t it!?

But what about living righteously!? That doesn’t sound too easy! Until I remember that Christ is my righteousness.

So, I could just re-frame and re-phrase my worries along these lines…

I worry about how much I weigh. Christ is my self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I worry about our finances. Christ is my provider. Matthew 6:25-34

I worry about the weather. Christ controls the weather. Mark 4

I worry about whether or not I have made the right decisions in life. Christ is my standard and the one who meets that standard for me. Hebrews 4:14

I worry about what future decisions I must make. Christ directs my path. Proverbs 3:5-6

I worry about my coffee intake. Again, Christ is my self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I worry about my future. Christ has secured my future in the Kingdom. 2 Peter 1:11

I worry that no one will read this blog, and it writing it is a waste of time. Christ and his angels are my witness and purpose. Not man. Hebrews 12:1-2

I am a little less worried about all those things after that re-frame and re-phrase!

Are you worried? Maybe it’s time you re-frame and re-phrase and see your troubles through Christ who is in you, and with a Kingdom perspective instead of your own.

It sure helped me.

Andrew