Isn’t it much easier to say “Don’t worry” than to do it! This is especially true for those who don’t realize we are in a spiritual battle. I am writing this with a heavy heart and so much running through my head. Watching “Stop Worry From Choking Your Assignment” (May 23, 2021), by Pastor Tafara Butayi, Faith Hill Church, a nondenominational, bible-believing church based in Johannesburg, South Africa, helped tremendously. Obviously, there is a reason I chose this title.

I don’t worry because I know and trust God. That sounds so good doesn’t it, and it is true. I know without a doubt that Christians really can’t lose for winning. The end of the Bible says that we ultimately win and nothing can take that victory away from us because Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, says so.

Just writing that paragraph changed my entire disposition. We really can control our emotions and feelings along with our character and integrity with our words. Speaking the Truth which is God’s Word can change your life moment by moment.

So, I started typing this blog with the intent to confess my faults (James 5:16) and ask you to pray for me. Pastor Tom Brantner, Restoration Church, recommended this at the picnic (that I missed) last Sunday.

Please pray that I will resist and utterly forsake the temptations to put my assignment to the side because it would be so much easier and more comfortable to just go back to complacency and busyness. Amen! That was my confession in this moment and prayer request. Thank you for praying with/for me. Hallelujah!

Now Don’t Worry!

In “Stop Worry From Choking Your Assignment,” Pastor Tafara expressed the importance of guarding our hearts! We don’t worry about the facts of life when we incline our ears to our Father’s words. He used the two following passages to emphasize the links between keeping our hearts with all diligence and having good ground which is an honest and good heart. This is a choice that we each make for ourselves that requires perseverance and tenacity.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:20-23

Don’t Worry: Be Patient

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luke 8:11-15

Be Careful…For Nothing!!!

Don’t worry and be careful for nothing! I love this. I used to tell my children as they were going out the door to be careful. Now we add, “for nothing” and laugh. Pastor Tafara also brought up that over 90 percent of the things people worry about never happen…NEVER HAPPEN!!!

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:6-8

Let’s be obedient children and pray and praise! Instead of criticizing and complaining about other people who are also made in the image of God, let’s put the emphasis on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Let’s exalt other people who are humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God! We don’t worry about the things that this world is presenting to us if we choose to think on the things of God.

Be of Good Cheer

Does worrying change anything? No! Jesus tells us that we are going to have tribulation. Bad things are going to happen while we are in this fallen world system. Don’t worry! Jesus says, “Be of good cheer!” Jesus has overcome the world.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

There are so many promises in the Word of God about getting into agreement with God through prayer and simply believing Him over what we experience in the physical.

God Cares For You!

If the enemy can get your focus on worrying about things that you can’t change (or things that will never happen), he can distract you from submitting yourself to God and walking in the abundant life that is yours for the taking.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:5-11

True humility is trusting God: Humble yourselves…: Casting ALL your care upon Him!!! We will have tribulation in this fallen world system and while we still have an enemy running around seeking whom he may devour! The Bible tells us how to take ourselves off the menu. Hallelujah!

Faith Without Works is Dead.

Examine yourself. If you say that you are believing God for something, you should have something to show for it. Do you believe that God is real and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him? If you say, “Yes” but you aren’t seeking Him, you are being deceived. Do you believe that God wants to open up the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing on you that you cannot even contain it all? “Oh yes, but I can’t afford to tithe.” Deception! Do you believe that Jesus paid it all to make you a new creature that you might be made the righteousness of God in Christ? You ARE the righteousness of God in Christ! Only believe!!!

Cloud of Witnesses

Jesus is the only person who has ever lived a sinless life. We are sometimes tempted to deify the Saints too, but God has never had anyone qualified working for Him! Hallelujah!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1

Don’t Worry: Pray

Father, we turn from our thoughts and ways and turn to Yours which are infinitely higher. Help us to take our eyes off of ourselves and our faults, failures, circumstances, and even our accomplishments and keep them on Jesus and on seeking You with all our hearts. We choose to lay aside every weight and sin, and to run with patience the race that is set before us. We ask You to reveal to us what that looks like for each of us individually as we seek You and to grow closer to You moment by moment. We choose to fight the good fight by obeying Your every loving command because we know that You care for us. You are a good Father! We love You and thank You for first loving us. Help us to love others. Amen.

Don’t Worry: Study the Word

God is good. And He is good all the time. Please don’t take my word for it. The Bible can be confusing and especially the Old Testament. But don’t give up. Get into a discipleship program. I am understanding the importance now more than ever of getting a greater understanding of the New Testament which is the covenant we Christians are under which is much better than the Old Covenant. We know things and have access to information and even the throne room of God and boldness in approaching God Almighty! Wow! YouWillWantTo know Him more.