no worries

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A Stake In The Ground: No More Worrying

4th January

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

Philippians 4:6

How many minutes of our lives do we waste worrying? Worrying about circumstances that are beyond our control? The truth is, as Jesus said, ‘worrying does not add a single moment to your life?’ It is a fruitless agenda. It belittles our faith in Jesus and it lessens our understanding of God as ABBA Father: The God who will provide.

Yet having said all that, our natural instinct is to worry. Even though we know God is more than capable to deliver us, provide us and sometimes sort out the mess that we have gotten ourselves into. Yet there comes a time in our lives where we need to suppress these feelings of worry and exercise our faith by trusting in God. Let us put a stake in the ground and say from this moment on, WE WILL NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BUT TRUST IN GOD ALMIGHTY FOR EVERYTHING! He is our Rock and Redeemer. It is Jesus’ words that re-assure and comfort us to not worry but trust in Him and it is Paul’s words that re-affirm that truth, so that in thanksgiving we too can rejoice that God is in control. There is no need to worry. It is a promise. This is not to belittle your problems, but rather to magnify God to become greater than your than worries.

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Stepping Out In Faith Through Life’s Storms

17th March

“”Take courage, I am here.” Then Peter called out to Him, “Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on water.” “Yes come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water toward towards Jesus.”

Matthew 12:27-28

Life has storms. It’s a given. We live in a fallen world. Yet just because life has storms, doesn’t mean we need to give up and drown in those storms.

In today’s passage we pick up the story of Jesus meeting His disciples in the midst of their own crisis. Jesus has just fed 5,000 people. He sends His disciples away and has some alone time (important principle if even Jesus had His own time). On their journey crossing the lake, the disciples encounter a storm that is proving to be very dangerous. As they look out into to the waves and the storm, they see a figure walking towards them and assume that it’s a ghost.

The disciples were in a state of panic. The wind and waves were crashing around them and they were struggling to contain them. And then to top it off, a ghost like figure starts walking towards them. However, as Jesus approaches, He reveals His identity and by doing so, eases their fears and worries.

Jesus’ comforting words to the disciples can also be a comfort for us today in the midst of our storms and trials. “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, I am here.” These words have so much life in them. They are so comforting and the great thing is, is that they are eternal words. Yes they were for the disciples at their time of need, however we can rely on these words as our promise today, because the same person who spoke those words to the disciples, is the same person who lives in us. So today “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, Jesus is here.” Jesus is at hand, in the midst of your storm..

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No One Can Pray And Worry At The Same Time (Max Lucado)

14th – 15th March

Weekend Edition

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up”

Proverbs 12:25 

Life is so short, so unpredictable and so fragile. Worrying doesn’t add anything to your life. Rather it probably reduces your lifespan (not a scientific fact). If life is so short, then we shouldn’t waste time worrying. Yet the truth is that we do worry. We do let worry take over our lives and let it become like an unassailable mountain.

Yet if we are praying, as mentioned in yesterdays post, we gain victory by trusting in God and making Him priority in our lives. Prayer gives our problems to Jesus. The responsibility becomes His. We exchange our heavy, burdened hearts for joyful, free and living hearts. Worry focuses on ME but praying focuses on Jesus.

We also have a greater responsibility to encourage and cheer up our friends. Today’s proverb says exactly that, “an encouraging word cheers a person up”. Good words bring life. It has the opposite effect to worry. Worry weighs you down, but a good word lifts us up. It is so true that when you are down and burdened, an uplifting encouraging word can make all the difference and put your worries into perspective. Our challenge is to find someone to encourage and to give a good word to. Not only will it help them but will help you too.