Heart & Mind Part 4
Message Summary: Don’t worry. The most affluent society, America, is also the most worried. Worry is poisoning peace, killing joy, and stunting growth. More than half of Americans struggle with chronic worry daily. The physical, emotional, and spiritual effects from trauma have become normalized and we need someone else to tell us that it’s not normal. We tend to lean more towards fear than faith.
Anxiety vs Worry: We experience worry in our minds. We experience anxiety in our body.
With all of the problems in the world it feels like somebody has to worry about it, but Jesus says we are not supposed to worry because he’s on the throne.
Matthew 6:25 – 34 covers the things we worry about the most: finances, food, fitness, fashion, and future. You shouldn’t worry because God provides for the birds and birds don’t worry. Be a bird! The first part of this passage distinguishes between concern and worry. Concern focuses on a challenge, and it leads to action. Worry focuses on what is beyond our control and leads to inaction. It’s stewing without doing. In verse twenty-seven, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Birds don’t worry, but they find food if they are hungry, warmth if they are cold, build a nest if they are homeless.
When you worry, you are saying, “I don’t trust God.” The reason we are worried is because God is not first in our life. What do we do when we are worried? Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.
What happens to the things we are worried about?
- It will never happen.
- It will happen but it won’t be bad as you thought it was going to be
- It happens and maybe it’s worse than you thought it was going to be and God carries you through it, he gets to be Jehovah Jireh and he provides for you with his joy, his strength, his peace.
We get to know God best when we need him the most.
- What we worry about the most often times reveals where we trust God the least. What are you worried about?
- When we are really worried about something, it’s an incredible opportunity to put God first in our life. What areas of your life do you need to put God first? (Marriage, Finances, Parenting, Health, Work, etc…)
- How can you put God first in those areas?
- We are in a fight. In what ways can you intentionally surrender daily to put God first?
Matthew 6:24-34 –“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.