Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 Which of you by worrying can add one [a]cubit to his [b]stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [c]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Reflection
Worry is a result of thinking on or setting your mind on a problem or an adverse situation. Worry is a dangerous and deadly exercise. The Bible is full of many instances where people where advised not to worry or be anxious. One that is worth mentioning is where Jesus tells the people not to worry about what they will eat, drink or put on. These were very common and basic needs of the time and still are today. Jesus goes on to ask how many of them will add a cubit to their stature by worrying.
In other words, worrying is a fruitless exercise. But how does one overcome worry? Most people worry, NOT because they want to, but because of what they are facing or going through. Here are some reasons why people worry:
• When we are not in control or when we feel helpless
• Pressure
• Need
• Delay
• Danger
• Opposition
The above are issues that cause us to worry. However we all know that worry is not only detrimental to us, it also never produces any solution. So again how does one overcome worry and anxiety?
1. Meditate on the Word of God: since worry is a result of setting out mind on the problem, or the adverse situation, focusing on the solution (what God says about the situation) will help to overcome worry. Notice you cannot worry when your mind is not on the problem. Fix your mind on what God is saying through His Word. This will produce faith and strength in you. It will also clear your mind so that you can hear the Spirit of God ministering the way forward to you through the Word.
To be continued Next week…
