DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!
- May 11, 2015
- 3 min read
The bible says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, about your body or what you will wear. Is not life more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barnes and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.”
In this scripture, Jesus continues to give examples of why we should not worry. Worrying and stress beings headaches and heartbreaks. These are two words that can cause damage to your mind and body.
How? Have you ever heard of an ulcer? It is a break in the skin or mucous membrane with a loss of surface tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue and often pus. It is something that festers and corrupts like an open sore. In other words, it affects your body physically in a harmful way. It disrupts your health. Many studies and statistics show that worrying and stress causes ulcers. Not only that, but worrying and stress trigger panic attacks, mental confusion, anxiety breakdowns, depression, hurt and pain. These disorders are not of God.
The devil desires to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10 NIV). He will do everything he can to accomplish this. He will attack our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The devil delights in seeing the children of God suffer and lose hope. The evil one smiles everytime we become confused looking at our situation from the perspective of the flesh rather than that of the spirit. I admit, I get so caught up with my way of rationalizing and doing things that I forget who is really in control. The enemy wants you and me to doubt God. The “father of lies” wants us to forget about our testimonies. In other words, he wants us to forget about what the Lord did for us; how much the Lord blessed us and where the Lord has brought us. When we let our defenses down, that’s when the enemy finds a way to infiltrate.
“Let’s not allow the devil to win!!!” Though the enemy has asked to sift us as wheat, the good news is that Jesus is praying for us (Luke 22:31 KJV). Jesus is praying that we resist the tempter. Jesus not only has prayed for us, but He has provided for us an example as to how to overcome the prince of the air. Jesus defeated the devil in the fourth chapter of Matthew during His wilderness experience. In Jesus’ humanity, He did not yield to His flesh, but was able to tap into the spirit and acquired victory. In the Old Testament, God rebuked satan (Zechariah 3:2). In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:10 ESV).’” We too have the authority and power to rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus.
Dear friends, we cannot afford to become passive or complacent in our everyday concerns and problems that overwhelm us to the point that we give up. It’s not time to call it quits. God does not equip us with fear, but with courage, strength and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Let us pray for one another’s strength in the Lord as we confront stress and worry. Remember that the battle is not ours, but it belongs to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20). All we have to do is stand still and allow the Lord to take control.
As I was reading the scriptures, I became overjoyed. I found out that God grants fruit that is contrary to worrying and stress. The Lord is gracious and bountiful in providing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22 NIV).
Ask yourself if you have any of these fruits. The fruit listed is simply the characteristics of Christ. If we allow these fruits to become a part of our personality, our perspective will change. Our mannerism will change. Our disposition will change. When problems arise (and they will) we will not look at it as a problem, but rather as a challenge that with our faith in God, we will overcome.
Yes, the challenges and storms of life will come, but the love of God will pull us through. I encourage you to work diligently on not worrying and stressing. Allow the Lord to visit you when you pray. Talk with Jesus as if you are talking with a friend. Jesus is closer than you think. Open up your heart to Him. He knows about our secrets, sin, and difficulties. Let’s go to Jesus and allow Him to turn our worries and stress into confidence and security in Him.
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