Overcoming - Part 2
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Journey Into Overcoming
Journey Into Overcoming
Wiping Out Worry
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith!
Last week we looked at problems and why God would allow us to go through problems.
God allows us to have problems to direct us, inspect us, correct us, and perfect us.
Today I want to look at the issue of Worry and How We Can Wipe Out Worry in our lives:
Everyone worries. Some people worry if they have nothing to worry about because they think they must have forgotten something, or they would have something to worry about. What is worry?
Someone has said, "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due."
another Person said, "Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere."
The word "worry" comes from a root word that means "to choke or strangle." Worry chokes the happiness and joy out of our lives.
First: we need to understand the difference between worry and concern.
Concern focuses on the present; worry focuses on the future.
Concern means we can do something about a situation because it's in the present. Worry relates to the future and is out of our hands.
However, not worrying doesn't mean we don't plan for the future. God plans for the future. He planned the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ thousands of years in advance.
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Planning is important;
This means we plan for the future, but don't worry about it.
To do that, we need to know why we shouldn't worry and how to wipe out worry.
Don’t Worry!
There are at least three reasons why we shouldn't worry.
1. Worry causes us to lose perspective.
“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?
Jesus says’ Isn’t life more than just about stuff!
When we focus on the physical rather than the spiritual, worry causes us to lose perspective.
2. Worry causes us to forget our worth.
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?
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
You are Far more Valuable
To show us how important we are to God, the bible reminds us
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
3. Worry robs us of strength.
Someone has said, "Worry doesn't rob tomorrow of its sorrow; it robs today of its strength
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Proverbs
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Worry causes us to lose perspective, forget our worth, and robs us of strength.
How To Wipe Out Worry
Journey Series
1. Examine your priorities. Worry is a warning light that tells us our priorities are out of order.
Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.
We must put God first in any area—relationships, finances, or whatever—God will bless that part of our lives.
Lord, you bless those who do what is right; you protect them like a soldier’s shield.
we need to examine our priorities and... 2. Live in the present.
This means we should live one day at a time.
A good illustration of worry is when the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness and God fed them manna from heaven. The manna fell every morning and melted like snow when the sun hit it. Moses told the Israelites to gather only enough for one day and not to keep any until morning.
But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.
Here’s the principle :
Worrying about tomorrow can make today "stink." God wants us to enjoy today, not ruin it by worrying about tomorrow.
We are to plan for the future but live in the present. As someone has said: "Today is a gift from God; that's why it's called the 'present.'"
We can't enjoy today's "present" if we worry about tomorrow's problems. God will give us the grace, or strength, to live each day
Your gates will have locks of iron and bronze, and you will be strong as long as you live.
Duet. 33:25
This means God gives us the grace to live every day He has ordained for us to live.
I don't know what tomorrow holds for me, but I know God will give me the strength I need for every day He has given me to live.
God wants us to examine our priorities, live in the present, and... 3. Pray about our problems.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Phil. 5:
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The word translated guard is a military term. When we pray in faith, the peace of God acts as a sentry, or guard, to keep worry out of our hearts and minds. It takes faith to turn everything over to the Lord in prayer, but that is the only way to experience the peace of God in the midst of our problems.
In the area of problems, we only have two choices: panic or pray.
Psa
Journey Series - Living Series and Studies - Journey Series – Journey into Overcoming: Rising Above Life's Toughest Problems.
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
One reason it is difficult for us to give our problems to the Lord is we forget how much God loves us.
1
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
To wipe out worry, we must examine our priorities, live in the present, and pray about our problems.
Which of these need the most attention in your life, and what will you do about it today?
Next Steps:
Read the book of Ephesians