“Therefore I say to you, do not worry.” Matthew 6: 25
I kinda wish I could just stop there. God said through His Son, Yeshua, in His Word, “Do not worry.” So, do not worry! End of newsletter. But I can’t stop there. Just repeating that tiny part of what Yeshua said about worrying doesn’t seem to be enough in a world where worrying is normal. They even make pills for you to take if your worrying gets out of hand. Let’s face it, worrying is what we are “supposed to do.” Right? We’re supposed to worry about our kids, worry about our spouse, worry about our bank account, our health, our future, etc…
Wrong! Worrying is not what we’re supposed to do and it is definitely not normal. It is not in God’s design for creation to worry. He created us in His image and likeness. And He is a faith being, not a worrier.
If you look in your Bible, you will see that the entire chapter of Matthew 6 is written in red. That means those are God’s Words spoken directly through Yeshua to you. In those words in red, God Himself is telling us not to worry! Worry is faith in the wrong things. It is faith twisted. The dictionary definition of worry is to give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Does that sound like something God wants for you to do? Of course not. Fear and worry (faith in the wrong things) is not of God, “for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 You are literally sinning when you fret and worry. Not only that, but fear brings about torment (severe physical or mental suffering). “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” 1 John 4: 18
Worry is putting your trust in what could happen rather than putting your trust in God’s promises for your life and the lives of your children. Worry opens the door for the enemy to come in and wreak havoc. In the same manner faith (complete trust or confidence in someone or something) unties God’s hands to move in a positive direction for you, worry-filled words unties the enemy’s hands to move in a negative direction against you.
“How does worry give way to the enemy?” When you worry, worry-filled words inevitably come out of your mouth. When you speak, you give power to either death and destruction or life abundantly: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 Your words matter because words have power.
Remember Zechariah? “The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1: 19-20 The angel told Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would bear a son. But Zechariah doubted so God literally had to shut his mouth from the ability to speak in order for John to be conceived. Why? Because the negative words Zechariah would have spoken would have stopped the blessing, which was the birth of John the Baptist. That’s how powerful words are!
“How do I end the habit of worrying?” By studying the Word and meditating on the precious promises of God. Control what goes in your mind because what goes in becomes your thoughts. Your thoughts, if not taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) will take route in your heart. What takes route in your heart will come out of your mouth. You will speak the negativity that you have fed your mind. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
Do you see the progression of worry? First, you feed your mind. Be it a doctor’s report, the news, social media, or your gossipy neighbor. Then you meditate on it in your thought life. Those thoughts take route in your heart and come out of your mouth. Before you know it you are speaking words of death and destruction. Those worries turned to fear and torment. Now your faith is twisted and you are believing and speaking the lies of the enemy over your life rather than standing on the promises of God.
Stop it! Stop feeding your mind on all these tragic narratives. Stop giving the enemy a foothold in your life. Stop heaping destructive fear in your heart. God tells us “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” Matthew 6:31
Now start! Start doing what is necessary to reap the benefits of being a child of God. Start studying His word and meditating on it. Start feeding your mind things that are beneficial to your soul. Start taking negative thoughts captive and casting down vain imaginations. Start speaking only words of life. Start trusting God and what His Word says about you!
“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” Luke 12: 24-26
You are more valuable to God than the birds of the air. Put your trust in what He says, not what the world says. Whenever you find yourself worrying, remember Zechariah and say out loud, “I am not a worrier! I am not a doubter. I am a faith-filled child of the Most High God, more precious than the ravens that neither sow nor reap. My household is blessed and highly favored. My children are blessed. I walk in abundant health. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am a child of God. I am loved by God. He cares for me. I put my trust in Him.”
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!