by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011 www.holyspiritpress.org www.eaglesnestfoundation.org
Most of us know fear is not from God. Neither is worry.
There is a subconscious cultural phenomenon in the USA and many other cultures that seems to dictate if you don’t worry, then something is wrong with you. We need to worry about having enough money, whether our children will grow up right, if loved ones will recover from illnesses or die, (etc), right?
Wrong. We do not need to worry. In fact, as Christians we are commanded not to. God tells us to seek His Kingdom and all the rest will be provided for by Him.
This does not mean there will be no problems or disappointments for this remains earth, not heaven. And for every person there is a time to die, which no amount of worry can stop. But when we believe in God, the death of someone we love merely means they have gone to heaven ahead of us. We will see them again.
While we are living these physical lives in the body choosing not to worry signifies we know God promises. He promises He will protect us and provide for us sufficiently until the day He calls us home. All things come from Him and all things are in His hands.
Even considered from an un-spiritual perspective, consider the worthlessness of worry. Worry produces no positive result. In fact, in light of the object of our concern, it has absolutely no effect at all. Worry fixes nothing. It has no effect on the eventual outcome. The only possible consequences of worry are negative: probable negative effect on the health of the one who worries (including a obliteration of God’s gifts of joy and inner peace); and potential unfavorable effect on our relationships with those who are the object of our worry because worry often manifests in fear. Fear causes us to act in ways that are not necessarily of God or beneficial.
The opposite of worry is trust in God. Every moment of every day each of us has a choice: to worry or to trust God to be God.
We gain strength to trust instead of worry through our understanding of God’s promises. God’s Word (the Bible) is filled with these promises. God is unchanging, therefore how He was with generations gone by is how we can expect Him to be with us. When we spent time in the Word of God and worshipping Him, it writes His truth of who He is on our hearts, so the adversary’s lies are unmasked as such. We use God’s promises to counter and demolish every attempt by the adversary to attack our minds with deceptive, frightening thoughts regarding potential outcomes which are meant to drive us to worry.
Our only true worry should be whether or not we actively are seeking God’s kingdom. There is such freedom in His Way. Concern focused on seeking God reflects a reverential, worshipful fear of the Lord, which God says is the beginning of receiving His superior Wisdom.
Worry is overcome by remembering the promises. He has a plan for each of us. His plans accompany us through all life’s “yuck” and are all good. Our Lord makes everything beautiful in its time exchanging ashes for beauty. Nothing can thwart His purposes or snatch us out of His hands.
So the next time you catch thoughts beginning to spin worry webs, stop! Take your thoughts captive to Christ. Consider what God promises. Consider His Way of dealing with that which causes concern. Ask Him if there is anything He wants you to do. Ask without fear, but through trust so He can whisper His instructions, if any, in a way you can hear. (Many times He speaks to us by peacefully dropping His ideas into our minds as thoughts, which we can’t hear when we are overwrought and overrun by worry.) Immerse yourself in God’s Word so you can use it as your spiritual sword to banish every bit of worrisome thought which tries to make an inroad.
Hurrah! Worry has now lost its appeal for it has no power. Declare worry dead in your life and let the Spirit of God train you how to walk it out.
PROV. 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
MATT. 6:31-34 (Amplified)
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Selah! [Pause, and calmly think of that!]
END
PLEASE view the new music video for “RESTORE” (with choir) on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQYnPY1vIA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL (Made by upcoming, Holy Spirit-filled film director, Olivia Mowry.)
Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist. She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way.
For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.
