DON’T WORRY!!!
By Rev. Leo Chapman,
pastor at Bethel AME Church
The past thirteen months has brought us many, many challenges, changes and concerns. As has been constantly proclaimed over and over again, we are seeing, experiencing, encountering, enduring and confronting many things and situations that we never imagined we would have to deal with!
We have dealt with difficulties, differences, dangers, disappointments, Coronavirus and death!
We have faced adversities, cares concerns, complacency, uncertainty and complaints! Many loved ones, family members, friends and acquaintances have gone on into eternity, but God, through his grace and mercy, has blessed us and kept us here, alive and well. God reminds us that he is still with us!
Today we give thanks and praise to God for all that he has done, is doing right now and all that he is going to do in our lives.
In spite of all that the Lord has done, today, many Christians are drowning in a sea of worry! There is a lot of turbulence in these waters. There is no peace in their lives. Fear and worry have them chained and bound! They need to be free!
Many Christians think that everyone worries about something. But God does not want us to worry about anything and we don’t have to. Jesus, when he was here on earth, gave us a brief lesson on not worrying, but to trust God in St. Matthew 6:25 – 34.
The Apostle Paul gave further instructions about not worrying in Philippians 4:4-9. The Living Bible translation breaks it down clearly.
(Philippians 4:4-9) (Living Bible)
4. Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!
5. Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon.
6. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.
7. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
8. And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
9. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
Let’s look at what these scriptures tell us in a little more detail and let them answer some questions for us. Verse 6 says, “Don’t worry about anything…”, someone will ask the question, “If I don’t worry about it, what am I going to do?”. Look at the next part of the verse, “Instead, pray about everything.” You might ask, “How do I pray about it? What do I say?” Well here is what you do, tell God what you need for him to do about the situation so that you will not worry about. The next part of the verse says, “and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.” Know this, in order to thank God for his answers before the evidence of the answer is manifested, you must put your faith in action. You choose to believe that God will do what you asked him to do and thank him for it in advance.
Verse says, “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”
When a person is worrying, their minds are usually bouncing off the wall, “What if this happens, what if that happens, suppose they do this, what if…., what if……” It can go on and on. But when you obey the referenced scripture and thank God for his answers to your prayers, you put your faith in action, thus activating the power of the Holy Spirit. The peace of the Living God will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you continue to trust in Christ Jesus.
The temptation to worry and fret will return but when it does, you rise up in the Name of Jesus and take your authority. Speak to the temptations, command them to leave you in Jesus’ name and they have no other choice but to obey you.
In the verses 8 and 9 the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us what to think about and to do. “…Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Our thought life is of utmost importance. The things that we keep on our minds, meditate on and ultimately verbalize will dictate our destiny.
So I reiterate, “…Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”
So, don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, thank God for his answers and trust in Christ Jesus!
