Do Not Worry: Taking Jesus Seriously About Anxiety
A practical Christian study of “Do Not Worry: Taking Jesus Seriously About Anxiety,” with clear application for faith, relationships, and everyday life.
Do Not Worry
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Name the struggle
Now, to help you understand that word just a moment, it doesn't mean you won't be concerned about things, and it doesn't mean you won't plan for things. What it means is you and I will not be distracted from God and his kingdom and our joy in him by any physical care, not sickness, not sorrow, not job loss, not marriage problems, nothing.
Worry is a faith issue, and so he will help us strengthen our faith, and as a result of that, we will see those worries dissipate.
Understand what feeds it
Now we talked about this a little bit last week with Philippians four, so I won't hang on too long here, but what goes through the eyes fills the soul. Whatever we are watching every day, reading every day, looking at every day, devoting our attention to all of that is coming inside of us and it's taking up space.
If you'd like to be less worried about politics or the coronavirus new stats, or the drama of friends and family on Facebook, here's an idea, turn off the television, shut down the social media, and read the word of God.
Choose a steadier response
Jesus goes through this beautiful section while he's telling us do not worry about our life, where he talks about the birds of the air, verse twenty six, they do not sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet God takes care of them. The lilies of the field they grow, even the blades of grass are born when God decides it's time for them to live, they live as long as he chooses, and they pass away when their time has come.
I encourage you, especially when life is at its hardest, to just look around at the power of God.
Move forward with hope
I have laid out a heavy instruction from Jesus that many of us find quite difficult, do not worry, and I've walked you through a series of principles Jesus is teaching. This is not a one point or a three-point discussion, there's a whole bunch of stuff going on.
They can listen to this podcast, and maybe you're thinking, I really do need to turn the corner on this, and changes are needed, and I watch way more television than I read the word, and I spend way too much time on social media, and this all just seems like too much.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where do I see the problem or opportunity described in “Do Not Worry: Taking Jesus Seriously About Anxiety” in my own life?
- 02What Scripture or spiritual principle in this study most needs my attention?
- 03What one specific change can I make this week to put this teaching into practice?
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