Matthew 6:34 - Intimacy With God Destroys Worry.
Matthew 6:34: Intimacy With God Destroys Worry.
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Each day has enough trouble of its own. A logical implication
of this truth is that you can expect to encounter some trouble
everyday. I want to help you handle calmly and confidently the
difficulties that come your way. Events that surprise you do not surprise Me,
because I know everything. I am the Beginning and the End. Moreover, I
am fully available to you - to guide and comfort you as you go
through turbulent times.
Having enough trouble in each day can help you live in the
present. Your active mind seeks challenges to chew on. Without enough to
occupy your mind today, you are more likely to worry about the future.
I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the
present.
Difficulties need not deter you from enjoying My Presence. On
the contrary, they draw you closer to Me when you collaborate with
Me in handling them. As we deal with your problems together, you
gain confidence in your ability to cope. And the pleasure of My
Company greatly increases your Joy! (Mat. 6:34; Rev. 21:6; Rom. 12:12)
[Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
COMMENTARY
"We're not worried," we say nervously, "just quite
concerned."
Life is full of concerns - fleeting, chronic, financial,
relational, mild, or severe. These worries can drive us crazy just thinking
about them. They can also cause us to question our faith in God. Does
God care about our concerns? Is he doing anything to help us out?
In this passage, Jesus points out the lessons in trust that
we can learn from nature, assuring us of the futility of worry and
of the certainty of God's care. STRENGTHEN YOUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD'S
GRACIOUS CARE, AND WATCH YOUR WORRIES MELT AWAY.
Jesus knew that his disciples naturally worried about having
enough of life's necessities, so he reassured them that God would
provide for their needs. He pointed out that God provides for the animal
kingdom, so he also would provide for them - they mattered much more than
the animals (Matthew 6:25-34).
Worrying about our needs accomplishes nothing and ignores the
fact that God works to meet those needs. Jesus didn't tell his
disciples to be lazy or not to work, just to trust God and not to worry.
Do what you can about the concerns you have, but also realize
that God, who loves and cares for you, has made provision for them as
well. He will not let your needs overwhelm you. Whenever worries
plague you, follow these three steps: (1) tell God about your concerns,
asking him to provide for your needs; (2) do what you humanly can to
work on your concerns; and (3) trust in God's goodness remember
that he cares for you more than even you care for yourself, and he
will provide all you need at the right time. [The One Year Through
the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman]
We live in a world absolutely crippled by anxiety. I feel it,
and I know my kids do too. It's pervasive in the world around us. We
see it even in the faces of strangers in the crowd. Living with
anxiety is like being bound by chains.
But worry and anxiety don't help us at all! When we worry, we
aren't solving a problem; we are just being bound by it. Like chains,
worry and anxiety keep us locked down, unable to move forward. We get
stuck. Maybe it's a bill we don't know how we're going to pay. Maybe we
worry that we aren't strong enough to stay on the road to recovery. We
might even be worrying about those we love.
When we worry, we are telling God, "I've got this one." We
think we are in control, but we aren't. Worry and anxiety really don't
change anything. They just wear us out and keep us tied up. But God
will break those chains if we ask him to. Instead of continuing to
turn those anxious thoughts over in our minds and worrying about
things we can't control, let's leave our anxious thoughts with Jesus
and let him break those chains that have us bound.
Father, thank you for setting me free from the chains of
worry and anxiety. I leave all my anxious thoughts at your feet. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John &
Johnny Baker re Psa. 107:14]
ILLUSTRATION
Daddy, help! There's a huge spider on my pillow!"
There's nothing like being ripped from sleep by a panicked,
screaming child. I jumped out of bed and ran into her room, where I found
her frozen and staring at her pillow. Her finger shaking, she
pointed to a big black spider crawling across her pillow. I walked over
to kill the spider (it's in my job description) and picked up a
big, black ball of fuzz, probably from the stuffed penguin on her
bed. There was no threat, there never had been, but my daughter
didn't know it. She saw something and drew a conclusion: Spider!
Danger!
To be honest, I have a tendency to do this myself. Not with
spiders, but with my everyday life. I see something, hear something, and
jump to a conclusion. That kind of thinking is dangerous because it
can cause us to worry about things that aren't real, try to fix
situations that don't need to be fixed, or strive to please people who
might not even be upset.
To make good decisions, we need to get all the information
before we rush to worry, stress out about a confrontation, or decide
recovery is too difficult. We will do better if we can calmly assess the
situation and then ask God to help us find the right solution.
Father, thank you for giving me the patience I need to
rightly assess the situations I encounter without panicking and jumping
to conclusions. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily
Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Refuse to worry! In this world there will always be something
enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet:
Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is
constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best
defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with
thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace,
leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your
circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective. Live close to
Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay. (Luke 12:25,
26; 1Th. 5:16-18) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Do not worry about tomorrow! This is a most gracious command.
I understand human frailty; I know that you are dust. This command
is not meant to burden you or condemn you. It is meant to set you
free from worldly cares.
Just before I gave this directive to My followers, I spoke
about how to enjoy such freedom. Remember that your heavenly Father
knows what you need. As you seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness, your perspective changes. Worldly pursuits become secondary to
matters of unseen, eternal reality - the advancement of My kingdom. So
put more time and energy into developing your relationship with Me,
seeking not only My Presence but also My will. Be ready to follow
wherever I lead. I will guide you along adventurous paths that can fill
your life with meaning. I created you to enjoy My Presence in the
present - entrusting your future into My care and keeping. As you
delight yourself in Me, I give you the desires of your heart. (Mat.
6:32-34; Psa. 103:14; 37:4) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Seek to please me above all else. Let that goal be your focal
point as you go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect you
from scattering your energy to the winds. The free will I bestowed on
you comes with awesome responsibility. Each day presents you with
choice after choice. Many of these decisions you ignore and thus make
by default. Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose
your way. That's why it is so important to stay in communication with
Me, living in thankful awareness of My Presence.
You inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are
constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me
can keep you from coming unraveled too. (Matthew 6:33; John 8:29;
Colossians 3:23-24) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries. I
knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour
segments. I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the
weight of only one day at a time. Do not worry about tomorrow or get
stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in My Presence today. (Psa.
118:24; Phi. 3:13, 14) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am perpetually with you, taking care of you. That is the
most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or
space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the
future, for I am already there. When you make that quantum leap into
eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in My
hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do
not worry about tomorrow.
I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is
to see, doing all there is to do. Don't be distracted by future
concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so
few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of
their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into
tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient
only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am
training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is
how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of
grace. (Mat. 6:34; John 10:10; James 4:13-15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
Strive to live more fully in the present, refusing to worry
about tomorrow. Striving involves devoting serious effort and energy
to something; it usually includes struggle. You must exert
continual effort if you want to live present-tense in My Presence. I urge
you to make Me the major pursuit of your everyday life.
It's essential to resist the temptation to worry. You live in
a fallen world, full of sin and struggles - you will never run
short of things that can provoke anxiety. However, remember that each
day has enough trouble of its own. I carefully calibrate the amount
of difficulty you will encounter on a given day. I know exactly how
much you can handle with My help. And I'm always near - ready to
strengthen, encourage, and comfort you.
Pursuing a close walk with Me is the best way to live in the
present. Keep bringing your thoughts back to Me whenever they wander.
Return to Me joyfully, beloved. I will take great delight in you and
rejoice over you with singing. (Mat. 6:34; Isa. 41:10; Zep. 3:17) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me,
responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for
those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your
resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His
gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting.
Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let
your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip
you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep
dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself don't get tangled
up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. (Psa. 84:12; Mat.
6:34) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Stop worrying long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly to
you, in the depths of your being. Your mind shuttles back and forth,
hither and yon weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise
up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry.
Thus, My voice is muffled, and you hear only "white noise."
Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can think My
thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned
after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or
that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, letting My thoughts reprogram
your thinking. (Deu. 30:20; Gen. 1:27; Rom. 12:2) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
Here and Now comprise the coordinates of your daily life.
Most people let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived.
They avoid the present by worrying about the future or longing for a
better time and place. They forget that they are creatures who are
subject to the limitations of time and space. They forget their Creator,
who walks with them only in the present.
Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those
whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine. As you give yourself
more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find
that you simply have no time for worry. Thus, you are freed to let My
Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace.
(Luke 12:25, 26; 1:79) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Dearest child, There are two ways you can go about the business
of your life. You can be stressed and anxious and crippled with
worries. Or you can trust that I am in control, working in your
circumstances, and you can be free! Why is trust so difficult for you? Why do
you worry about menus and calories and grams of fat? Why do you fret
about styles and fashions and putting together the right wardrobe?
Life is so much more than food. Your body is so much more important
that the clothes you put on it every morning. Look up. See the
birds? They have never made a grocery list or counted a calorie, and
yet they are fed. Find a field filled with flowers. Spend an hour
gazing at their beauty. You think they are worried about whats in
style this year or what color goes with what? Now, if I take care of
birds and flowers, cant you believe that I will take care of you?
It is the godless person who worries about these things. But you
are my child. Seek my kingdom, and Ill provide for you. Leave
tomorrow in my hands. I love you, God [Postcards from Heaven by Claire
Cloninger]
One day Tauler met a beggar. "God give you a good day, my
friend," he said. The beggar answered, "I thank God I never had a bad
one." Then Tauler said, "God give you a happy life, my friend." "I
thank God," said the beggar, "I am never unhappy." Tauler in amazement
said, "What do you mean?" "Well," said the beggar, "when it is fine, I
thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty, I thank
God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God's will is my will,
and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy
when I am not?" Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. "Who are
you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the beggar. "Where then is your
kingdom?" asked Tauler. And the beggar answered quietly: "In my heart."
[Barclay Commentary]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090818-2204.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150108-1645.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
