Taking authority over Worry

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matt 6:33-34

Don’t worry, easier said than done. Most of our worry occurs inside our thoughts.  Yes, it comes out when we share our fears and thoughts with others, but the battle is in the mind.  Maybe you can’t sleep at night because this worry thought keeps replaying over and over.  Or maybe you rehearse the scenarios again and again of how the situation is going to play out.  What you want to say or will say or should have said are examples of the relentless thoughts rolling around your mind. Make no mistake, this is called worry and Jesus commands us to “not worry”.

Recently, I performed a job for someone but used a different part than what they wanted.  Served the same function, but they wanted a specific part to be used.  I was frustrated that this information was not explained beforehand because I will have to change the part and because I failed to meet expectations.  I rehearsed what I had been told, I thought about arguing back to the letter of the law, I rehearsed my response endlessly in my thoughts.  I could not sleep because the event kept replaying in my mind.  I was justified, I thought.  Then I realized it was worry.

At the core of worry is our frustration for not being God.  Not that we want his job.  We just want to be able to control the outcome of our lives.  When problems arise that we have no control over, we worry.  Maybe it is a bill that needs to be paid, maybe it’s a confrontation that needs to take place, maybe its an illness that needs a healing, maybe its looming foreclosure or repo, maybe its harassment on the job, or maybe it’s a fear that you don’t have what it takes to be successful.  All of these can cause stress that leads to worry.  So what it the answer?

First, call a spade a spade.  Worry is wrong.  Do not try to make worry something other than it is….lack of faith in God to handle our future. Admit (confess) to God that you have been worrying.  Do this verbally.  Let yourself hear that you have not trusted God for your future.  Daniel could have worried about the lions den, but we remember Daniel as someone who trusted God.  You may have to do this repeatedly, as it takes a while to establish a new godly habit.

Second, Matthew 6:33 tells us to replace worry with “seeking God”.  As individuals this may have a different application for each of us.  But it is not neutral or passive.  Tell God that you know that He is in control and He already has the best plan for your future.  Tell Him that you are willing to do anything in regards to a resolution of your problem.  God will lead you as you ask for ears to hear in what to do next.  Trust that God’s perspective about your crisis is the right one.  Seeking God could include reading of scripture, singing worship songs, praying aloud or serving as an act of trust.  Again, seeking is not passive, you will need to do something in order to say that you are seeking God.

Third, take authority over your thinking.  All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus.  He has now delegated that authority to us as his children and ambassadors.  He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.  Those who worry are not operating from a “sound mind”.  Romans 8 tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear leading to bondage again, but we are engaged with a heavenly Father who knows every need that we have.   We have the mind of Jesus, so we can operate as children of God.  Demand worry to leave you alone.  Ask for peace in your heart and mind (Phil 4:6-7).  Faithful is He who calls you and He will also bring it to pass.  Don’t curse your life, in saying that you are just like you mom,  aunt or whomever had a tendency to worry.  You are a new creation in Jesus. The old has gone and all things have become new, including your ability to take authority over a worrying nature.

No amount of discussion about tomorrow’s worries solves those problems.  However, walking close to our Shepherd lets us know that we are being cared for.

Praying that you will be freed from Worry.

Pastor Greg