SECRET #31 OF FOLLOWING JESUS

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Jesus continues His teaching with: "For this reason I say to you," NOTE the connection to earthly and heavenly treasures. Now "for this reason" DON'T WORRY! "Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:25-27) So, SECRET #31: The follower of Jesus does not worry about life necessities.

So Jesus says, "Stop worrying about earthly treasures!" Such as your life-(eating and drinking). "Look at the birds" (26) implies that worry is natural. Worry is useless (27). You can't add anything to your height or years to your life.

"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" (Matthew 6:28-30)

Observe the lilies (28-29). If God takes care of them, He will most surely take care of you. Worry is not only useless; it is faithless (30). When you worry, you take everything into your own hands, which is not trusting in God.

"Do not worry then, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (Matthew 6:31-32)

In addition to these words of Jesus on worry, there is one more passage that I like to use personally and share with others. Disciplining myself to do what this passage teaches has really served me and others well in giving us a lift.

Here it is. There are three things that require your discipline. FIRST-Do not be anxious about anything. Did you get that? In order to work on your faith, you must discipline yourself to stop worrying about everything! Worry gets you absolutely nowhere. But it is so easy to get caught up in the swirl of worrying, as if you could do something to control the situation.

SECOND-but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Instead of worrying, discipline yourself to pray about everything! Note that you are to ask God while being grateful-with thanksgiving. Then, note you are to present your requests-desires-what you want-to God. Tell God what you want. Discipline yourself to take all of your requests or desires to God. Just by offering up your desires to God indicates a surrender of your control and giving the matter over to Him. Remember, God already knows your desires before you ask them. What He wants to know is whether or not you are willing to present them in surrender before Him.

After the first two disciplines-(1) do not worry about anything, instead (2) let your desires be made known to God, there is a major result: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. You will experience the peace of God and it will be the kind of peace that is beyond belief. It will be incredible! Your part is to discipline yourself not to worry and to take your desires before God. Note that this peace that you are given will guard your heart and mind. Why is this so important? It's because your heart and mind is where your worry resides. Lock up your heart and mind, so that worry is unable to be activated!

SECRET #31: The follower of Jesus does not worry about life necessities. So stop your worry and put your trust in God who knows all that you need now or will ever need. He will come through on your behalf! As my wife likes me to say to her: "Everything is going to be OK!"