This morning as I was spending time with the Lord and reading my Bible, Philippians 4:6-7 jumped out at me:
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Out on the deck, a chickadee caught my eye. I said to the Lord, “Isn’t he darling, Lord?”
The Lord said, “Do you think he is worried?”
“Well, no, Lord. You take care of him.”
He continued, “Aren’t you of more value than he?”
These tiny birds are my favorite. Despite their diminutive size, they are able to withstand temperatures of 30 below zero. They stick around all year round, knowing, however birds know, that the Lord will provide for them. (Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:24)
When we worry, we bring an onslaught of demonic activity. (Ephesians 6:11-12) I once heard it said that worry is faith in what the devil will do. Worry is also that place between control and trust. It’s just downright bad for you.
In the King James version of the Bible, they say, “Be careful for nothing…” Careful means “anxious, distracted”. It is used the same way in Luke 10:41-42: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Martha was anxious, distracted and stressed out. Mary had her eyes on Jesus, and peace. Luke 12:25-32 is all about not worrying or being anxious because the Father takes care of us! Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes us glad. (Proverbs 12:25 KJV)
That is how we get when we take our eyes from the Lord, when we choose to think on our problems rather than on Him and what is true and honorable and right, (Philippians 4:8-9) as well as to trust Him to work things out.
Paul wrote Philippians, a letter to his friends, from prison in Rome! He could have chosen to be distracted and miserable, but he didn’t. We may not think so when we are in the middle of a tizzy, but it is a place of choices. No one can make us think anything we don’t want to think about. We can choose to think on the Lord and His divine provision, or our problems and what others think. Choose distraction, or peace.
One of the trickster’s tactics is to distract you. There is no peace in distraction-it has a snowball effect-the thoughts, worries, and fears all pile on until it is so huge it consumes you.
I don’t understand all that is going on in my life right now, which is a good thing as the Lord says to trust in Him with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths.(Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV) I could choose to get anxious and sick about things, or I can turn my eyes back on my Jesus and sit at His feet as Mary did and hear what He says about the situation and trust Him, thanking Him for all He has done, then the peace that passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind.
Mary chose that one thing that was important-Jesus. The chickadee keeps on trucking….no worries. Won’t you? I am.