“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-28, 31, 33-34
Try this: Go back over these verses and count how many times the Lord uses the word “worry.” You’ll discover in the span of these few short verses that the Lord Jesus repeats six times, “Do not worry.” Talk about driving home a point!
The Lord was wise in repeating His warning so many times. He knows the devastating effects of worrying, how it can corrode your faith like acid. Worry robs you of joy, it steals your hope.
What is worrying you today? A deadline or a diet? A car payment or a gloomy medical report? Repeat one more time your reading of Matthew 6:25-34 and personalize it by putting your name after each time the Lord commands (notice, it’s not a suggestion): “Do not worry.”
Lord, I admit that I’m so prone to worrying about things that happen in my life. Help me today to trust You. Receive glory as I turn from my anxiety and turn to You. Thank You that Jesus has given me this solemn warning not to worry.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
