How Much Power Does Worry Have Over You?

What exactly is worry, and why do human beings tend to fall into its grasp? Worry is compulsively imagining situations for which there isn’t a suitable answer or solution. Worrying is agonizing over what should be done to solve an issue.

Worry can annoy others who are subject to the worrier’s moody attitude. Worry is impossible to cover up because the mind is preoccupied with obsessive thoughts and concerns. Worrying has an emotional and mental effect on those in its vicinity.

Have you noticed that when you worry about a situation indefinitely, your feelings react as if that situation has actually happened? The initiator of worry is fear of what you think will probably happen. Jesus cautioned that worrying is unproductive. Ask yourself, “Is God capable of managing this desperate situation?”

Our task is to be patient and wait for him to reveal to us what he will do when the time is right.       

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I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the air….Your Heavenly Father takes care of them.  

~Matthew 6:25-26 Contemporary English Version

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Go Forward with God's Presence

God created the family to provide a stable environment for children so they could develop the strength of character to leave home and create their own families. Stable families produce strong communities which create a nation capable of withstanding assaults hurled against it. At the core of a stable family is faith in God.

Disappointments are often seen as punishment from God because of sin. Moses faced disappointment but didn’t become disillusioned or turn his back on God’s grace and mercy. God gave him courage and the will to go forward and face the aftermath of poor judgment and bad choices.

             Moses’ faith in God remained strong when it came time for him to die. As you commit yourself to Christ Jesus, you can face whatever the future holds. Jesus will comfort and guide you through challenging times. God's grace enables you to count it a joy when life hurls uncertainty your way. God’s presence with you gives evidence of his faithfulness.  

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I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:9 Contemporary English Version

 

You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.

~Hebrews 11:6 The Living Bible

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God, Our Source for Courage

Courage is a character trait required for reaching personal goals. In the movie, To Hell and Back, Audie Murphy held back German soldiers during World War II while the men under his command retreated to safety. Courage, an innate part of Murphy’s character was responsible for his becoming the most decorated soldier of that war.

Several years ago as I was filling my gas tank, a man jumped out of his car with angry, blazing eyes determined to teach me a lesson for taking too much time at the pump. My impulse was to jump into my truck. Instead, I turned and faced him. He suddenly stopped and walked back to his car. Perhaps the presence of God was apparent.

Only when Samson believed death was undeniable, did he cry out to God for help. God waits patiently for us to realize that he is our source, not only for courage to meet the challenges of each day, but for all our needs as well. God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go.”   

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Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.

~Ephesians 6:14-16 The Message

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God, Giver of Confidence

 It takes confidence to be courageous, for confidence encompasses more than intelligence, social skills or physical strength. When Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Hebrew people, he inherited a task that would require patience and wisdom far beyond what he could humanly produce.

God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous, to obey all of the commandments he gave to Moses. God promised to constantly be with him, which became Joshua’s source of confidence and courage for completing the task God gave him. Unlike Joshua, Samson's confidence derived from his own physical strength. 

Samson did not necessarily display courage when facing an enemy.  It was more like reckless abandonment. Courage analyzes a situation whereas reckless abandonment discounts caution. Listen to St. Paul’s formula for coping with life’s challenges and uncertainty. "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be people of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." Happy Thanksgiving week to you.  

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Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 Good News Bible

 

O, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his lovingkindness is everlasting.

~1 Chronicles 16:34 New American Standard Bible

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Faith: Rx to Prevent Failure

At some level during everyone’s lifetime, failure is immanent. Like stress, it’s only a matter of time until it occurs, but then how it’s perceived will determine if it is an unmanageable disaster or a learning opportunity. On one occasion the disciples of Jesus were unable to heal a young boy who was suffering from seizures, but Jesus immediately healed the boy.

Perhaps lack of faith can be linked to many failures. Although Sampson was ordained by God to be a judge of the Hebrew people, he failed to gain their respect and trust. God gave him unusual strength, but he failed to use it in ways that honored God.

Samson appeared to be out of step with God most of his life, ensuring failure. He permitted greed and lust to push God's purpose for him into a secondary place. The Lord God desires to increase your faith so you have confidence to do His work. Unflinching faith in Christ Jesus generates victory rather than failure and defeat. 

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Faith, you see, can only come from hearing the message, and the message is the word of Christ.

~Romans 10:17 Phillips – The New Testament in Modern English

Keep on obeying this message; do not merely listen to it, and so deceive yourselves.

~James 1:22 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

~James 1:2-4 Good News Bible

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