I read this devotional for one of my readings at work when my turn came around to do morning devotionals. I found it to be very plain and simple and what the Lord would like of us. Naturally, it does not come easy for many, and it is easier said than done, but it still is a promising hope of truth!
by
Kenneth Copeland
Therefore do not worry and be anxious.
– Matthew 6:31
God is vehemently against worry. Jesus preached against it. Paul preached against it. The whole Bible preaches against worry because it was designed by Satan to produce stress, strain, and death.
Yet many of us still act as if it's an option, as if we're free to worry if we want to. But we're not! Worrying is a sin. It's one of those things the Word of God directly commands us not to do.
What are you supposed to do then with all the concerns you have about your problems? In 1 Peter 5:7, God says you should "cast them all upon Him." All. Not 75 percent of them. Not all of them but the ones about your kids. All of them!
Your confession every morning should be, "I do not have a care in this world because I've cast every one of them onto my Lord."
Let me illustrate how that works. Let's say you were standing about 20 feet away from me and I tossed my car keys to you. If someone else were to come to me and say, "Brother Copeland, I need the keys to your car. I need to use it." I would say, "I can't help you. I cast my keys over on him. I don't have them anymore."
That's what you need to do with your worries. You need to cast them over on the Lord and not take them back. If Satan brings a worried thought to your mind, saying, "What if this terrible thing happens?" then you can tell him to talk to God about it. It's in His hands, not yours!
Once you do that, changes will start to take place in your life. Problems you've been fretting about for years will start being solved. You'll no longer be tying God's hands with your worrying. His power can begin to operate because you've acted in faith and cast your cares on Him!
Remember, though, God will not take your cares away from you. You have to give them to Him. Then you have to replace those worries with the Word. You are the one who has to keep your thoughts under control. But you can do it. The Greater One dwells within you. He is able to put you over. Commit to it. You'll never have to worry again.
thank you for posting this. it sure is a soothing read.
ReplyDeleteOh I agree considerably, easier said then done. But God would want us to rely on him.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly certain you have seen this before. some famous dude said these words as wise council to live by.
ReplyDelete25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31"Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' 32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I really struggle with this concept as I have diagnosed depression and anxiety, and to have someone tell me that "worrying" is a sin makes me confused, and sometimes hurt. I understand what the Bible is saying but how does that work with us when we have a mental illness?
ReplyDeleteEpiphany, I understand where you are coming from on the "sin" part. Very good point!
ReplyDeleteI feel God certainly takes it into consideration our mental illnesses and struggles in understanding His ways! Believe me I do! If anything, do not rely heavy on "that you are sinning" because you are not giving your worries over to Him. I know I fall short in this area, and basically WE ALL DO! We are not perfect and He knows this.
He, being God, knows how much simplier and carefree our lives would be if we would just cast all our cares on Him. That is His desire! And it pains Him that we cannot many times. But, He knows we live in a fallen world so He does not condemn us when we sin. And that goes for us not casting our total cares on Him.
Wow, I needed to hear that too!!!!
"He does not condemn us when we sin."
ReplyDeleteAHA!! That is it! That is what I needed to hear to make this all fit for me. Thanks JBR!
By the way, if you see someone called "Sue" has followed you on Twitter, that's me. ;)
Here is a statement that better explains the "sin" part:
ReplyDeleteFor believers in Jesus, all our sin – past, present and future – has already been punished on the cross. As Christians, we will never be punished for sin. That was done once for all. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Because of the sacrifice of Christ, God sees only the righteousness of Christ when He looks at us. Our sin has been nailed to the cross with Jesus, and we will never be punished for it.
The sin that remains in our lives, however, does sometimes require God’s discipline. If we continue to act in sinful ways and we do not repent and turn from that sin, God brings His divine discipline to bear upon us. If He did not, He would not be a loving and concerned Father. Just as we discipline our own children for their welfare, so does our heavenly Father lovingly correct His children for their benefit. Hebrews 12:7-13 tells us, “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.”
I need to do this. I need to toss the things that muck around in my head making me crazy....this will stay with me today..I really neeeded to hear it. Thanks JBR - you're the best. Sarah
ReplyDeleteThis is a hard one for so many.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning JBR,
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this today. I am worried about Dr. T., but according to this devotional, the matter is in God's hands. We have prayed that's our part. The rest is His.
Thanks again for the prayers.
Blessings,
Tammy
Mads, yes it is hard for many! I quite agree! I know it is for me.
ReplyDeleteFF, glad this devotional has blessed you in your time of need as well. Prayers continue to go up for this man!
Sarah, glad this devotional also touched you.
Was not too sure if I wanted to post it, but it was the "I" was not too sure. But, the Holy Spirit had His way again..... hee hee
My husband always reminds me that most things I and others worry about NEVER happen. I have found, he is right and I am trying to correct this bad habit.
ReplyDeleteGreat devotional.
Blessings and hugs,
andrea
Dear One, I founda youtube video which is so great. Silent monks singing the Halleuia. Here the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU
Had to think of you straightaway. Mill of hugs. Love, Paula
This is easy on my mind, and I'm glad you posted it.
ReplyDeleteOh, JBR, this was a fine meditation to read on a Saturday morning. "Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and thanksgiving make your requests known to God."
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of effort on our part to keep from taking back those worries. We have to consistently refuse to be anxious about them, and to remind our little human heads that God now has them in His almighty hands.
I think that is where we can rightly use our willpower: turning from our anxiety to the Man Who Made the Water.
JBR, love your way of thinking right now...have a blessed Saturday....:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for sharing. Will share also.
ReplyDeleteWow never really looked at worry like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good reminder about worry. It is a sin. Sometimes I forget. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and reminder!Worries could be a very heavy load for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Have a wonderful week-end!
xx
Worries are fears that generally never appear. Giving them over to God frees up considerable space in my overstressed brain!!!
ReplyDeleteJBR, thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting. I want to thank you for this wonderful devotional today.
ReplyDeleteGod is good.
Pam
Love this line, "I do not have a care in this world because I've cast every one of them onto my Lord." I need to say that every morning!
ReplyDeleteThey tell me that "worrying is the work of the devil". I always thought worrying was just us being human. But GOD, does not want us to lead our lives worrying. I takes the joy out of living. I have been reminded so often these past weeks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome reminder my friend.
ReplyDelete