The Worry-Free God

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25 KJV)

Worry and anxiety constantly plague us. We worry about completing our to-do lists, what our bosses or co-workers think of us, or having enough money to make it through the month. It sometimes gets to the point where we don’t feel right if we’re not worried about something.

I know people who find part of their identity in being worriers and who actually define themselves by it. But when Christians do this, it seems like a major contradiction. Worry is another word for fear. And in God’s Word, the message is clear: do not worry (Matthew 6:25). Do not fear (Isaiah 41:10).

In 2 Timothy 2:7, Paul writes that God did not give us a “spirit of fear.” So if fear is not from God, then it can be defeated through the work of God’s Spirit in us and through the renewing of our minds in Christ. Changing our fearful minds is hard work, but the Apostle Paul challenges us to “work out our salvation” with the fear of God, not out of fear of the world around us (Philippians 2:12).

Our world is full of frightening things. We are all works in progress. But when someone becomes a believer in Christ, that person gains the power to overcome fear. We are children of the One who created the world and everything in it, and co-heirs with Christ who overcame the world (Romans 8:15-17; John 16:33).

Worry: The Enemy of Faith?
Do you know which sin is the subtle enemy of simple faith? Materialism and greed? Anger? Lust? Hypocrisy? No. All of these sins are certainly our enemies, but none of them qualify as subtle enemies.

The most notorious faith killer in all of life: worry. “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).

I find the term worry fascinating. To begin with, the word used by Matthew (translated here as “anxious”) is the Greek term merimnao. It is a combination of two smaller words, merizo, meaning “to divide,” and nous, meaning “the mind.” In other words, a person who is anxious suffers from a divided mind, leaving him or her disquieted and distracted.

Of all the biblical stories illustrating worry, none is more practical or clear than the one recorded in the last five verses of Luke 10. Let’s briefly relive it.

Jesus dropped by His friends’ home in Bethany. Martha, one of those friends, turned the occasion into a mild frenzy. To make matters worse, Martha’s sister, Mary, was so pleased to have the Lord visit their home that she sat with Him and evidenced little concern over her sister's anxiety attack.

As Luke tells us, “Martha was distracted with all her preparations”  But Martha didn’t have help, and that was the final straw. Irritated, exasperated, and angry, she reached her boiling point, and her boiling point led to blame. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40).

But Jesus was neither impressed by her busyness nor intimidated by her command. Graciously, yet firmly, He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).

Worry occurs when we assume responsibility for things that are outside our control. And I love the Lord’s solution: “only a few things are necessary, really only one.” What a classic example of simple faith!

All Mary wanted was time with Jesus . . . and He commended her for that. Mary’s simple faith, in contrast to her sister's panic, won the Savior’s affirmation.

Worry and faith just don't mix.

The Lies We Believe
“Do not worry about tomorrow.” (Matthew 6:34)

Most of us, from time to time or nearly all of the time, worry about something – our health, our finances, our loved ones, and so on. Yet the Scriptures say to take no thought for your lives and be anxious for nothing. Why is worry a sin? I know we consider it “only human,” but worry really implies a lack of trust in God. It is believing a lie. Identify the lie and you can quickly discover the Truth. What is the lie? That God is somehow less than sufficient, that perhaps He will not come through for us.


So you see, the enemy gets us to believe a lie, and then gets us to think that we are just being “human.” So then we accept something less than the normal Christian life – overcoming – and think that is just the way it is. Remember: satan has no power apart from our belief in his lie.

Let God Take Over
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Observe,

1. We must not only keep up stated times for prayer, but we must pray upon every particular emergency: In every thing by prayer. When any thing burdens our spirits, we must ease our minds by prayer; when our affairs are perplexed or distressed, we must seek direction and support.

2. We must join thanksgiving with our prayers and supplications. We must not only seek supplies of good, but own receipts of mercy. Grateful acknowledgments of what we have argue a right disposition of mind, and are prevailing motives for further blessings.

3. Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God, or making them known to him: Let your requests be made known to God. Not that God needs to be told either our wants or desires; for he knows them better than we can tell him: but he will know them from us, and have us show our regards and concern, express our value of the mercy and sense of our dependence on him.

4. The effect of this will be the peace of God keeping our hearts. The peace of God, that is, the comfortable sense of our reconciliation to God and interest in his favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, and enjoyment of God hereafter, which passeth all understanding, is a great good than can be sufficiently valued or duly expressed. It has not entered into the heart of man.(1 Corinthians 2:9)

This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, (Isaiah 26:3). 

We all struggle with worry and anxiety at times. God promises that when we surrender our worry to Him, he will guard our hearts and minds and fill us with His peace. If you are struggling with worry right now, claim this promise. Recite this verse to yourself whenever you have anxious thoughts as a reminder that God will help you when you come to Him.

Sometimes people feel anxious all the time, even about little things that seem like they shouldn’t cause any worry at all. If this is how you or someone you know is feeling, prayerfully consider who you can talk to in order to help yourself or your loved one get the help they need.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I recognize that worry is an attempt to control things over which I have no control. Fear rules in my mind when the things and people around me seem bigger and stronger than You. Forgive me and help me switch my thinking from fear to trust in You.  Lord, thank You for the ways You uphold us and care for us as we walk through times of difficulty. Thank You that You transform the pain in our lives into things of beauty, as we trust in You. Thank You that You love us in spite of our brokenness. Amen.

Understanding Spiritual Power

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3)

New life in Christ brought new freedom to believers in Corinth. However, like children or immature adults, they did not know how to behave responsibly to each other or to God. They needed to be taught, which was why Paul wrote this letter. The Spirit of God had given special abilities to different people, but instead of treating God's gifts as tools (for serving the Lord and spreading the gospel) they used them as toys to feed their pride.

Corinthian citizens and slaves were used to the idea of supernatural power: the mythical gods of the city were supposed to be able to command cosmic and earthly events. Many of the new believers in Jesus had previously grown up to think that the temple idols had personalities and authority (which was why they were worshiped and sacrifices were made to them). They now had to understand that the Holy Spirit has genuine power, but radically different from their indoctrinated ideas or demonic lies about idols. 

So how could they recognize the difference between the pagan preachers, demonic miracle-workers, and Christians filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul's test was simple; what did they say about Jesus? If anyone cursed Jesus or failed to recognize Him as the Lord God of eternity, then the Holy Spirit was not speaking through them. But whoever announced that Jesus is the Lord to be worshiped and obeyed, demonstrated that the Holy Spirit lived in them. It was a dangerous claim to make about Jesus, and one for which the apostles faced severe persecution (Acts 4:13,17-18), so no one would fake the claim that 'Jesus is Lord' unless the Holy Spirit empowered them.

Being willing to announce the identity of Jesus is the critical evidence that the Holy Spirit is resident in a human heart. Jesus is more than just a good man, a wise teacher and a prophet. When people confess that 'Jesus is my Lord', you know they are saved and have the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9-10). Their public identification with Him is also the beginning of their gospel witness. Others will be drawn to Jesus, even though believers may face difficulties from unbelievers. "What do you think of Jesus Christ?" is still a potent diagnostic evangelistic question in the community or workplace. Those who are ashamed of Jesus need to beware because He will be ashamed of them on the Final Day (Luke 9:26). So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord (2 Timothy 1:8).

The Power to Share Christ
But we all...beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...even as from the Lord Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses (Acts 1:8 )

If the inward aspect of the Spirit is more important than the outward aspect of the Spirit, why do we need the outpouring of the Spirit? Those who live a life of holiness and who know the Spirit as a person will have the strength to share this holiness with others once they receive the outpouring of the Spirit.... A man may have received something from God and may have accumulated something within yet not have the power to share it with others. Although others may admire or look up to them, they cannot get any help from them. Once they receive the outpouring of the Spirit, they will be able to share with others what is inside them.

Those who have the Spirit within are like a power plant. The plant may be full of light, but the whole city may be in darkness. There must be power lines to join the power plant to the city in order for the power to be conveyed to the whole city. If there is no power in the plant, nothing will happen. However, if there is power but no power lines, nothing will happen either. The power-conveying lines are a picture of the function of the outpouring. Many people have power lines, yet they have to light candles at night. They do not have anything inside them, yet they try to convey something to others. This will not work. We must have both the outward and the inward aspects of the Spirit.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that Jesus Christ is Lord, to be worshipped and obeyed. Forgive me when I have not been willing to identify myself with Him, or when I have allowed people who deny His Lordship to have spiritual authority over my life. Please help me to discern the true voices from among those who claim to be spiritual, by applying the test, 'What do you think of Jesus Christ?' And help me to be an unashamed ambassador for Jesus Christ the Lord. In His Name. Amen.