To Overcome Worry We Must Pursue Gods Promises
So then, dont worry saying, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33
Some have counted over 3,000 promises in Scripture, and Matthew 6:33 is one of the greatest. Christ promises the disciples that if they made Gods kingdom and his righteousness their chief priority, all their needs would be met. The word pursue is a present imperative meaning that this must be ones unceasing quest, not an occasional endeavor.5 When Gods kingdom and righteousness are our priority, God meets our needs, which ultimately delivers us from fear and worry.
Interpretation Question: What does Gods kingdom and righteousness refer to?
Seeking first Gods righteousness also includes the conquering of sin in our lives and replacing it with righteous acts and attitudes. We must pursue the fruits of the Spiritlove, joy, peace, longsuffering, mercy, etc. We must pursue righteousness by serving and discipling other believers. But it also includes social justicepursuing Gods righteousness outside the walls of the church. Believers should feed the poor, fight for the rights of the unborn, the trafficked, and neglected. Believers must pursue righteous ethics in education, government, and our communities. As this happens, others are drawn into the kingdom.
Bible Verses About Worry
If we look around in life, we can certainly find many things to worry about, so any Bible verses about worry are helpful for us to learn about avoiding worry and stress.
When we examine Scriptures about worry, we find that much of our stress in life is not necessary and only makes our life harder.
If we find ourselves worrying about things, what should we do? How do we reduce worry in our life? God has provided answers to these questions in his word. We have gathered 20 important Bible quotes that are relevant to worry for your use. Some of these verses are instructions, others provide comfort.
Worry Is Not Good For You
Worry is destructive to us in many ways. It drains us of energy and saps our strength. Worry causes us to miss out on the present joys of life and the blessings of Gods provision. It becomes a mental burden that can even make us become physically sick. A wise person said, “Ulcers are caused not by what you eat, but by what is eating you.”
Worry weighs a person down an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Don’t Miss: What Does Bible Say About Cremation Vs Burial
Worry Is The Opposite Of Trust In God
The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. The Christian life unhampered by worry is one of our greatest freedoms. It also sets a good example for unbelievers.
Live one day at a time and handle each worry as it comes–through prayer. Most of our worries never come to pass anyway, and those that do can only be handled at the moment and .
Here’s a little formula to remember: Worry replaced with prayer equals trust.
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Don’t worry about anything instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Identify Your Life Needs And Focus On What Really Matters
Jesus taught his disciples, saying, Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts. Never worry about any of your needs, such as food or clothing. For your life is infinitely more than just food or the clothing you wear.Luke 12:22-23 TPT
I wanted to call this point Dont sweat the small stuff, but it felt cliche. At the risk of stating the obvious, our worries increase not only when we experience sudden or tragic events, but when the daily burdens of life pile up over time. Our basic needs can weigh us down if were not fortunate enough to be completely secure financially.
Ive read this scripture a lot of times and its always tempting to fixate on verse 22, and neglect to consider verse 23. To me, its teaching us that God will take care of our needs and burdens, so we dont have to focus so much on them. It helps us to reflect on what really matters: our lives, and everything God gave us to make them worth living.
Our health, bank accounts and pantries will fluctuate over time. But they shouldnt get in the way of us enjoying our relationships with God and the people hes put in our lives.
You May Like: Does The Bible Speak Against Cremation
S Toward Freedom Front Worry
Not only is worry counterproductive, it is also a form of disobedience. God has told us not to worry, so to worry is to disregard His guidance. Isn’t it strange that we don’t usually think of worry as sin? But it is! Confess it as sin. Choose with your will to obey God and depend on Him for the ability. Then consider the following suggestions (some of which are adapted from the book Worry-Free Living to help break the very self-destructive habit of worrying.7
Meditate on God’s Word Daily
Plan a time daily when you can spend some timeeven if it’s only fifteen minutesreading the Bible. Think about what you read, and go over the phrases. Put your name in place of the pronouns, applying each verse to specific situations in your life. Memorize passages that will help you. God’s Word is powerfulit will renew and protect your mind.
Condition Yourself to Relax
Choose a phrase from Scripture or a hymn that you can repeat to yourself at the first hint of anxiety. “‘Fell it to Jesus” or “God cares for me” or “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” As you repeat the phrase, you will encourage yourself with its message and remind yourself to relax.
Listen to Soothing Music
Talk through Your Problems
Limit Your Worry Time
First, you can accomplish a great deal more during the day when you are free from anxiety.
Third, by the time you get to the worries, the problems may well have shrunk in importance. They may not seem worth worrying about after all.
Design a Plan of Action
Matthew : 2834 1890 Darby Bible
28 And why are ye careful about clothing? Observe with attention the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin 29 but I say unto you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these.30 But if God so clothe the herbage of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, will he not much rather you, O ye of little faith?31 Be not therefore careful, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we put on?32 for all these things the nations seek after for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Be not careful therefore for the morrow, for the morrow shall be careful about itself. Sufficient to the day is its own evil.
Don’t Miss: What Does The Bible Say About Mixing Races In Marriage
The Most Important Reason You Do Not Worry About Tomorrow
Youve probably heard it said at some point, Hey, do not worry about tomorrow. Focus on today and let the future take care of itself. Thats not bad advice really. The older I get the more Im realizing why.
We all have things that affect our actions from day to day. Things weve done in the past affect us in the present. Things we are doing in the present affect us in the present. And believe it or not, things that we will do in the future affect us in the present even though they havent happened yet.
You may be thinking, How could that possibly be if those events have yet to occur? Well, its not the event per se that affects us. Its how we think about those yet-to-happen events and how they lead us to worry about them.
Of those three time lines past, present and future I think the future one has the greatest potential to stop us in our tracks. Heres how.
Make God The Master You Serve
If your focus is on making money and providing for your own future, then your eyes are focused on the wrong goal, and you are in spiritual darkness. Your love of money and your devotion to it will steal your heart it will replace your love for God and devotion to Him. Jesus said love of money and love of God cannot coexist in the human heart. Having said this, Jesus went on to tell us that our heavenly Father knows our material needs and will provide them: “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 they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” .
Don’t worry about your life. God feeds the birds, and you are much more valuable than they are. So much for the spotted owl! This might come as news to some people today, but people and animals are not equally valuable. People are made in God’s image. If God provides food for all His creatures, surely He will care for the basic needs of His own children.
Jesus calls the worrier, “O you of little faith.” We don’t usually think of worry as a lack of faith, but that’s how God sees it.
Your Heavenly Father Knows What You Need
Don’t Worry About Tomorrow’s Troubles Today
You May Like: What Does Bible Say About Cremation Vs Burial
Matthew : 2834 English Standard Version
28 Andwhyareyouanxiousaboutclothing? Considertheliliesofthefield, howtheygrow: theyneithertoilnorspin,29 yetItellyou,evenSolomoninallhisglorywasnotarrayedlikeoneofthese.30 ButifGodsoclothesthegrassofthefield, whichtodayisaliveandtomorrowisthrownintotheoven, willhenotmuchmoreclotheyou, Oyouoflittlefaith?31 Thereforedonotbeanxious, saying, Whatshallweeat? or Whatshallwedrink? or Whatshallwewear?32 FortheGentilesseekafterallthesethings, andyourheavenlyFatherknowsthatyouneedthemall.33 ButseekfirstthekingdomofGodandhisrighteousness, andallthesethingswillbeaddedtoyou.
34 Thereforedonotbeanxiousabouttomorrow, fortomorrowwillbeanxiousforitself. Sufficientforthedayisitsowntrouble.
Stream On These Devices:
Want to watch your videos when and where it is most convenient? Introducing the Lifeway On Demand app! Available on all of your favorite devices, you can now take videos that you purchase on Lifeway.com wherever you go. Access trustworthy content to fuel your ministry through the Lifeway On Demand app. We are launching with a limited set of titles and Bible Study series, but more content will be added on a regular basis.
FEATURES
Recommended Reading: What Does The Bible Say About Mental Abuse
Things Jesus Tells Us About Worry
Jesus had a lot to say about worry.
He came into an unstable and unpredictable world. He lived in an agricultural society where one summers drought could wipe out crops for the winter. He hung out with fishermen, who might fish all night long and catch nothing to sell or bring home to family. And Jesus knew the human heart and the temptations presented by the cares of this life. So he gave his disciples some excellent instruction on worry in Matthew 6.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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?
First, Jesus says God gave us our human life and our bodies without us even asking. Human life and our physical bodies are incredibly valuable. Our life is much more valuable than the food we put on the table our body far more valuable than the shirt we put on. If God gave us life, which is so very valuable, will he not give us food, which is of far lesser value? If God gave us these bodies which are fearfully and wonderfully made, will he not give us clothes to cover them? And even further, if God has given us eternal life, will he not provide for our temporal life?
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
To sum up:
To Overcome Worry We Must Recognize How Unproductive It Is
And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?
Matthew 6:27
Christ says worry will not make us live longer. In fact, it might help us die early. MacArthur shares:
You can worry yourself to death, but not to life. Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famous Mayo Clinic, wrote, Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. I have never met a man or known a man to die of overwork, but I have known a lot who died of worry.3
Worry does not benefit us physically, mentally, or spiritually. Proverbs says anxiety in the heart of a man brings depression . Typically, we start to worry about something, and it affects our entire mood . Next, we find ourselves down and discouraged. Worry also negatively affects us spiritually. In Matthew 13:22 , in the Parable of the Sowers, Christ describes the seed sown upon thorny ground as the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. When we are constantly worrying, it hinders our ability to receive Gods Word and apply it to our lives. No doubt, there are many in the church who listen to their favorite pastors podcasts every week, read all the new latest Christian books, and yet their labor profits them nothing. Worry stunts their spiritual growth.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced the harm of worryphysically, mentally, and spiritually?
Don’t Miss: What Does The Bible Say About Burial
How To Overcome Worry
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isnt there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Arent you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, wont he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, dont worry saying, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
How can we overcome worry and fear?
In this passage, Christ said the disciples had little faith . They had faith to believe God for eternal salvation but not for his daily provision. A preacher once said:
In this study, we will consider how to overcome worry.
Be Patient And Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7 NIV
Patience is a spiritual quality that is a must for those seeking to beat anxiety. God works on a timetable that we wont ever understand until were up there with him, so its up to us to acknowledge in prayer that God is always working for our good, even if we arent seeing yet .
Whats interesting about this scripture is the focus on comparing ourselves to successful people. Nothing triggers anxiety quite like the realization that were behind or missing out .
Patience is the ability to look at what others have and trust that what you have right now is exactly what God knows you need, and that your future will bring only what will help you grow closer to him and the people you care about. You dont need that Tesla right now, is what Im saying.
Read Also: How Many Times Bible Says Fear Not
Matthew : 2834 Gods Word Translation
28 And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29 But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30 Thats the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today its alive, and tomorrow its thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
31 Dont ever worry and say, What are we going to eat? or What are we going to drink? or What are we going to wear? 32 Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33 But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
34 So dont ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.