With everything we are seeing at this time I have felt led to write on the topic of worry. This post is related to two earlier posts concerning Enduring Trials and Victory. If you are a new reader and have not done so, I would encourage you to take the time to read those. While some of this may seem repetitive, rest assured that it all fits together and when I spend time in the Word, the Lord speaks to me on how I need to word it so it can be easily understood.
As most of you may know, my blog has no particular set format. It is spirit led. Before I begin talking about worry, I would like to make one thing clear; On the posts where I am pointing out what is happening, I do this more-so as to educate everyone on where things are and how they are tying into what we are warned of in the end-times. If an event speaks to my heart and I feel pulled to point out what I see and how I tie it together, I post these occasionally for your benefit. Please understand that this is not to incite discouragement, fear or worry but to help you see. It is to get the attention of the backslidden or lost more than it is for those of you who may be already walking upright with the Lord and have the discernment. However, there are those who still may not understand or will be looking for answers in what they see sooner, rather than later.
There are many who don’t understand much of what is occurring and so I put it all in one place to as to shine light on it in addition to exposing the evil for what it is right out in the open. This isn’t about me or a sense of pride. Rather, it is the Lord’s mercy working through me to show you who are trying to understand. I do this as a contrast to show those who are backslidden that they do have a choice to return to the Lord before the clock strikes midnight. On the other hand, it is also my hope and prayer that what I write and show you, will be useful to you as well. In order to get over a hurdle you have to admit it exists first so you understand what you are up against. This is a spiritual battle between good and evil and I will shine light on it for as long as I can until it is God’s will to move me on to something else, call me to another area of ministry or call me Home.
For a while now, myself and many I am surrounded with have had a foreboding feeling of heaviness. I was personally feeling this exceptional heaviness from at least October onward as to sense that something big was coming -the calm before the storm that appears to now be arriving. Once the Lord revealed to me and showed me how to contend with it, the heaviness subsided greatly. This does not mean that my concerns are eliminated completely as nobody likes uncertainty, but I have learned how to cope better with these feelings by my trust in the Lord.
To briefly put it where I am concerned; This blog is an example. When you go into anything new the devil is always going to try to convince you that what you do isn’t good enough -especially when it’s something you have never done before. For me, the blog is a great responsibility as it is designed to lead the lost to the Lord or return the backslidden sheep to His presence. Since I have begun, I have admittedly at times worried about the effectiveness of how I present what I write or how much it is being seen. I press on however, because I have faith to know it will be seen and even if not now, then at some point down the road when the one single person who needed to read it will end up doing so.
I have faith because in my spirit the Lord has told me it will be successful and it will be helpful to many. It is the spirit of the Lord and His encouragement that helps me on days where I may be battling my own doubts. I know in my heart that He sees all I do -what He has empowered me to do. I pray daily and the Lord reminds me in the spirit why I must continue and this for me makes me strong in serving Him because I trust Him to lead me in what I write here. In all things, we need to remember to take heed in having patience.
You have to also consider that, when you worry, does it really change anything? No. If anything it can have negative consequences because then before you know it you get into a cycle of declaring that what you are hoping for, won’t end up happening. You should not set yourself to adhere to a ‘never-never’ mindset as it then becomes a vicious cycle that once begun, is hard to break.
You know, some thought I was crazy when I told them I was going to do the Lord’s work. They had the ‘yeah right’ attitude. I told them they needed to stop such a negative way of thinking. To be honest I limited my time around them. Well, needless to say, the Lord prepared a meal for me in their presence. They weren’t my enemies but they then saw that I was telling the truth. I want to mention in this that, one thing the Lord taught me well in the wilderness was that things were not always what they appeared to be. This is important to remember in times we are unsure no matter what you may be experiencing.
In this late hour, the spirit of worry has a tendency to rear it’s ugly head in many ways. Perhaps you are experiencing lack in a certain area, having lost your job and you don’t know how you will take care of your family. Perhaps you have found out who your friends are not in times of need. Perhaps you have begun a new endeavor or have begun the next chapter in your life and you are having worry that it may not be successful. Perhaps it is all the bad news we are seeing on the rise daily. There is no need to fear what comes only know that in faith you will be sheltered and led through the storm by continuing to draw close to the Lord.
I always say, be aware yes, as there is wisdom that comes with being informed so as to have discernment in what you see, but do not let your emotions get away from you. This can be an experience in the wilderness when you don’t realize that’s where you are. If nothing seems to be working out, this is usually a sign you are there and the Lord is calling on you. You don’t have to live under the spirit of worry for it is promised to us as believers of Christ that all things are possible to one whom believes. You only need to embrace what Jesus wants to teach you and usually it is a faith refining along with the purging of a number of sins.
I digress; It is unknown to many that worry is actually a sign of unbelief and it is also a product of fear. Early in my walk, this was one area I struggled with was my belief that things would work out in the long term and it took me being taught through many tears that if I just stood strong in my faith, it would work out. This is why I stress living by the spirit of Christ and allowing Him to lead you through the trials is so important to understand because if you can do that then you will learn how to get through pretty much anything that may present. You learn that worrying needlessly gets nothing accomplished and only creates unnecessary stress. The Word says ‘today’s trouble is enough.’
Worrying too far ahead only leads to discouragement. We are also told that we should live each day according to how the Lord wants us to, not by our own pretentious planning for we will fare better if our steps are established by Him. We also need to be cautious not to harden our hearts in times of lack or testing. There is a line being drawn right now so there is much that will need to be patiently endured so that we resist being tempted into old sins in times of distress.
I close with some verses as they pertain to the above. If you are struggling with worry over what you are dealing with in the present or what is to come, present it to the Lord in prayer as we are directed to for our Father in Heaven is concerned about all of us and He desires to take away that worry from us so we can spend more time in praise and worship and not on the things of the world that soon won’t make a difference. Be persistent in your prayers. He will lead us if we allow Him to take our burdens away and put our full trust in Him. This also frees us up to do His will which is witnessing in the last days we have remaining to us. While we are here, we have work to do.
May Jesus bless you with good courage and endurance in all you may encounter in the race set before us.
Luke 1:37 (KJV)
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
1 Peter 5:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Ephesians 4: 17-27 (NLT)
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Ephesians 5: 16-17 (NLT)
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians 6: 10-12 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
John 14: 1-4, 6, 12-14 (NKJV)
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Matthew 6: 6-8, 25-27 (NLT)
6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
30 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?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 19: 26 (NKJV)
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Hebrews 2: 1-3, 17-18 (NLT)
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Hebrews 3:14-15 (NKJV)
14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled.”
Hebrews 12: 1-3 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV)
27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Romans 8:32 (NKJV)
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT)
12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 20:21-22 (NKJV)
21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV)
Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
*There are many Psalms that will comfort you in times of worry.
Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)
14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm 31:24 (NKJV)
24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD
Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
And, ALL of Psalm 91