The Worrier

Do not be anxious about anything…Philippians 4:6

Joe was a chronic worrier.  He worried if he didn’t have anything to worry about. One day Joe made a dramatic change in his attitude.  Nothing seemed to bother him anymore.  It was a miracle. A friend asked him the secret of his newly acquired worry-free attitude. 

“I hired a man to worry for me.  It’s great!”

“I’ll bet a guy like that charges an arm and a leg,” inquired the curious friend. 

“Oh, he charges a thousand dollars per week.” 

Astonished, the friend asked, “How can you pay him a thousand dollars per week?  You don’t have that kind of money.” 

Joe smiled, “That’s what he has to worry about!”

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had someone to do our worrying for us.  Someone to take the burden of care and concern from our backs.  We do have Someone like that, you know.  This worry-bearer is Jesus.  Isn’t He something!  Not only does He take the load of worry from us, but He paid the bill Himself.  He laid down His life so that we might live by His life, and live more abundantly than we could ever imagine.

What makes you worry? Fear of failure? Doubts? Insecurity?  Do you know what really makes you worry?  Two things: 

(1) What happened in the past.

(2) What may or may not happen in the future. 

It is impossible to worry if you simply focus upon the present.  That’s why little children never worry.  They are engrossed in whatever they are doing at the present time.  If they are playing with a doll or a truck, the only thing that matters to them at that moment is the doll or the truck. Jesus says that we are to be like little children, especially in this respect. 

He says in Matthew 6:34, “Do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

That’s the key to eliminating worry.  Concentrate on the present.

Try this little exercise.  Get off by yourself in a quiet place.  Close your eyes.  Just focus on breathing in and out.  Release that tension.  Feel the peace.  Relax… ZZZZZZ. 

Okay, wake up and finish reading.  Do you see what I mean?  You cannot worry if you concentrate on the present. Why? Because Jesus is in the present moment. The NOW, if you will. That is why He calls Himself the Great I AM. You won’t find Him in the past because His Name is not I WAS. You won’t find Him in the future because His Name is not I WILL BE. You find Him in this very moment. The Now.

Jesus says to us, “Whatever you need at this moment, I AM your provision. I AM your source.”

Jesus is the gift of eternal life. He died to give you Life. Now quit squandering it. You can’t do anything about the past.  It’s gone forever.  And Jesus holds your future.  What more could you ask?

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!”  (Isaiah 26:3 NLT).

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to come. Today is God’s gift for you to enjoy. That’s why we call it… the PRESENT!

Blessings,

Kenny