SEVEN REASONS NOT TO WORRY, APRIL 18, 2010

Submitted by Wheeler on Sun, 04/18/2010 - 13:04 – No comments

WORRY - 1. to experience mental uneasiness or distress; feel anxious or TROUBLED about something. 2. to bother, pester, annoy. This is what the meaning of the word is. Note that troubled is used in this meaning. The Bible refers to the word troubled many times. Jesus expressly forbade worry about daily needs, and He even called anxiety pagan. (Matthew 6: 25-32) Worry accomplishes nothing, wastes mental effort, and does not characterize the mind of Christ.

SEVEN REASONS NOT TO WORRY

1. The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

2. Worrying about the future hampers your efforts today.

3. Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

4. God does not ignore those who depend on Him.

5. Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.

6. There are real challenges God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them.

7. Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may (1) damage your health, (2) cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, (3) disrupt your productivity, (4) negatively affect the way you treat others, and (5) reduce your ability to trust in God.

The difference between worry and concern is - worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Scriptures on Worry

Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 46:1-3; Jeremiah 17:8; Luke 10:41-42; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 9:9-10; Psalm 32:7; Psalm 91:15; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 32:17.

I pray that your week ahead runs smooth and you decide not to worry about the daily things of life, but move into planning each day. Let's trust our Lord to guide us and direct us in the paths He has set before us. Don't let the enemy steal from us our joy, goals, and plans of excitement and fulfillment that God has for us.

Please feel free to contact me at any time by email: NWheeler1971@aol.com or nadinewhlr77@gmail.com

God bless you this week!!! Jesus Loves Us All !

Nadine Wheeler

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?, JANUARY 26, 2012

Submitted by Wheeler on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 17:06 – No comments

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Anyone familiar with business management knows about setting goals--attainable, measurable,challenging goals. Christians who are passionate about growing spiritually also can benefit from setting goals. Good spiritual goals encourage us to move forward. They deal with the future.

January is a time many people assess their past year and make plans for their new year. As we do so, we can be sure some things will change. We can expect change because we live in a changing world. Everything around us changes, and we change too. Too often Christians accept spiritual mediocrity rather than follow the Holy Spirit into spiritual excellence. Paul had many good things to say about how the Thessalonian Christians had lived. Yet Paul knew also they could grow even more in their faith. He wanted the Thessalonian believers to excel spiritually.

All Christians are to strive to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Paul knew the Thessalonian Christians as a rule already were doing this. He wanted to encourage them to please God even more. In no way was Paul demeaning the spiritual strides they had made. Rather he urged them (and us, by virtue of our studying this passage) to move forward to greater examples of obedience to the Lord's commands. For most Christians, a lack of obedience to Christ and not a lack of knowledge is what hinders our spiritual growth.

Christians should consider four factors in seeking to learn the will of God: (1) listening to the Holy Spirit as they study God's Word; (2) asking for counsel from mature, godly Christians; (3) using some God-given common sense; and (4) obeying God's will once they've discerned it. In verse 3, God's will is for us to be sanctified. Being sanctified involves being set apart and dedicated to God. A sanctified life is one dedicated to reflecting God's character and commands. Any Christian who desires to excel in his or her walk with the Lord must take this command seriously.

What is your goal in life? As Christians, we can set a goal of developing a lifestyle that would commend the gospel to others. We might not realize it, but someone is listening to what we say, watching how we act, and taking note of how we work. People need to see the gospel fleshed out in Christians' everyday lives. Will we show them God's love?

I hope you take time to read the scripture for this devotional. It is time to set a goal in our walk with the Lord. I am sorry for not having a devotional for 2 weeks, I have been healing from a flu virus and was not well at all. Praise the Lord, He is faithful and His Word is true as I am up and going again.

I hope your week ahead is full of joy and God's blessings. Please feel free to contact me through the email address: nadinewhlr77@gmail.com

Remember Jesus loves you and so do I.

His Servant,

Nadine