"He watches and cares for even the birds of the air, so how much more will He care for all of us? 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?" (Matthew 6:26).
As a Mother of four children, no matter how old they get, I worry about them. We taught them the best we could, took them to Awana's as little kids and they all got dedicated and later saved and baptized. I do worry that they are not following the precepts they were taught in Sunday School at times, but they are now 28, 26, 24 and 21 years of age, so I can only let go and let God lead them! I pray for them every day, but for some reason I still worry! (Ah, the joys of Motherhood! lol).
The problem with this is that children are a gift from God, so they really aren't ours to worry about, however, they are ours to pray about, which I do everyday! I know God has been with me since I was very young and I believe it is because my grandmother prayed for me every day! She knew my situation and no matter what, she prayed for all of her children and grandchildren! She was a mighty prayer warrior as are my children's grandparents. There were times I could feel God's presence in my life, even when I ignored Him! It's what turned my life around eventually! I've recently seen some subtle changes in all of my kids for the better, and I would bet dollars to donuts it's because they are prayed for so faithfully!
Another type of worry is very prevalent in society these days. Things are very confusing and worrisome for most right now because the world is changing so rapidly and not for the better! We didn't have these types of worries when I was growing up. The worst I can remember is the gas lines during the Carter administration and the capture of the folks at our Embassy in Iran. Thank God the minute Reagan took the oath, they were put on a plane to bring them home! I bet a lot of people don't even realize that it was Jimmy Carter who secured their release, but I truly believe they only agreed to let them go because they feared Reagan, and rightly so! He was a no nonsense type of guy!
As a Mother of four children, no matter how old they get, I worry about them. We taught them the best we could, took them to Awana's as little kids and they all got dedicated and later saved and baptized. I do worry that they are not following the precepts they were taught in Sunday School at times, but they are now 28, 26, 24 and 21 years of age, so I can only let go and let God lead them! I pray for them every day, but for some reason I still worry! (Ah, the joys of Motherhood! lol).
The problem with this is that children are a gift from God, so they really aren't ours to worry about, however, they are ours to pray about, which I do everyday! I know God has been with me since I was very young and I believe it is because my grandmother prayed for me every day! She knew my situation and no matter what, she prayed for all of her children and grandchildren! She was a mighty prayer warrior as are my children's grandparents. There were times I could feel God's presence in my life, even when I ignored Him! It's what turned my life around eventually! I've recently seen some subtle changes in all of my kids for the better, and I would bet dollars to donuts it's because they are prayed for so faithfully!
Another type of worry is very prevalent in society these days. Things are very confusing and worrisome for most right now because the world is changing so rapidly and not for the better! We didn't have these types of worries when I was growing up. The worst I can remember is the gas lines during the Carter administration and the capture of the folks at our Embassy in Iran. Thank God the minute Reagan took the oath, they were put on a plane to bring them home! I bet a lot of people don't even realize that it was Jimmy Carter who secured their release, but I truly believe they only agreed to let them go because they feared Reagan, and rightly so! He was a no nonsense type of guy!
One thing that helps me get through my own worry about the world situation is this: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18). Another scripture that probably helps me the most is this one: "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee. Be sober of mind and vigilant for the devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:6-8). These scriptures keep my mind from worry and stress every time something bad happens or the "worry factor" creeps in. I simply begin to pray for the things I am concerned about, because Paul told us "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6).
We were "Chosen before the foundation of the world to be Holy and blameless in Him." (Ephesians 1:4). I think that is my favorite scripture, because it takes me to Psalm 91 and Psalm 139! "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high, I cannot attain it." These two Psalms are probably my favorites. God loves us very much, but how could we possibly understand some of these things in our frail human state? Our flesh keeps us from it! What we do when we worry is simply waste time and let the devil laugh as we do so!
Jesus wants us to depend wholeheartedly on Him! I am laid up, as broke as a pauper but I am grateful for the things I have, and am content as Paul said we should be in all our circumstances, no matter how bad or rotten they are! I am grateful for every day that I am allowed to wake up and breathe just one more day because there is no guarantee of even our next breath!
If we are to "Be perfect therefore, as (y)our Heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48), then we need to stop the worrying! "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Luke 12:25). It may say "his" but Jesus meant us ladies too! It is one of two of the biggest threats to our spiritual lives! As A.W. Tozer said, "Complacency is the death to all spiritual growth." By worrying, we are not praying and putting the lives of our family into the hands of the Almighty! That is just simply wrong!
If we are to "Be perfect therefore, as (y)our Heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48), then we need to stop the worrying! "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Luke 12:25). It may say "his" but Jesus meant us ladies too! It is one of two of the biggest threats to our spiritual lives! As A.W. Tozer said, "Complacency is the death to all spiritual growth." By worrying, we are not praying and putting the lives of our family into the hands of the Almighty! That is just simply wrong!
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent and praise worthy, let your mind dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8), and STOP THE WORRYING! Stop waiting for tomorrow to change your thinking! Change it today! God is waiting to help you!
I think you'll find that when you put God in the center of your life, everything else will come together!
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JeriAnn Eakin
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