Following Christ’s pattern enables God’s provision which eliminates our need to worry!

Matthew 6:25-27,31-34 NLT
“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? 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? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Following Christ’s pattern enables God’s provision which eliminates our need to worry!

Connected Deeply

John 13:4-5 NLT
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Rested Regularly

Mark 6:31 NIV
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Prayed Daily

Luke 15:6 NLT
But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Exercised Frequently

Mathew 9:35 NLT
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

Shared Wisely

Matthew 17:1-2,9 NLT
Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light…As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Surrendered Fully

Matthew 26:39 NLT
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Why do I worry? Well, the answer’s very simple actually, I worry because something has happened, or might happen that I can’t control.

I don’t have the money
I don’t have the freedom
I don’t have the ability
I don’t have the time
I don’t have the relationships
I don’t have the strength…You name it, I ain’t got it.

Essentially, the reason I worry is because there’s a problem, or a perceived problem, that I feel like I can do nothing about…can you relate?

If you’re thinking that you don’t worry…Worry comes in all sorts of forms:

Pre-event worry = What If’s/Supposes
In-event worry = Anxiety
Post-event worry = Doubt

Worrying does absolutely nothing positive, it actually makes things worse!

Dr. W.C. Alvarez a stomach specialist at the Mayo Clinic:
“… 80 percent of the stomach disorders that come to us are not organic…in fact, most of the cases we see are caused by worry and fear….”

Dr. Charles Mayo “Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but I know many who died from doubt/worry.”

Clearly worrying doesn’t solve my problems!

The Bible says don’t worry, Jesus says don’t worry. “If I had only not been worrying for years now, then everything in my life would be just fine!”

If I just would’ve stopped what if-ing I’d have no problems
If I just wouldn’t have been anxious, life would be smooth sailing
If I has just not doubted, all of my problems would have been solved, and all of my troubles would’ve packed up and disappear…right?

So, worrying doesn’t solve my problems, but simply not worrying doesn’t solve my problems either.

Jesus says, don’t worry about that, here’s why…God knows what we need, and if we seek Him and live like Christ he will provide all that we need for every situation?

When we prioritize God’s will and we follow in Christ’s footsteps we can trust in God’s promises…but here’s what it usually looks like, we elevate our problems above God’s promises, we live however we want, and we still expect God to provide all we need…and when He doesn’t we begin the pattern of worry/anxiety/fear/doubt all over again, but with even great intensity!