Bad news > worry – Prayer > peace!

I tell myself that this new habit of reading news headlines on my computer before shutting it down for the night is because I want to pray for the people involved in all sorts of tragic events. However, it could be morbid curiosity. I usually fall asleep too quickly to do much praying. Besides, I detect a bit of Pharisaical self-righteousness in myself as I read about the horrid things people do that I would never do. Really?

Some news stories are truly frightening, like the riots in Germany over the G20 meetings, or the one last night about the person who tried to open an airplane door during a flight from a western USA city. We have flown out of that airport and on that airline. Worry and ‘what if’ are bad for sleeping well.

This morning, I expected a rebuke from God for my self-righteousness, but He is kind. Instead of addressing that bad attitude, He spoke to me about the knots most news stories put in my stomach . . .

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:1–6)

Yesterday my husband said Psalm 37 is the best Psalm in the Bible. Today, I can say it was a perfect reading because these first six verses put scary headlines into perspective.

They also remind me of two New Testament passages about anxiety. The first has been a reliable way of life for me, right from the day God brought me into His family. I had little income and welcomed these verses of assurance. God would take care of me. My part has been to focus on His kingdom and His righteousness . . .

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25–33)

God takes care of my physical needs in many amazing ways.  

The other passage is about those inner needs, like not being afraid, having peace, knowing His blessing on my inner life just as He takes care of my closet and pantry . . .

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5–7)

I’m to be a gracious person and there is good motivation for that; God is right here with me, even in those anxious moments when life seems overwhelming. Instead of worrying or letting stress get the best of me, I’m to pray. This includes asking Him to take care of things, but also being thankful rather than continually focusing on what is wrong, what I don’t have, and all the other negatives that happen in life (and in the news). When I do that, He pours His indescribable peace into my heart and mind, a peace that overrides circumstances and often makes no sense.

Last week we told a Christian friend that one of our family members is moving from South Korea to Sweden. The friend said, “Will you worry about her less in that place than the other one?”

She is a serious worrier and this was a serious question. My response was open-mouthed surprise. All I could think of was, “We don’t worry about her.” I should have reminded her what she already knew, that we pray often for our family. As Philippians says, worry makes no sense when God offers peace.

I’m not to let life, and the news about life, get the best of me. God is in sovereign control and will work out His plans, not only for my life, but for everyone on the planet. He does it for family; why not everyone else?

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, it occurs to me that if I pray about the news while still at the keyboard, I’m less likely to doze off in a state of anxiety over those awful headlines. I know You want me to pray without ceasing, and pray about everything — with thanksgiving — and am grateful for Your gentle reminder that being anxious is not part of Your plan for my life! Instead, You provide incredible peace as I bring all my worries to You.

Some parties are no fun at all . . .

I was sad all of yesterday. First a large photo in the newspaper caught my attention. It was a distinguished looking man with a nice smile, but when I read the story, he turned out to be an accused rapist. How deceptive outward appearance can be and why give that much space to him?

Then a news story on an Internet site for quilters shocked me. A young designer whose work has caught my attention is suddenly dead. She was sick, but I didn’t know that. I didn’t know her personally, but for some reason her death shouted how brief life is and how quickly it can be lost. I grieve for her and for the shortness and unpredictability of life.

On a more personal level, a project I was excited about suddenly became difficult, even seeming impossible. I wasted a couple of hours struggling with it and wound up feeling sorry for myself. Pity party.

Besides those, I did yoga and Pilates for the first time in years, and was sore, and at each meal I ate the wrong food and too much of it. By bedtime, I felt like a balloon — filled with aches and pains. More pity party.

Sitting before the Word of God this morning, I asked Him to clarify my thoughts. As I read these verses, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: “Get your focus back on Jesus” . . .

“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:13–15)

Jesus is the Savior of the world, and my Savior. I confess this is true; and He is the Son of God. He lives in me and I in Him. I have the Holy Spirit who gives me the assurance of these things.

From John 3:11-21, the Spirit clarified some of the stuff that bothered me yesterday with several realities . . .

The world lies in sin. “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) I should not be surprised when those least likely are caught doing despicable things. In the eyes of God, all are guilty. We need a Savior.

The wages of sin is death and death is often a surprise. How important it is to know Jesus as Savior and abide in Him. I don’t know the quilter who died. She may have been a Christian who has eternal life. However, from what God says, she illustrates the reality that everyone is appointed once to die, and after that there is a judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

God sent Jesus to free sinners (me) from judgment. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:16-20)

Other passages address my self-pity. Most of them are a slap on the wrist, such as . . .

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:4–8)

He also reminded me that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) and that “God is able to make all grace abound to (me), so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, (I) may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Jesus, how can I whine when You, the God who created all things, lives in my heart, meets all of my needs, and has given me eternal life? My sinfulness is still powerful and reminds me how deeply I need You as my Savior and Lord, and how keeping my mind on You prevents me from going to those sad pity parties.

Why worry when I can rejoice?

My mother was a worrier. We finally figured out that even though she professed faith in God, she was like everyone else and wanted to control things. She sometimes “supposed” about the unknown so she didn’t feel left in the dark about what was going on, but mostly she fussed about things in her mind and sometimes in her words. Instead of giving the perplexities of life to the Lord, she worried.

Most of us do that in varying degrees. The older I get, the more I find I don’t have the energy it takes to worry. Besides that, God knows all about everything and I do not. It seems far better to let Him do the worrying (even though I know that He does no such thing).

This morning’s devotional offers a few verses about a remarkable woman who worried a little bit, but had greater trust in the Lord that I can ever imagine myself having. Living in a land where their taskmasters were killing all Jewish baby boys, look what this woman did!

Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. (Exodus 2:1–4)

This couple was Amram and Jochebed and the child was Moses. He was born at that time in Jewish history when the nation was in slavery in Egypt. These people were also prolific and the Egyptians feared they would rise up in rebellion. So they ordered all new born boys put to death. God had plans for Moses, but Jochebed didn’t know that. All she knew was that this was a special child and she wanted him to live.

Could I put my baby in a basket and set it in the river? Could I trust God to take care of the child from that point? This woman had no control over what happened next. She sent Miriam, his older sister, to watch what happened, but other than wanting to know the outcome, everything was out of her hands.

How much of life is like that? I’ve used the term “control freak” and often said, “It’s a control thing” but when analyzing the way people try to control by fussing, myself included, our attempts to manipulate life are usually laughable. If carried far enough, this active form of worrying can ruin our health, spoil relationships, even erode our faith.

God has another answer. I’m sure that His Spirit worked in Jochebed, for no ordinary woman would be able to do what she did without faith in the Sovereign One. He is able to do great things, and somehow she must have known this truth. God is near, do not worry. This is plainly expressed in the New Testament.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)

This mother of Moses was likely anxious, but instead of letting that control her, she no doubt brought her requests to God. In the peace that only He can give, and with a guarded heart and mind, she did the only thing she could do; she yielded control of Moses’ life to Almighty God.

According to these verses from Philippians, doing that is “reasonableness.” It is a mild, gentle and appropriate action that follows faith. It may not make sense to an excessive worrier, but if I am fully trusting God, then it is reasonable to put my concerns in His hands, even lay them into the river and stand back, watching to see what He does with them. When I do, He gives a peace that is beyond understanding. I’m not sure about Jochebed, but after only one experience of this peace, my heart can mock the silly idea that I can control anything by worrying.

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Oh Lord God, there are plenty of things a person can worry about. Life is filled with threats, problems, and what ifs. However, You are Sovereign. I seldom understand what You have planned, but I do understand that I am mostly helpless AND that nothing is too difficult for You. “Don’t worry, be happy” is a silly song and a pat answer, but when considered in the light of Your grace and power, no worries and rejoicing always is a totally reasonable way of life.

One day at a time

No one can build a brick wall or a stone fence from the top down. Each brick or stone depends on the ones under it to hold it up. With that image, today’s devotional reading says that “the only preparation for the morrow is the right use of today.”
 

Part of that right use is being aware that even though “the heart of man plans his way, the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). I can make plans, but. . . . 

For instance, yesterday I planned to work on a project for my daughter. However, the evening before, my heart did a rapid rumble as if attempting to go into a-fib. I assume the medications prevented this, but just that small episode left me feeling weak. Even after a night’s sleep, I had little energy or ambition. So much for my plans.

God isn’t against making plans, but life and His Word both teach me not to hold too tightly to my agenda. Interruptions and change are simply part of everyone’s existence, never mind those who have ongoing heart problems. God knows what will happen next, but I don’t.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1)

In business, plans are important. Who attempts anything without some sort of procedure in mind. God is not against planning. Rather, His warning is about attitudes of presumption and being in control instead of considering His sovereign power and divine providence.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:13–17)

As the devotional reading says, any brick or stone must be put in its place, fitted to receive another. In the same way, tomorrow cannot be lived without giving attention today. One day at a time, trusting God for each day, is the right thing to do. For me, this is encouragement to obey what Jesus said.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

These thoughts also remind me of the best advice in the Bible about worry, fretting and anxiety. Not only do these attitudes add more stress to my health struggles, God also has a far better plan. . .

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

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Lord, this is basic stuff, yet I struggle to remember the basics in my concerns over what will happen next. I think about what needs to be done tomorrow and wonder if I’ll even manage even the basics for today. Forgive me for being anxious when I could be praying. Forgive me for planning ahead when I could be trusting You for right now. You bless me in so many ways. I have much to be thankful for, particularly that You offer me that wonderful and unexplainable peace. As I bring my concerns to You, guard my heart and my mind — today!