A Worry-Free Year

Verse of the day: Luke 12:22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.

As God's children, what have we to worry about? What burden or need weighs heavy on our hearts as we begin a new year? Why do we worry about God's provision, when He has promised to meet our needs? Does He not know what we need, even before we ask (Lk 12:30)? May I remind us of what God said to Moses, when he, and the Israelites, worried about how he was going to feed the six hundred thousand men with him, in Numbers 11:23? The Lord asked Moses, "Has the LORD'S arm been shortened?" The worry that resulted from their lack of trust angered the Lord, and they were struck with a great plague that killed many. We should be thankful that we live in this age of grace, and that the Lord does not deal with us in this same fashion when we lack trust, and we worry. Psalms 65:9ff reminds us that the Lord waters the earth, enriches it, provides grain, and flocks. In other words, He supplies what is needed. In this chapter, we are reminded that God provides for the ravens (who did not have much value amongst the people), and dresses the fields, neither of which labor for their provision or cover. Yet, we are more valuable to God. So why do we worry about the things God has promised to take care of? Ps 23 tell us that the Lord is our Shepherd, and that we shall not want (or go without). When we worry, we needlessly waste time being overly concerned about what God already has under His control. When we worry, we accomplish nothing, as we cannot add one minute to our life here on earth. If anything, we potentially shorten our lives with added sickness resulting from our unnecessary stress, and worry. When we worry, we live no better than those who do not know Jesus. The unsaved are continually mindful of the material things of this world, and often destroy their lives to obtain them. We, as born again believers, should be mindful of heavenly things, and living for the Lord. The bottom line is that, in this new year, we should be more focused on growing in our knowledge of the Lord, serving Him, and staying focused on what He is trying to do in our lives, for the sake of His Kingdom, and the Gospel. Remember, He wants us to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us (1 Pt 5:7).