Living life to the fullest - BE NOT ANXIOUS


“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 6:31-34, ESV)


Dr. Charles Mayo of the renowned Mayo Clinic wrote, “Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. I have never met a man or known a man to die of overwork, but I have known a lot who died of worry.”1 We live in a day when people worry about how long they will live. That’s a harmful practice because you can worry yourself to death, but not to life.

In Matthew 6:27 Jesus said that worry cannot “add a single cubit” to a person’s life span. A cubit was the distance from the elbow to the tips of the fingers—about eighteen inches. He was saying, “Which of you by worrying can lengthen your life?” 

 Exercise and good health can help you function better while you’re living your span, but you can’t worry yourself into a longer life.

Worry can become a favourite pastime for most of us; it occupies today’s thinking and clutter future opportunities. What is Matthew referring to? Do we need to worry only about our body and comfort of our living? Is life more than the body? Life is not contained in this body. Life is contained God and you were created in the likeness of God. I live because God gives my body life. Life is more than the body! 


Then why worry?

1. It’s unnecessary because of God who is your Father
2. It’s uncharacteristic because of your Faith in God
3. Its unwise because of your Future


GOD is YOUR FATHER:

Worry is distrusting the providence of God, your Father! Let me ask the parents out there: Do your children worry on what they will eat? No, because they trust his/her mother or father. Your Father is God. Practice trusting him. He will never let you down. 

What are your aspirations? Are you willing to let go of the Body and its comfort and focus on God and his Kingdom? God will take care of your Body.

The quest for living longer is not new. In the early sixteenth century, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set out to find the fountain of youth, a spring whose waters had the power to restore youth.2

Although no such fountain exists, there is something far better: a fountain of life. 

 Proverbs 14:27 says, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.” By fearing the Lord, you will experience life to the fullest and not worry. Proverbs 9:10-11 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.” I believe the Lord has sovereignly determined each person’s life span—He has designed how long you will live. And He gives you the gift of life because He wants you to enjoy it to the fullest by fearing and obeying Him.

Use your Faith:

Have Faith in your father that he will provide for your needs. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Don’t worry about necessities. God knows what you need. 

UNWISE because of YOUR FUTURE:

Trust God today. Build the habit of that trusting relationship with your Father and enjoy the joys of today. God will give you the resource to lift the burden to worry. Trust in his amazing grace. Don’t burden yourself with worry. Once you sustain that trust with God today, you can rely on this testimony for your tomorrows. Jesus Christ is the same today and tomorrow.


My testimony:

In August 2009, I walked away from a very bad marriage. I had no money or house. I had been totally dependent on a controlling husband for over twenty years. But that day, I knew that I had to find a better life for my young family; my three beautiful and innocent children who needed a safe space to grow and develop. I remembered that God is kind, caring and faithful. I trusted in God and I believed without any conflict in my mind that God had my back and He moved people to support me, opened doors even till now. 

 Slowly, but surely, God was building my life, shaping my character and giving me perspective to live life to the fullest; my desires, my pre-occupation and my priorities changed. It’s been a decade already and I had never seen a day when I was out of food or did not have a roof over our head. My three children are studying at university and God is shaping their lives, they are the children of God and God is their Father. I trust Him to take care of them. I have seen God taking care of the physical and He does it with generosity. 

I am better than a bird or a flower that Matthew referred to in the Bible text (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? Matt 6:27)


Suggestions for Prayer:

Jesus, I put my trust in you today. Anxious thoughts are taking over my mind, and it’s easy to take my eyes off you when I feel afraid. Would you remind me of who you are? Would you pour out your love on me, that I might remember you are always good and always faithful, even when I am afraid? I want to put all my trust, all my hope, and all my faith in you alone.

Lord Jesus, thank you for always being with me. Your name, Immanuel, means God with us... I’m so grateful today that you near to me no matter what anxious thoughts might try to creep into my mind. Thank you for being my strength when I feel weak. Thank you for upholding me and never letting me fall. You are faithful, always. I love you, Lord, and I rely on you today and every day.

Lord we do not want to be like those of little faith, we want to be those who want to soar the height, free to sought the heavenlies, free to invest in eternities because we don’t want to worry for what we need to eat or drink, or how we shall be clothed, that is your area. Speak to me Lord, make application where it’s needed, may we each of us come to a practical way to implement what you are teaching us today in Christ name. Amen

Praise the Lord that you may enjoy life fully by fearing Him.

 Sbalom, 
Melanie

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