Are You a Slave to Worry?
Worry seems to be a favorite pastime of many people, considering how much of it they do. Must we be addicted to worry? Is there no help?
Although the word “worry” does not appear in the King James Version, the idea is found repeatedly. Many people worry about their food supply, clothing, the future, and many other things. God says in Matthew 6:25, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat. The words take no thought literally are don’t worry. We are not to worry about our food; God will supply if we know Him. God says further, Take no thought for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? God will supply your clothing, if only you will trust Him and not worry about these things. And He holds the future. How we worry about what may come tomorrow or the next day! Listen to verse 34 of Matthew chapter 6: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Again, we have the phrase Don’t worry about tomorrow. Do as God says in 1 Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.
Some years ago, the late Peter Marshall (who was at the time the Chaplain of the United States Senate) opened one of the sessions of that august body with the following surprising prayer. “Help us to do our very best this day and be content with today’s troubles so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow. Save us from the sin of worrying, lest stomach ulcers be the badge of our lack of faith. Amen.” The petition regarding stomach ulcers made some senators think, and it provoked national comments.
I can understand why unsaved people worry. They have to bear all their burdens and problems alone. But it is difficult to understand why those who have sincerely trusted in Jesus Christ are given to worry.
Barbara Riberg wrote these meaningful words:
Step by Step
He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day.
But, step-by-step, my path unfolds,
My Lord directs my way.
Tomorrow’s plans I do not know,
I only know this minute.
But He will say, “This is the way,
Now, walk ye in it.”
And I am glad that it is so,
Today is enough to bear.
And when tomorrow comes,
His grace will far exceed its care.
What need to worry then, or fret?
The God who gave His Son,
Holds all my moments in His hand,
And gives them one by one.
How true. “What need to worry then, or fret?” Do you know the Lord? I mean, have you had a real heart experience with Christ? I am not talking about church or religion. I am speaking of definitely receiving Jesus Christ into your life as Savior and Lord. This is the first step in combating worry. One needs to know Christ personally as Savior and Lord. How do we come to know Him? Simply by inviting Him to come into our life. He is ready.
Some of you have been too busy. You have neglected Him. Oh, what sorrow and tragedy you might have averted had you come to Christ sooner. Don’t let further delay rob you of the peace and blessing God has for you.
“But,” somebody may ask, “is it true then, that if I become a Christian I will no longer worry?” No, that isn’t true. This is true: If you become a Christian, you will have no reason to worry, for you will have the presence of Jesus Christ to give you strength to overcome worry and, at the same time, through prayer you will be able to unload all your care upon Him.
Regrettably, many Christians do not trust Christ as they should. They suffer severe mental conflicts, knowing little of the peace of God that passeth all understanding, simply because they do not take the Lord at His word.
I made a call at a hospital. After having prayer with the patient, as I was going out the door, I said, “I will be praying for you.” A young lady, a patient, was walking by slowly, “It surely sounded good,” she said, “to hear someone say ‘I will be praying for you.’” I said, “You must be a Christian.” “I am,” she replied. I asked how she was coming along. “Well, not too good . . . I had spinal meningitis, strep infection, and pneumonia all at the same time; and it left me extremely weak and awfully nervous.” She told me the doctors had checked her thoroughly and felt that her real problem was emotional. Then, she asked, “Do you think Christians should have emotional problems?” Well, there is only one answer to that question: No. They should not, but they do.
If we look to ourselves rather than God, and look into the future without depending wholly on God, we shall have emotional problems. This young lady admitted that she had been concerned about the future and had not committed everything to the Lord. We have a mighty God. Nothing is too hard for Him. Why should we bog ourselves down with the cares of this life when, oftentimes, there is nothing we can do to change them? God promises in His Word that He will lead us and guide us, if only we will believe Him.
Psalm 48:14: For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. Think of it! There is never a minute of any day that God is not guiding and leading us. He doesn’t make any mistakes. We make plenty of them, but our God has never made a mistake in all of eternity. He never will. Friend, worry is sin. Sin always produces sorrow. It can never produce anything else.
Some of you who know the Lord would not think of using profanity or taking the Lord’s name in vain because you know this is sin. But you think nothing of the sin of worry. It is understandable that you are miserable. Confess this sin to God. He promises in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank God for His forgiveness. Moment by moment, ask Him for grace to enable you to overcome the sin of worry. When tempted to worry, turn to Him immediately. Cast your burden on the Lord. Tell Him you believe His promises and that you are willing to trust Him.
If you are not a Christian, remember, the first step to overcome worry is to come to Christ. Take Him into your life. At this moment, ask Him to come in. He will. Then you will have the only power available to overcome worry. It will be your possession in Jesus Christ.
J. Allen Blair
Happy 94th Birthday, Dr. Blair!
Dr. Blair is celebrating. August 10, 2007 is his 94th Birthday and you are invited to celebrate with a card or note to let him know that you're thinking of him. He was an only child, born August 10, 1913 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After coming to Christ at the age of 21, he enrolled in the Moody Bible Institute, then went on to college and seminary. He and Mrs. Blair founded Glad Tidings in November of 1957 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Why Doesn’t God Heal Me? is the message of the month. Another great question to be considered: Why should God heal me?
Dr. Blair passes along four principles by which Andrew Murray lived during the difficult times in his life.
Read this message by Dr. Blair if you are puzzled about God’s care and your condition. The Bible is clear that God can and sometimes does heal, but you may find it difficult to understand why He has not healed you. The tract is free when you write or call. Take this opportunity to give greetings to Dr. Blair for his birthday, and get the printed message free!
Birthday Offer for you!
Shining The Light by Dr. J. Allen Blair
Purchase one or more of Dr. Blair’s autobiographies during his birthday month, August, and pay only $6.00 per copy. We’ll pay the postage if you order this month.
(Books can only be mailed to addresses in the USA.)
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The Wedding Vows of 1938
On August tenth in the year
nineteen hundred and thirty-eight
J. Allen Blair & Elva Erma Butcher
vowed to love and cherish each other
as long as they would live.
They continue to do that! We congratulate them on this 69th Wedding Anniversary. How does a marriage thrive for so long? It is because when emotions get weak, the commitment stays strong! This is a great reminder for all of us to give our commitments a check-up!