In part one we covered what worry actually is, and the verb definition; is to feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems, and the noun definition; is the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems.
The takeaway: that faith will lead us out of worry and right into belief.
So how during these times in our lives when concern comes a knocking, do we receive and walk in faith? Well today we are going explore this and some steps we can take to guard out heart and mind in these times in life. The start is knowing what you do have and don’t have.
Romans 12:3 (NIV)
“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given you”.
I love this verse for it puts into perspective who we are and what we have.
We are not God, we do not have the ability to carry all the burdens, and meet every need He does. We have a relationship with a God that can do all things, sometimes He chooses to work through us, yet other times sovereignly He will do it. Yes we are all called to pray and believe and use the faith He has given us, if we do this He is faithful to meet every need. Yet often He does it other ways than we would have or like. It’s important for us to be totally open to whatever He wants to do and the way He wants to do it, even if it is new. The responsibility and cost of following Christ is great, but the burden it comes with should not be, for He asks us to give this to Him, worry is amongst the burden.
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Yes, we are called to do the work, that’s our responsibility, but the burdens are not meant to be ours, we are called to hand them to Him.
I wonder how many burdens we are carrying that we don’t need to or are not ours to carry?
SELAH moment to ask the Lord:
Father God reveal to me the burdens I am carrying that are not for me to carry? Write down all He shows you. Now with each one say Father God I give this burden of ………………(say one of the burdens He revealed to you ) what will You give me in return? Write down what He says?
Choice time: do you want to keep the burden or to take what He is giving you in exchange? If you what to take what He is giving you in exchange pray this prayer. Father I choose to lay down the burden I have been carrying …………(name the first burden) And In exchange I choose to pick up what You have given me in exchange (say what He showed you ) Thank You Jesus. Now repeat these steps with all the burdens, He has shown you.
We left off and I said I’d give you a few applications to help you live a Life without worry, the above is one of these applications which can be visited again and again as you walk through the challenges life presents. Here’s a couple more:
Let’s re read the verse above
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I have underlined and bolded, a small word rest. As this is one of the greatest targets for the enemy, as he knows if he can take rest away from you, then you will be vulnerable and open to many of his other schemes, and you will have an entry point to be open to his lies.
Amazingly so this is why God has placed over 265 Verses About Rest from 43 Books of the bible His inspired word.
These verses all cover the importance of REST, to us physically, mentally and spiritually. How interesting that all three of these happen when we sleep?
If we don’t sleep we are vulnerable to fall into the enemy’s hands. For sleep is a place the Lord created for us to be restored and
re-energised, but He also added one more amazing thing to it. It’s found in the scripture which we’ll look at next time.
In part 3 I’ll share a couple more applications and ways for us to live worry free, and know how rest is a tool to overcoming worry and living in freedom.
Let’s pray
Father, thank You for reminding us the responsibility for following Christ is great, but the burden is not. Please help us to keep in perspective, what we have and do not have as sons and daughters and to apply these applications with and in Faith, to live worry free and enable others to do the same. We love You. In Jesus name. Amen.
Craig Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Ministries
