“Dad, it’s ok, be patient! Patience is a fruit of the spirit!”

I got checked so hard by my 5 yr old son…

I am a healed and redeemed worrier

The people that know me best, know that I worry!

God was testing me: because if I was going to teach it, I better believe it!

Worry is the feeling of uneasiness or beiung overly concerned about a situation or problem. With excessive worrying, your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly FOCUS on “WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.”

We worry and focus and spend so much energy on something that hasn’t even happened.

85% of the things that people worry about, never happen.

I face worry daily

Worry becomes a problem when…

When it overwhelms us

When it consumes us

When it becomes the center of your life

Ultimately worry blinds us and causes us to lose trust in God.

When we worry we forget about God

We forget about who He is

These worries could be good things in our lives

Could be unprofitable - self image, approval, etc…

What causes us to worry:

1. We don’t fully trust or believe God will take care of us
2. We forget God is all powerful
3. We try to control our lives, outcomes and circumstances
4. We forget how much God loves us

God wants us to let go. Literally of all of it. To put our trust in Him.

There is an answer to our worry!

“"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?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How much more are we valuable in this earth, to our maker?!

We who bear the fathers image, aren’t we more valuable?!

Can worry add an hour to our lives?!

Jesus calls us out!

Worry gives us something to do, but we never go anywhere!

Worry is a thief. Not a contributor.

“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?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:28-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Grass?! I take care of the grass, how much more will I take care of you?!

O you of little faith!!!

**This is not new to God!**

But we still question. We still doubt.

God has done it before, He will do it again!

The fact that it’s not new, and what we believe here, influences how we move forward in life.

How do we overcome worry and begin to trust in God?

This is the answer:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33-34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

His kingdom

His righteousness

These need to be the main focus of our lives!

This dispels all worry! This brings the provision of God.

We have to SEEK - it’s an action. An unrelenting pursuit! Urgently pursue all of God!

How do we seek him first!

1. Acknowledge who He is!: Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God
2. Remember what He’s done
3. Confess our weakness
4. Surrender our outcomes to Him
5. Invite others in

Activation questions:

1. What are some of the worries that are overwhelming our lives?
2. What can I do now to start trusting God?